عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: «أَتَدْرُونَ مَا الْغِيبَةُ؟»، قَالُوا: اللهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ، قَالَ: «ذِكْرُكَ أَخَاكَ بِمَا يَكْرَهُ»، قِيلَ: أَفَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ كَانَ فِي أَخِي مَا أَقُولُ؟ قَالَ: «إِنْ كَانَ فِيهِ مَا تَقُولُ فَقَدِ اغْتَبْتَهُ، وَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِيهِ فَقَدْ بَهَتَّهُ».
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Do you know what backbiting is?" They said: "Allah and His Messenger know best." He said: "It is to say of your brother what he dislikes." It was said: "What do you think if what I say of my brother is true?" He said: "If what you say of him is true, you have backbitten him; and if not, you have slandered him."
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Explanation
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) clarified the prohibited backbiting, which is to speak about an absent Muslim in a way he dislikes, whether you mention traits related to his manners or appearance, like saying the one-eyed man, the cheater, the liar, and or any other reprehensible trait, even if it truly exists in him. However, if the trait does not exist in him, this is worse than backbiting. This is slander, which is to fabricate bad things about someone.
Benefits
- The Hadīth shows the Prophet’s excellent way of teaching, as he used to bring up issues by means of questions.
- It demonstrates the Companions' politeness towards the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) when they said: Allah and His Messenger know best.
- A person questioned about something he does not know should say: Allah knows best.
- The Shariah protects society by maintaining the rights of its members and the fraternity among them.
- Backbiting is prohibited except, in some cases, for serving a certain interest. Examples include the removal of oppression, as an oppressed person speaks to someone who is able to restore his right to him from the one who wronged him, saying: So-and-so wronged me or did such and such to me. Another example is when someone seeks the opinion of others regarding marriage, partnership, neighboring, and so on.
Reference
صحيح مسلم (4/ 2001) (2589). فتح ذي الجلال والاكرام بشرح بلوغ المرام، لابن عثيمين (6/ 378). منحة العلام في شرح بلوغ المرام، لعبد الله الفوزان (10/ 237). توضيح الأحكام من بلوغ المرام، للبسام (7/ 428).