In another Hadith, narrated in Imaam Ahmad's Musnad, the Prophet of Allah (saws) said, “If anyone defends his brother who is slandered in his absence, it will be (his) due from Allah to set him free from the Fire.”
Also Allah says in the Qur'aan:
"And when they hear al-Laghw (backbiting, dirty,
false, evil vain talk etc.), they withdraw from it and say: 'To us our
deeds, and to you your deeds. Peace be to you. We seek not the
ignorant.'" [al-Qasas, 28: 55]
Ibn Katheer said regarding
this Aayah in his book Tafseer ul-Qur'aan al-'Azeem, vol 3, Page 380,
“Ibn Ishaaq narrates the Asbaab an-Nuzool (occasion of revelation) for
this and the preceding aayaat and says: 'that twenty Christians came to
Makkah to meet the Prophet (saws) and see what his message was about. They
found him and started to question him. He (saws) started to recite
the Qur'aan. On hearing the Qur'aan and acknowledging it they began to
cry and accepted Islam. After this they left the Prophet (saws) to go
back home. On the way they met Abu Jahl along with a group of people
from Quraysh. The people of Quraysh blocked their way and Abu Jahl said
to the new Muslims, 'You're completely useless. Your people sent you to
prove for them that their religion is correct and the Prophet's is
incorrect. You changed your religion and you believe in him. We do not
know anyone who is more stupid than you.' The Muslims answered by
saying: ‘And when they hear vain talk they withdraw from it and say:
Unto us our works and unto you your works. Peace be unto you! We desire
not the ignorant.’ The Aayah was revealed confirming the statement they
made.”
Ibn Katheer goes further to explain that mixing with
people who speak vain talk, meaning the people who are ignorant or talk
with ignorance, should be avoided.
The evidences also make it clear that when suspicions or attacks against Muslims are present then, Muslims should verify such information to find out the truth and not to mix with people whose topic of discussion is based on ignorance, backbiting or slander, in line with the ayah stated earlier. However, there is a permit to backbite the one who promotes kufr, shirk or disobedience openly and publicly, for example those who promote voting for man-made law, apostates and the kaafir. This is because the Messenger Muhammad (saws) said:
"There is no backbiting for the Faasiq (rebellious person who promotes sin and does it shamelessly)." (Fath al-Baaree and Faid ul-Qadeer #8303)
Backbiting and slander are sins which effect the strength of trust in
the Ummah and it is clear that Allah does not pardon Muslims
until they have taken pardon from the ones who have been abused.
In one Hadith, narrated by Bayhaqi on the authority of Anas, the
Messenger of Allah (saws) said, “The expiation of backbiting is to seek
forgiveness from the one you have backbitten, saying: 'O Allah! Forgive
us and him.”
In this age it is of vital importance to hold onto
the rope of Allah, namely the Qur'aan and Sunnah in accordance with the
understanding of the Sahaabah; to have unity within the Ummah and to
enable our relationships to thrive with trust. Once the Islamic
personality is represented and the sins of backbiting and slander are
stopped then we know that the Ummah is working to follow the Guidance.
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