Ways of The Prophet (S.A.W)

Back biting

Hadrat Abu Said and Hadrat Jabir (Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhum) narrated that the Messenger of ALLAH (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) said, “Back biting is worse than fornication (Zina)”. When asked how slander was worse than fornication (Zina) he replied, “A man commits (Zina) and returns (in repentance) and ALLAH returns [in forgiveness] to him (a version giving that he returns in repentance and ALLAH forgives him); but back biting is not forgiven till the person who has been spoken about forgives him.” [Mishkat, Baihaqi]

Hadrat Abu Hurairah (Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu) narrated that ALLAH’s Messenger (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) asked if they knew what back biting was, and on receiving the reply that ALLAH and his Messenger knew best, said, “It is saying something about your brother which he would dislike”. Someone asked him to tell him how matters stood if what he said about his brother was true, and he replied, “If what you say about him is true, you have indulged in his back biting, and if it is not true you have falsely accused him”. [Muslim]