Source: Sharḥ Kitāb al-Jāmiʿ from Bulūgh al-Marām by Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī
Translation: Ḥāfiẓ ʿAbd al-Salām bin Muḥammad Bhaṭwī
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم قال: اتدرون ما الغيبة؟ قالوا: الله ورسوله أعلم قال: ذكرك أخاك بما يكره قيل: أفرأيت إن كان في أخي ما أقول؟ قال: إن كان فيه ما تقول فقد اغتبته وإن لم يكن فيه فقد بهته
[أخرجه مسلم]
Narrated by Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه): The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Do you know what backbiting is?”
They replied, “Allah and His Messenger know best.”
He ﷺ said: “It is to mention something about your brother that he dislikes.”
Someone asked: “What if what I say about my brother is true?”
The Prophet ﷺ replied: “If it is in him, you have backbitten him; and if it is not in him, then you have slandered him.”
(Related by Muslim)
References:
➊ Backbiting is Like Eating the Flesh of a Dead Brother
Allah says in the Qur’an:
وَلَا يَغْتَب بَّعْضُكُم بَعْضًا ۚ أَيُحِبُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَن يَأْكُلَ لَحْمَ أَخِيهِ مَيْتًا فَكَرِهْتُمُوهُ
[Al-Ḥujurāt: 12]
“Do not backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would detest it.”
Just as a dead person cannot defend himself when his flesh is consumed, likewise, a person being backbitten cannot defend his honor in his absence.
And since the Qur’an has forbidden eating carrion, imagine how severely prohibited it is to “consume” the honor of a fellow human and religious brother.
➋ Why Did the Prophet ﷺ Ask the Companions What Backbiting Is?
The Prophet ﷺ was the most wise and insightful teacher. He would often engage his companions through questions, stimulating their interest and ensuring deep understanding.
This method made the lesson memorable and clarified any doubts. For example:
Modern educational sciences write volumes on these methods, yet the Prophet ﷺ practiced them naturally and perfectly.
➌ What is Backbiting (Gheebah)?
The Prophet ﷺ gave a clear and comprehensive definition:
ذِكْرُكَ أَخَاكَ بِمَا يَكْرَهُ
“To mention something about your brother that he dislikes.”
Imām Nawawī elaborates in al-Adhkār:
Backbiting includes anything disliked by the person being spoken about — whether it relates to:
Examples:
Principle:
Any act or word meant to demean or belittle a fellow Muslim in his absence is backbiting—and haram.
While backbiting is a major sin, exceptions exist when a religious necessity or greater good is involved. Imām al-Ghazālī and Imām al-Nawawī list six situations where backbiting is permitted:
① Complaint Against Oppression (ظلم پر فریاد):
A wronged person may describe the oppression to someone who can assist, such as a judge or ruler.
Allah says:
لَّا يُحِبُّ اللَّـهُ الْجَهْرَ بِالسُّوءِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ إِلَّا مَن ظُلِمَ
[Al-Nisāʾ: 148]
“Allah does not like public mention of evil except by one who has been wronged.”
And the Prophet ﷺ said:
إن لصاحب الحق مقالا
“One who has a right has the right to speak.”
[Bukhārī 2390]
② Preventing Harm or Sin:
If someone is involved in wrongdoing, it is permissible to inform those who can stop them.
The aim must be to reform, not to humiliate.
This is supported by the command to enjoin good and forbid evil.
③ Seeking a Fatwa (Legal Verdict):
A person may mention another’s wrongdoing to seek religious guidance.
Example: Hind bint ʿUtbah (رضي الله عنها) told the Prophet ﷺ that her husband Abū Sufyān was stingy and did not provide enough. The Prophet ﷺ replied:
“Take from his wealth what is sufficient for you and your children, in a reasonable manner.”
[Bukhārī 2211, Kitāb al-Buyūʿ 94]
Here, her mentioning his shortcoming was allowed because it was done to ask a legal question.
