BACKBITING IS
FORBIDDEN

The Quran offers believers certain moral instructions that, if followed, can purify a society of harmful traits at the individual level. Among these is the following guidance:

“Believers, avoid much suspicion. Indeed, some suspicion is a sin. And do not spy on one another, nor backbite one another. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? No, you would hate it. So fear God. God is ever forgiving and most merciful.” (Quran, 49:12)

Backbiting means speaking ill of someone in their absence. In the verse above, backbiting is likened to eating the flesh of a dead person—a graphic metaphor that shows how detestable this act is in the sight of God.

There is a narration in which a man asked the Prophet of Islam, “What is backbiting?” The Prophet replied, “It is to say something about your brother that he would dislike if he heard it.” The man then asked, “Even if what I say is true?” The Prophet responded, “If what you say is false, then that is slander.” (Muwatta of Malik, Hadith No. 2083)

Today, backbiting has become one of the most widespread social ills, particularly within households. It is often observed that when groups—especially women—gather, conversations quickly turn to complaints about others. These discussions fall squarely under the definition of backbiting: speaking negatively about someone behind their back when that person is not present to respond. This habit is now so common that very few people, especially women, can be found who are entirely free from it.

Commenting on this verse, Maulana Shabbir Ahmad Usmani writes:

“What fuels division and conflict most are these very behaviours. One group becomes so suspicious of another that it leaves no room for positive assumptions. Even if someone’s words allow for countless interpretations of goodwill and only one that implies wrongdoing, a suspicious mind will always assume the worst. That assumption is then treated as fact, and accusations and blame follow. Not only that—people begin actively searching for others’ faults, just to expose and ridicule them. Backbiting becomes the centerpiece of their gatherings. The Quran forbids all of this. If Muslims were to follow this guidance, conflicts would not escalate beyond control and would soon get resolved. In fact, such issues would disappear within days.” (Tafsir Usmani, p. 671)

This verse from Surah Al-Hujurat addresses both men and women. It instructs us not to form negative opinions about others based solely on suspicion. If one chooses to assume the best, no harm is done to the family or community. But forming bad opinions without evidence can cause serious damage.

The harm caused by backbiting and constant complaining is immense. In any home or community where people frequently speak ill of others, unity is lost and goodwill fades. Even for one’s own moral and personal development, it is essential to guard the tongue against backbiting, gossip, and slander. Just as eating rotting flesh would harm the body, habitual backbiting corrupts the soul. A person who regularly indulges in such behaviour fosters a toxic personality, eventually losing all inner beauty and dignity.