BENEFIT: Subtle Forms of Backbiting

Shaykh Al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allāh have mercy on him, explains some of the methods people employ to cunningly engage in backbiting: 1⃣. Among people are those who backbite to conform to their companions, friends, and tribesmen, despite knowing that the one being intended by their speech is innocent of what they allege, or is only guilty of some of it. However, he considers that if he were to forbid them, it would disrupt the gathering, and the attendees would find it burdensome and turn away from him. Thus, he views conforming with them as a form of good companionship and pleasant fellowship. They may become angry, so he becomes angry for their sake, and thus plunges into it with them. Among them are those who present backbiting in various forms: 2⃣. At times, under the guise of religiosity and piety, saying: 'It is not my habit to mention anyone except in good terms, and I do not like backbiting or lying; I am merely informing you of his circumstances.' He might say: 'By Allāh, he is a pitiable man, or a good man; but he has such-and-such faults.' He may even say: 'Let us leave him, may Allāh forgive us and him,' while his actual intention is to belittle and disparage him. They present backbiting in forms of piety and religiosity, thereby [seeking to] deceive Allāh just as they deceive a created being. We have witnessed numerous types of this behaviour and its like from them. 3⃣. Among them is he who praises another hypocritically, thereby actually elevating himself. He says: 'If only I had prayed for so-and-so last night in my prayer,' due to what reached him about such-and-such, intending to elevate himself and diminish the other in the eyes of those who hold him in esteem. Or he says: 'So-and-so is dull-minded and has little understanding,' intending thereby to praise himself and affirm his own knowledge and superiority. 4⃣. Among them is he whom envy drives to backbite, thus combining two vile traits: backbiting and envy. When someone is praised, he negates that praise by whatever means he can to disparage him, either under the guise of religion and piety, or through outright envy, transgression, and censure, to invalidate that praise. 5⃣. Among them is he who presents backbiting as jesting and play, to make others laugh through his mockery, imitation, and belittling of the one being ridiculed. 6⃣. Among them is he who presents backbiting under the guise of astonishment, saying: 'I am astonished at so-and-so, how could he not do such-and-such?' or 'How did such-and-such happen from so-and-so?' or 'How could he do such-and-such?' Thus, he mentions the person's name in the context of expressing amazement! 7⃣. Among them is he who presents it as grief, saying: 'Poor so-and-so! I am grieved by what happened to him, and what transpired for him.' The listener assumes he is saddened for him and feels sorry, while his heart is concealed with gloating. If he had the power, he would increase the harm upon him. He might even mention him before his enemies so they may gloat over him. This and other such behaviours are among the greatest diseases of the heart and forms of deception against Allāh and His creation. 8⃣. Among them is he who displays backbiting under the guise of anger and condemning an evil. In this matter, he displays things that are embellishments of speech, while his intention is other than what he shows. And in Allāh alone we seek help." [Majmū‘ Al-Fatāwā 28/236] #tarbiyah@masjidsahabah