All praise belongs to Allaah, Lord of the Worlds. Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon Muhammad (saws) his family, his Companions and all those who follow him till the Last Day.

THE MUSLIM CHARACTER

Continuation of our topic The Bad Consequences of the Tongue.

Overcoming the evil habit of backbiting:

Firstly, as Imaam an-Nawawee - rahimahullaah - said that one should remember the punishment of Allah.

And remember that Allah is the Lord of the heavens and the earth. He is the One, aware of ever saying, at every time. Then if one remembers this, then it is only natural that one will be modest and shy in this aspect.

We need to realize that when one of us is hurt, when something wrong is said about the creation, then what about the Creator, who is the All-Seeing and All Hearing.

Secondly, we should reflect on the Qur'aanic verse, “Do not backbite each other, would any of you wish to eat the flesh of your dead brother, no rather you hate it!!” [Soorah Hujarat :12]

And we surely hate even the thought of it.

Thirdly, fear that your own faults would be revealed, as the Messenger of Allah - Sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam - said, “O you who believe with your tongues, yet eeman has not entered your hearts. Do not backbite the Muslims, nor follow their faults. For he who follows others faults then Allaah will declare (disclose) his faults and he whom Allah reveals his faults, then Allah disgraces him in his own house.” - Sunan Abu Dawood (3/4862) and and authenticated by Sheikh al-Albani in
Saheeh Jaami’ Sagheer

Fourthly, take the advice of the pious scholars of Islaam, among them ….

Umer ibn Khattab - radiyallaahu' anhu - who said, “Be careful from remembering people for it is an illness and be in the remembrance of Allah for it is a medicine.”

A man came to al-Hasan al-Basri - rahimahullaah - and said that, he heard that al-Hassan al-Basri had backbitten him. Upon this he - rahimahullaah - said, “Who are you that I may give you my rewards?”

Fifth, and the most important thing to keep in mind is that there is a great reward to refrain from backbiting, as the Messenger of Allah - Sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam - said, “Whoever protects the honor of his brother in his absence, Allah will protect his face from the Fire on the Day of Judgment.” - Sunan at-Tirmidhi and and authenticated by Sheikh al-Albani in Saheeh
Sunan at-Tirmidhi (2/1575)

Tomorrow (in shaa Allaah) on another topic under (The Bad Consequences of the Tongue)

May Almighty Allaah protect us till tomorrow.

Abdul Hakeem Mudaththir Keudirorun At-Thaqoofiy Abu Maryam.