is actually found in him is Gheebat (backbiting). However, to reveal
detestable traits of a believer, which are not found in him is called
Tohmat (allegation). The sole purpose behind leveling allegations is
to defame the believer.
There are two words for backbiting, one is GHEEBAT, and the other is
TOHMAT. When you speak about someone, and what you say is TRUE, then
this is GHEEBAT. When you speak about someone, and what you say is
FALSE, then this is TOHMAT.
The Prophet Mohammed (s.a.w.s.) once said, "O Abu Zar, keep yourself
away from backbiting because it is worse than adultery ... After
committing adultery, if one repents, Allah forgives him, but the
backbiter can not be pardoned unless he has been pardoned by the one
about whom he has been backbiting."
Imagine you saw someone you know go into a pub (a place where people
go to drink alcohol). If you were to tell the world that this man has
been drinking, then that is Tohmat. How do you know he was drinking?
He could have broken down, and gone in the pub to use the phone, or
ask directions.
In Islam, you should always give the benefit of the doubt to others.
Even if someone does do something bad, you should hide it, and not
tell the whole world. How would you like it if Allah (SWT) told the
whole world the evil that you or I perform? We all commit sins at one
time or another. If Allah (SWT) can hide our faults, then you should
hide the faults of others.
In Dua e Kumail, we say to Allah (SWT), "O He who covers defects ... "
In the Noble Qur'an, Allah (SWT) tells us: "... And do not spy nor let
some of you backbite others. Does one of you like to eat the dead
flesh of his brother?" (49:12)
This shows us that backbiting is as bad as eating the flesh of your
dead brother. This means that once someone you know, i.e., your
brother/sister in Islam has done something bad, they have killed their
own reputation. By telling others what they have done, you are
enjoying and gaining at their loss. It is as if you are eating and
feasting on the reputation they have already destroyed.
In the early days of the first few Imams, there were two men. Let us
call the fist one Haroon and the second one Khalid. One day Khalid
started telling everybody bad things about Haroon. Khalid was
spreading lies all around. After a few days Haroon heard about this.
The first thing he did was to go home and put all his money, valuable
gold and silver in a big bag and then took the bag to Khalid's house.
When Khalid saw Haroon coming he became scared because he thought that
Haroon had come to beat him up. Khalid came out of his house and fell
on his knees and begged to Haroon, "O Haroon, I am really sorry, I did
not mean to tell tales about you, O please do not beat me!"
Haroon said, "I have not come to beat you, I have come to give you
this money, and this wealth."
Khalid had the shock of his life. Haroon continued, " Khalid, I have
come to thank you, here have this wealth of mine."
Khalid stood up and asked, "Why are you giving me wealth when I have
insulted you and spoilt your name among the people?"
Haroon replied. "The Prophet Mohammed (s.a.w.s.)has said that if one
person TALKS BEHIND THE BACK of another, the thawaab (reward) of the
first person gets transferred to the second." he continued, "So now
that you have spoken bad of me behind my back, I am thanking you for
giving me all your thawaab. This money is too little for the amount of
thawaab that you have given me."
This shows how bad Gheebat and Tohmat are.
Once there was a man who did Tohmat of our Sixth Imam Sadiq (a.s.).
Imam Sadiq (a.s.) did no know about it until a few days later when one
of his 'friends' came to him and said, "Oh Imam, I have heard terrible
news. This person has been going around and saying this about you."
Imam Sadiq (a.s.) became angry at his 'friend'. He said, "Think of the
person who did Tohmat towards me as if he shot an arrow at my body. I
did not hear him so it is as if the arrow missed me; But by telling me
this news, you have picked up the arrow from the ground and have hit
me with it."
It is the duty of a good Muslim to stop others from speaking ill of a
person, and if that is not possible he should go away from the people
who are talking ill.
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