For children, - Islamic Ethics and Morality: Why are Gheebat and Tohmat Haraam?

They are Haraam because they spoil people's names and characters. When
you speak badly of someone, you make others think badly of them.
Another reason why it is bad is because the people are not there to
defend themselves. If you hear wicked things about others, you should
give the others a chance to defend themselves by explaining, before
you believe what you hear.
Gheebat and Tohmat are a result of Jealousy. If a person is respected,
has done good, has helped others, there will always be people who are
angry and bitter that such a person is respected by all. The result is
to try and slander and destroy this reputation by sowing seed of venom
in their character, by telling the world lies so that the respect
turns to outrage and shame. Such people are cursed by Allah (SWT), and
are referred to as the evil whispers of mankind.
Allegation is more severe sin than backbiting. It is clear from
traditions that anyone who levels allegations against a believer is
condemnable.
Prophet Mohammed (s.a.w.s.) declared, If a person levels an allegation
against a believing man or woman for an act, which he/she has not
done, then on the Day of Judgment, Allah, the Almighty, shall put him
on a piece of fire until he is chastised for leveling that allegation.
Imam Sadiq (a.s.) narrates, When a believer levels an allegation
against another believer, his faith dissolves just as salt dissolves
in water.
Imam Sadiq (a.s.)said further, If a believer accuses another believer
(while the latter is innocent), then the honour and dignity that
exists between two believers will vanish.
That is why we have been instructed in traditions to restrain
ourselves to the best of our ability from thinking evil of a believer.
Rely on the positive points of your believer brother's conduct until
you don't get confirmed evidence which prevails upon your existing
knowledge of the brother. Do not think evil about the words of a
believer in whose defense you can find at least one good fact.
Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) exhorts, Consider the word or action of a
believer brother to be good, even if you are offended, and always
think optimistically (about him) to the utmost. Do not think bad about
him. If you do not get excuse in good actions, search for it over and
over again, until the number (of excuses) reaches 70, if you still
cannot find it, then think that we ourselves cannot think good about
him.
Many times we find that our conversation with somebody about another
believer turns out to be completely false. A person asked Ameerul
Momineen (a.s.), What is the distance between right and wrong? Imam
Ali (a.s.) replied, 'Four fingers'. Imam Ali (a.s.) then placed his
four fingers between the eye and ear and said, 'that which is seen by
the eye is true and that which is heard by the ear is mostly wrong or
false.'
That is why before accusing anybody we should ponder on this fact.
Ameerul Momineen (a.s.)reveals, Happy is that person who is busy in
searching for his own defects and is unaware of the defects of others.
Make your intellect suspicious (accuse yourself) of your own defects,
for in most cases, self-confidence and self-reliance are the chief
causes of mistakes.
In another tradition it is narrated, One who calls himself bad, is
saved from Satan's deception.
Just as leveling allegations against someone is prohibited, in the
same way a person should refrain from going to places where he may
become the target of accusation.
Imam Ali (a.s.) advises: Refrain from the assemblies of allegation and
suspicion because the companion of bad people is often deceived by
them.
Prophet Mohammed (s.a.w.s.) said, He is more accused of Tohmat
(allegation) who sits with the gathering of accusers.
Imam Ali (a.s.) revealed, He who sits in a place where Tohmat
(allegations) are leveled, should not blame those who entertain bad
ideas about him.
The one who is seen in the assembly of dubious and suspicious
characters will find himself a target of accusations and allegations.
These traditions highlight that even sitting or being seen with evil
people can be harmful for our reputation (even if we don't participate
in their evil).
Ridiculing others- a despicable trait: Satan rules when the hearts are
constricted and thoughts are perverted. Then man tends to exaggerate
even the smallest of matters. Under Satan's domination, he begins to
humiliate and ridicule his friends and colleagues. He brands this
ridiculing as bravery and courage and prides himself on it. As a
matter of fact, he even expects praise and acclaim for this.
Imam Sadiq (a.s.) narrates on the authority of the Prophet Mohammed
(s.a.w.s.): O Ali, there is no poverty greater than ignorance and
there is no wealth superior to intellect.
According to the prophetic tradition narrated above, the most ignorant
of all people today are the Muslims because we have lagged the others
in pursuit of knowledge. We have embraced this world as if earning
money is the sole objective of life. To acquire money we are prepared
to forego religion, faith, certainty and intellect, while the Prophet
Mohammed (s.a.w.s.) has made intellect the most superior wealth.
Indeed we must reflect on the fact that with the wealth of intellect,
the world will be at our feet and we will not have to chase the world.
Imam Sadiq (a.s.) relates from Ameerul Momineen (a.s.), Pride and
egotism are signs of weak intellect.
It is a fact that arrogance, pride and egotism may apparently make a
man seem very successful in this world, but these very traits are the
root cause of his destruction. Pride and conceit are the best
indicators of a weak intellect and a person with a weak intellect is
capable of initiating a step that can prove ruinous for him socially
and/or personally. This is the disease that afflicts most Muslims. We
have been split into so many groups and sects because of these evil
traits. The soul of Islam has been torn apart due to this and what
little dignity and honour is left in it also seems to be waning fast.
That is why it is important for us to maintain its (soul of Islam's)
dignity and nobility.
The Prophet Mohammed (s.a.w.s.) declared, The most humiliating of men
is the one who ridicules others.
These words of the Prophet Mohammed (s.a.w.s.) highlight the fact that
there is no place for narrow-mindedness, prejudice and bias in Islam.
On the one hand, Islam emphasises the Majesty and Glory of Allah and
on the other hand highlights brotherhood and fraternity between the
creatures. The level of ethics and morals in Islam can be gauged from
the saying of the Prophet Mohammed (s.a.w.s.) when he (s.a.w.s.) calls
the ridiculing person as the most degraded of people. That is why as
believers and Muslims, it is important for us to respect and uphold
the dignity and honour of others around us.
Imam Sadiq (a.s.) exhorts the Shias: Fear Allah! Be a source of
ornamentation for us and do not be a source of disgrace for us.
These words of Imam Sadiq (a.s.) not only are an invitation towards
goodness and virtue, they are also an indication of the standard of
love and Wilayat of Ahle Bait (a.s.). Being Shias of Ahle Bait (a.s.),
it is important that we always keep these standards in mind.
The true Shia of Ahle Bait (a.s.) always abstains from sins and
abominable acts (makroohat). At the same time, they always hasten
towards the obligatory and recommended (mustahabbat) acts. That is why
if we truly love the Ahle Bait (a.s.), we must observe the laws of
Shariat at all times and try to be a source of pride and happiness for
them. With this, even the people of the world will be able to
appreciate the true greatness of the Ahle Bait (a.s.).