④ Warning Others or Offering Sincere Advice:
This includes:
Example: Fāṭimah bint Qays (رضي الله عنها) consulted the Prophet ﷺ about marrying either Muʿāwiyah or Abū Jahm. He ﷺ said:
“Muʿāwiyah is poor and owns nothing, and Abū Jahm beats women. Marry Usāmah.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1480]
This is part of nasiḥah (sincere counsel), as in the Hadith:
إذا استنصحك فانصح له
“When someone seeks your advice, give them sincere advice.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2162]
⑤ Speaking About Open Sinners or Public Wrongdoers:
If someone commits sins publicly—such as:
Backbiting only applies when the person dislikes being mentioned.
⑥ Mentioning Someone by a Known Title (Not Derogatory):
If a person is known by a certain nickname or physical trait, and:
then it is allowed, even if it describes a deficiency, e.g.:
Condition: It must not be used to humiliate.
Allah says:
وَلَا يَغْتَب بَّعْضُكُم بَعْضًا
“Do not backbite one another.”
And the Prophet ﷺ said:
ذِكْرُكَ أَخَاكَ بِمَا يَكْرَهُ
“Mentioning your brother with what he dislikes.”
This indicates that only the backbiting of fellow Muslims is forbidden. A disbeliever is not your brother in faith, hence the ruling differs.
Translation: Ḥāfiẓ ʿAbd al-Salām bin Muḥammad Bhaṭwī
Hadith on Backbiting:
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم قال: اتدرون ما الغيبة؟ قالوا: الله ورسوله أعلم قال: ذكرك أخاك بما يكره قيل: أفرأيت إن كان في أخي ما أقول؟ قال: إن كان فيه ما تقول فقد اغتبته وإن لم يكن فيه فقد بهته
[أخرجه مسلم]
Narrated by Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه): The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Do you know what backbiting is?”
They replied, “Allah and His Messenger know best.”
He ﷺ said: “It is to mention something about your brother that he dislikes.”
Someone asked: “What if what I say about my brother is true?”
The Prophet ﷺ replied: “If it is in him, you have backbitten him; and if it is not in him, then you have slandered him.”
(Related by Muslim)
References:- [Sahih Muslim, Kitāb al-Birr wa al-Ṣilah, 70]
- Also see Tuhfat al-Ashrāf [10/223]
✦ Key Points and Benefits
➊ Backbiting is Like Eating the Flesh of a Dead Brother
Allah says in the Qur’an:
وَلَا يَغْتَب بَّعْضُكُم بَعْضًا ۚ أَيُحِبُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَن يَأْكُلَ لَحْمَ أَخِيهِ مَيْتًا فَكَرِهْتُمُوهُ
[Al-Ḥujurāt: 12]
“Do not backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would detest it.”
Just as a dead person cannot defend himself when his flesh is consumed, likewise, a person being backbitten cannot defend his honor in his absence.And since the Qur’an has forbidden eating carrion, imagine how severely prohibited it is to “consume” the honor of a fellow human and religious brother.
➋ Why Did the Prophet ﷺ Ask the Companions What Backbiting Is?
The Prophet ﷺ was the most wise and insightful teacher. He would often engage his companions through questions, stimulating their interest and ensuring deep understanding.
This method made the lesson memorable and clarified any doubts. For example:
- He said to Abū Saʿīd bin al-Muʿallā: “Before you leave the masjid, I’ll tell you the greatest sūrah of the Qur’an.”
Later, he revealed: “It is Sūrah al-Fātiḥah.”
[Bukhārī 4474, 4647] - He said to Muʿādh (رضي الله عنه): “I surely love you, O Muʿādh.” Then he taught him the supplication:
رَبِّ أَعِنِّي عَلَى ذِكْرِكَ وَشُكْرِكَ وَحُسْنِ عِبَادَتِكَ
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Nasā’ī 1236, Kitāb al-Sahw 60]
Modern educational sciences write volumes on these methods, yet the Prophet ﷺ practiced them naturally and perfectly.
➌ What is Backbiting (Gheebah)?
The Prophet ﷺ gave a clear and comprehensive definition:
ذِكْرُكَ أَخَاكَ بِمَا يَكْرَهُ
“To mention something about your brother that he dislikes.”
