Lying, Gossiping, and Backbiting in Islam

• Lying is to narrate something which is not true. Spreading false information is lying. To communicate with someone with falsehood is called lying.
• Gossiping is to spread rumors, idle talks, and coverage of absurd news.
• Backbiting is talking about someone malicious in his absence.

These three actions are strictly prohibited in Islam. Islam does not allow lying, gossiping, or backbiting. Islam discourages, dislikes, and discredits all three phenomena. There are many commands in the Quran and Ahadith regarding lying, gossiping, and backbiting. These are sins according to Islam and anyone who commits the sins is a sinner according to the teachings of Islam.

Lying:

To talk to someone about false things, to hide the truth, and to spread falsehood is called lying. Lying is considered being one of the great sins according to Islam.

Here are some Quranic verses and Ahadith regarding lying;

Indeed, it has been revealed to us that the punishment will be upon whoever denies and turns away.

إِنَّا قَدْ أُوحِيَ إِلَيْنَا أَنَّ الْعَذَابَ عَلَىٰ مَن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ

So who is more unjust than he who invents a lie about Allah or denies His signs? Indeed, the criminals will not succeed.

Surah Al-Waqi’ah ( The Event ) 81-87

(فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ افْتَرَىٰ عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا أَوْ كَذَّبَ بِآيَاتِهِ ۚ إِنَّهُ لَا يُفْلِحُ الْمُجْرِمُونَ)

Woe to every sinful liar

10-Surah Yunus ( Jonah ) 66

(وَقُلْ جَآءَ ٱلْحَقُّ وَزَهَقَ ٱلْبَـٰطِلُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلْبَـٰطِلَ كَانَ زَهُوقًا)

And declare, “The truth has come and falsehood has vanished. Indeed, falsehood is bound to vanish.” 17:81

Similarly many Ahadith denounce lying. Some of them are as follows;

The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said:

“There are four characteristics, whoever has them all is a pure hypocrite, and whoever has one of them has one of the characteristics of hypocrisy, until he gives it up: when he is entrusted with something, he betrays that trust, when he speaks he lies, when he makes a covenant he betrays it, and when he disputes he resorts to obscene speech.” (Narrated by al-Bukhari (34) and Muslim (58)

Lying is disastrous. When a person lies once, he falls into a ditch of a series of lies. This is the reason Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him strictly discouraged and prohibited lying.

The final Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has stated:

Save yourself from lying because it leads one towards sin and sin leads towards the Hellfire. A man will continue to lie and he will pursue his lie to the extent that, in the court of Allah Almighty, he is recorded as a great liar.

Tirmizi, vol. 3, p. 391, Hadees. 1978 

Gossiping:

Gossiping is an absurd conversation, spreading falsehood, dispersing rumors, and scattering absurd talks. It is a useless activity, so it is prohibited in Islam. It is not only useless, but it creates a fussy environment, which diminishes the truth. Gossip is only a waste of time. Passing on unauthentic news is also included in gossiping. Which is also forbidden in Islam.

They descend upon every sinful liar.

222﴾تَنَزَّلُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ أَفَّاكٍ أَثِيمٍ﴿

 They pass on what is heard, and most of them are liars.

223﴾يُلْقُونَ السَّمْعَ وَأَكْثَرُهُمْ كَاذِبُونَ﴿

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, 

“Among the perfection of one’s Islam is to leave what does not concern him.”

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2679

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said,

 “Allah does not like for you to waste wealth, nor ask many unnecessary questions, nor spread gossip.” 

Source: Musnad al-Bazzār 8463 Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Albani

Backbiting:

Backbiting is intensively prohibited by Allah SWT. It is considered one of the great sins that a believer can commit.

﴾يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اجْتَنِبُوا كَثِيرًا مِّنَ الظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعْضَ الظَّنِّ إِثْمٌ ۖ وَلَا تَجَسَّسُوا وَلَا يَغْتَب بَّعْضُكُم بَعْضًا ۚ أَيُحِبُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَن يَأْكُلَ لَحْمَ أَخِيهِ مَيْتًا فَكَرِهْتُمُوهُ ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَوَّابٌ رَّحِيمٌ﴿

O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Accepting of repentance and Merciful.

• Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him intensely forbade backbiting. As it is disliked by Allah SWT.

On the authority of Abdullah bin Masoud (Al-Jubouri & Haloob: 2020, pp. 1652-1672), may God be pleased with him, he said:

“ We were sitting with the Prophet, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, that a man stood up, and a man fell after him, the Messenger of God, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, said: “Takhalal,” the man said: O Messenger of God, what is “ Takhalal” did I eat flesh? He said, “You ate your brother’s flesh.”

•  On the authority of the Prophet (may God bless him and his family and grant them peace) in a will he had for Abu Dharr.

Abu Dharr (Al-Jubouri & Haloob: 2020, pp. 1652-1672) said: “O Messenger of Allah, what if that which is mentioned of him should be in him?” He (SAWAS) replied: “Know that when you mention that which is in him, you have committed is gheebah, and when you mention that which is not in him, then you have slandered him (bahattah).”

Conclusion:

Lying, gossiping, and backbiting are considered minor acts in our society, but Islam strictly prohibits these sins. Allah Almighty has given simple commands about all these sins in the Quran e Kareem. While there are numerous Ahadith in which Prophet Muhammad Peace be upon Him, clearly prohibits all these sins. Islam is a complete code of life. So it gives us a list of allowed and prohibited actions in the Quran and Ahadith.

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