By Asma bint Shameem
Gossip is called nameemah in Arabic and is a major sin, even if what you say is true.
*What is gossiping?*
Nameemah or gossip means telling some people what others have said about them and almost always involves gheebah as well.
al-Haafiz al-Mundhiri said:
“The ummah is unanimously agreed that nameemah is forbidden and that it is one of the greatest sins in the sight of Allaah.”
Ibn Hajar al-Haythami said:
“It refers to disclosure of anything that may hurt or offend somebody if it is disclosed, whether it is the person who is spoken about who is offended, or the person who hears the gossip, or a third party, whether it is disclosed verbally, in writing or by means of a hint or a gesture, and whether what is transmitted is an action, a word, a fault or a shortcoming in the person who is being talked about, or in someone else.
The definition of nameemah is uncovering secrets and disclosing that which it is not appropriate to disclose.
Hence we should keep silent and refrain from telling everything that we see of people’s situations, *unless* speaking of it will bring some *benefit* to a Muslim or ward off some harm.
For example, if you see a person taking someone else’s property, you have to bear witness to that, in contrast to if you see someone hiding his own money, in which case speaking of it would be nameemah and disclosing a person’s secrets.
If what is spoken of is a fault or shortcoming in the person of whom one speaks, then this is gheebah (backbiting) and nameemah (malicious gossip).”
(al-Zawaajir, no. 252: al-Nameemah)
*NO ENTRY IN JANNAH!*
Nameemah is counted among one of the *major sins* and the one who gossips will *not enter Jannah*!
The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:
“No person who spreads nameemah will enter Paradise.” According to another report, “No eavesdropper (qattaat)…”
(al-Bukhaari 6056, Muslim 105)
The scholars said:
“A qattaat is someone who spreads nameemah.
It was said that the one who spreads nameemah is the person who is with a group who are speaking, then he spreads gossip about them, and that the qattaat is the one who listens to them without them realizing, then he spreads gossip about them.”
*TORMENT IN THE GRAVE!*
Ibn ‘Abbaas Radhi Allaahu anhumaa said:
“The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam stepped out of one of the gardens of Madeenah, and he heard the sounds of two people who were being *tormented in their graves*.
He said, ‘They are being punished, not for something that was difficult to avoid, but it is nevertheless a major sin. One of them did not protect himself from urine (i.e., take measures to avoid contaminating himself or his clothes) and the other used to walk about *spreading nameemah*.’”
(al-Bukhaari 216, Muslim 292).
*LOSS on the DAY OF JUDGEMENT!*
On the day of Judgement, the good deeds of the one who has spread gossip and gheebah will be taken and given to the person they gossiped about.
The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:
“Whoever has wronged his brother with regard to his honor or something, let him ask him for forgiveness before the time when there will be neither dinar nor dirham, and if he has any good deeds it will be taken from him in proportion to the wrong he did, and if he does not have any good deeds (hasanaat), some of the other person's evil deeds (sayi’aat) will be taken and given to him to bear.” (al-Bukhaari)
And he Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:
“The one who is bankrupt among my ummah is the one who will come on the Day of Resurrection with prayer, fasting and zakaah to his credit, but he will come having slandered one person and shed the blood of another and wrongfully consumed the wealth of a third, so (his victims) will be given some of his hasanaat (good deeds), and if his hasanaat run out before the score is settled, some of their sins will be taken and thrown onto him, and he will be thrown into Hell.” (Muslim)
*So what to do if I have gossiped about someone?*
If a person is guilty of gossiping about someone, they should make immediate taubah and ask Allaah’s forgiveness.
They should also make Duaa for that person and give sadaqah on their behalf.
And if someone comes to us gossiping about another person, we should NOT participate in that.
Instead we should do what
Ibn Hajar al-Haythami advised.
He said:
“The person who hears some malicious gossip, such as being told ‘So and so said this about you’ or ‘he did this to you,’ must do six things:
1. He should not believe it, because the one who spreads nameemah is a faasiq (evildoer) according to scholarly consensus, and Allaah says:
“If a Faasiq (liar — evil person) comes to you with any news, verify it, lest you should harm people in ignorance, and afterwards you become regretful for what you have done”
[al-Hujuraat 49:6]
2. He should tell him not to repeat this evil action, which is evil in both religious and worldly terms.
3. He should hate him for the sake of Allaah if he shows no sign of repenting.
4. He should not think badly of the one of whom it was said, because he does not know whether that person really said it or did it.
5. What he has been told should not make him spy on others or look for their faults for the purpose of verifying what was said, because Allaah says:
“Avoid much suspicion; indeed some suspicions are sins. And spy not…”
[al-Hujuraat 49:12]
6. He should not approve for himself that which he has told the other person not to do, so he should not pass on the malicious gossip and say, ‘So and so told me this,’ otherwise he will also be gossiping and backbiting, and he will be doing that which he told someone else not to do.”(al-Zawaajir ‘an Iqtiraaf al-Kabaa’ir)
*Reminder*
So the next time you’re tempted to gossip about someone, remember the warnings and punishments for this major sin.
Just control your tongue and don’t fall in the trap of the Shaytaan.
Being punished in the grave is no joke!
Being denied entry to Jannah is no joke!
And Allaah knows best.