27/23. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 1934 — What Is Backbiting?
What Has Been Related About Backbiting
What Is Backbiting in Islam? Hadith Explained
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 1934
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 1934
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنِ الْعَلاَءِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا الْغِيبَةُ قَالَ " ذِكْرُكَ أَخَاكَ بِمَا يَكْرَهُ " . قَالَ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ كَانَ فِيهِ مَا أَقُولُ قَالَ " إِنْ كَانَ فِيهِ مَا تَقُولُ فَقَدِ اغْتَبْتَهُ وَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِيهِ مَا تَقُولُ فَقَدْ بَهَتَّهُ " . قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ أَبِي بَرْزَةَ وَابْنِ عُمَرَ وَعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
It was said: " O Messenger Of Allah! What Is Backbiting?" He Said : " Mentioning Your Brother With That Which He Does Not Like." He Said " What If What I Said About Him Is So?" He Said: "If What You Said About Him Is So, Then You Have Backbitten Him, And If It Is Not As You Said, Then You Have Slandered Him."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1934In-book reference : Book 27, Hadith 40English translation : Vol. 4, Book 1, Hadith 1934
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 1934
This hadith about backbiting gives a direct definition. Someone asked the Messenger of Allah, “What is backbiting?” He answered: mentioning your brother with that which he does not like. The questioner then asked what if the thing said is true. The Prophet explained that if it is true, then it is backbiting. If it is not true, then it is slander. This is important because many people excuse harmful speech by saying, “But it is true.” The hadith does not accept that excuse. It separates two wrongs: backbiting when the disliked statement is true, and slander when it is false. The teaching protects a person’s dignity and speech.
What we learn from this hadith
- Backbiting is saying about your brother what he dislikes.
- Truth does not automatically make such speech acceptable.
- If the claim is false, the hadith calls it slander.
- The hadith teaches Muslims to be careful with speech about others.