Imām Nawawī elaborates in al-Adhkār:
Backbiting includes anything disliked by the person being spoken about — whether it relates to:
- His body
- Religion
- Worldly affairs
- Physical appearance
- Character
- Family
- Clothing
- Speech
- Smile or frown
Even gestures or written words that imply criticism count as backbiting.
Examples:- Physical: Blind, lame, bald, short, hunchbacked, black (used with disdain)
- Religious: Sinner, thief, hypocrite, defiant to parents
- Worldly: Lazy, gluttonous, talkative
- Ethical: Arrogant, show-off, coward, rude
- Family: Mocking someone's parents or lineage
- Gestures: Mimicking someone’s speech defect, limp, or height
Principle:Any act or word meant to demean or belittle a fellow Muslim in his absence is backbiting—and haram.
✦ Permissible Cases of Backbiting
While backbiting is a major sin, exceptions exist when a religious necessity or greater good is involved. Imām al-Ghazālī and Imām al-Nawawī list six situations where backbiting is permitted:
① Complaint Against Oppression (ظلم پر فریاد):
A wronged person may describe the oppression to someone who can assist, such as a judge or ruler.
Allah says:
لَّا يُحِبُّ اللَّـهُ الْجَهْرَ بِالسُّوءِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ إِلَّا مَن ظُلِمَ
[Al-Nisāʾ: 148]
“Allah does not like public mention of evil except by one who has been wronged.”
And the Prophet ﷺ said:
إن لصاحب الحق مقالا
“One who has a right has the right to speak.”
[Bukhārī 2390]
② Preventing Harm or Sin:
If someone is involved in wrongdoing, it is permissible to inform those who can stop them.
The aim must be to reform, not to humiliate.This is supported by the command to enjoin good and forbid evil.
③ Seeking a Fatwa (Legal Verdict):
A person may mention another’s wrongdoing to seek religious guidance.
Example: Hind bint ʿUtbah (رضي الله عنها) told the Prophet ﷺ that her husband Abū Sufyān was stingy and did not provide enough. The Prophet ﷺ replied:“Take from his wealth what is sufficient for you and your children, in a reasonable manner.”
[Bukhārī 2211, Kitāb al-Buyūʿ 94]
Here, her mentioning his shortcoming was allowed because it was done to ask a legal question.
④ Warning Others or Offering Sincere Advice:
This includes:
- Informing someone about a person’s known faults to protect them from harm
- Criticizing Hadith narrators or court witnesses (accepted by scholarly consensus)
- Warning someone about a potential marriage, business, or neighborhood relationship
Example: Fāṭimah bint Qays (رضي الله عنها) consulted the Prophet ﷺ about marrying either Muʿāwiyah or Abū Jahm. He ﷺ said:“Muʿāwiyah is poor and owns nothing, and Abū Jahm beats women. Marry Usāmah.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1480]
This is part of nasiḥah (sincere counsel), as in the Hadith:
إذا استنصحك فانصح له
“When someone seeks your advice, give them sincere advice.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2162]
⑤ Speaking About Open Sinners or Public Wrongdoers:
If someone commits sins publicly—such as:
- Drinking alcohol in public
- Robbery
- Open indecency
It is permissible to mention these acts, because they do not care about hiding them.
Backbiting only applies when the person dislikes being mentioned.⑥ Mentioning Someone by a Known Title (Not Derogatory):
If a person is known by a certain nickname or physical trait, and:
- He does not dislike it, and
- It is the only way to identify him,
then it is allowed, even if it describes a deficiency, e.g.:
- Al-Aʿmash (weak-eyed)
- Al-Aʿraj (lame)
- Al-Aṣamm (deaf)
- Al-Aʿmā (blind)
Condition: It must not be used to humiliate.
✦ Backbiting Non-Muslims
Allah says:
وَلَا يَغْتَب بَّعْضُكُم بَعْضًا
“Do not backbite one another.”
And the Prophet ﷺ said:
ذِكْرُكَ أَخَاكَ بِمَا يَكْرَهُ
“Mentioning your brother with what he dislikes.”
This indicates that only the backbiting of fellow Muslims is forbidden. A disbeliever is not your brother in faith, hence the ruling differs.