Assalamualaikum Warahmatullah Brothers and Sisters in Islam
Gossips. Rumours. Ah. such interesting topic eh? People love to spread rumours about others without thinking of the consequences. Sometimes I sit and wonder, what is it about gossiping and spreading rumours that entice everyone to do it? I have tried my best not to backbite. It is not a characteristic of a Muslim to speak rudely. But then again, you can’t stop people from talking about you right? They will always try to find a way to gossip about you, eventhough you have done nothing to them. From the way you dress, to your action, well, people would even gossip about your good deeds!
Let’s remind ourselves not to backbite. Whenever we have the urge to do it, ask ourselves this, “is our ibadah enough that we are willings to give away our reward to others?”. Always remind ourselves in every action we’re about to do, “will this please my Creator?”. If we know the answer is no, better leave it. It’s as simple as that. There are a lot of hadith and ayah from The Quraan regarding backbiting. Isn’t that enough to stop us from backbiting?
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The Muslim does not slander, curse, speak obscenely or speak rudely.” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, who said, this is a ghareeb hasan hadeeth; it was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani)
Allah the All Mighty said in Quran: “O you who believe! Avoid much suspicions, indeed some suspicions are sins. And spy not, neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting) . And fear Allah. Verily, Allah is the One Who accepts repentance, Most Merciful”. [049:012]
Narrated from Abu Hurayrah (R.A) that the Messenger of Allaah (pbuh) said: “Do you know what gheebah (backbiting) is?” They said, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He said, “Saying something about your brother that he dislikes.” It was said, “What if what I say about my brother is true?” He said, “If what you say is true then you have backbitten about him, and if it is not true, then you have slandered him.” Narrated by Muslim, 2589
It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (R.A) said: The Messenger of Allaah (pbuh) said: “Whoever has wronged his brother with regard to his honour or anything else, let him seek his forgiveness today, before there will be no dinar and no dirham, and if he has any good deeds to his credit they will be taken from him in a manner commensurate with the wrong he did, and if he has no good deeds, then some of his counterpart’s bad deeds will be taken and added to his burden.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 2317.
To those who have done their fair share of backbiting and slandering me, I am forever thanking you. I take this as a test from Allah, to test my eeman, and a reminder from Allah, to always seek Allah for guidance. Alhamdulillah, whatever you have done to me, only makes me a stronger muslimah and determined to spread the word of Islam in every mean possible. I have forgiven each one of you,
Pardon them and overlook – Allah loves those who do good (Qur’an 5:13)
Those who control their anger and are forgiving towards people; Allah loves the good. (Qur’an, 3: 134)
The good deed and the evil deed cannot be equal. Repel (the evil) with one which is better (i.e. Allâh ordered the faithful believers to be patient at the time of anger, and to excuse those who treat them badly), then verily! he, between whom and you there was enmity, (will become) as though he was a close friend.
But none is granted it (the above quality) except those who are patient, and none is granted it except the owner of the great portion (of the happiness in the Hereafter i.e. Paradise and in this world of a high moral character). (Qur’an 41:34-35)
May Allah guide us to the righteous path, the way of the salaf us-saalih, and grant us jannah. May Allah protect us from the disbelievers and jahannam. 
