Fasting and Backbiting

  Fasting and Backbiting

 

 

 

 

Abu Ubaidah (Radhiallaahu Ánhu) reports: "I have heard RasuluLlah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) saying: "Fasting is a protective Shield for Man, as long as he does not tear up that protection'

 

Once somebody inquired from Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam), "What causes the fast to be rent[destroyed]?" He replied: 'Telling lies and backbiting.'

 

 

 During the time of our Nabi (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam), two women were fasting and suffered the pangs of hunger to such an extent that the fast became unbearable and both were on the point of death. The "Sahaaba" brought this to the notice of our Nabi (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam), who sent a bowl commanding them to vomit into it. When they both vomitted in the bowl, pieces of meat and fresh blood were found in it. The "Sahaaba" were greatly surprised, upon which our Nabi (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) said: "They fasted with 'Halaal' food from Allah, but partook of 'Haraam' food by backbiting other people." 

 

 Once the Prophet, (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam), on seeing some people, asked them to pick their teeth. They said that they had not tasted any meat that day, on which the Prophet (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) said, "So and so's flesh is sticking to your teeth." It transpired that they had been backbiting. May Allah keep us safe from this evil, because we are very neglectful of this warning. All are guilty of this; not to speak of the common man, even the people of importance indulge in it, even the religious people in their gatherings do not avoid backbiting. Worst of all is the fact that we do not even realize what backbiting is; even when we suspect ourselves of this, we try to cover it up as narration of some event.

 

One of the 'Sahaaba' inquired from Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) "What is backbiting?" Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) replied: "To mention something about your brother behind his back, which he would resent." The 'Sahaabi' then said: "And is it still backbiting if the thing mentioned about him is really true?" Our Nabi (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) said: 'In that case (if that which was mentioned is really true) it is precisely backbiting; but if what is mentioned is false, then you have in fact slandered him."

 

Once our Nabi (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) passed by two graves. He said: "On both the inmates of these graves, punishment is being inflicted in the grave. One is being punished because of backbiting, the other because of not having taken precautions (to stay clean) when passing urine. Rasulullah ((Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) also said: "There are more than seventy degrees of evil in (Usury) interest. The lowest form of it is comparable to committing incest with own mother; and taking one 'Dirham' of interest is a worse evil than having fornicated thirty five times. The worst and most evil degree of taking interest is the slandering of a Muslim."

 

It is equally unlawful to listen to anything that should not be said. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) has said, 'In backbiting, both the bickbiter and the one who listens to it are equal partners in sin.'

 

Dua: '

What ailment is there O Allah that is not in me,
Heal me from every illness and grant me my needs
Verily I have a heart that is sick
Verily you are the Healer of the sick'