His statement, “backbiting”: with the letter ghayn pronounced with kasrah; it means mentioning your brother in a manner he dislikes, whether concerning a physical defect, a defect in character, his conduct, or his manners.

His statement, “insulting”: this means maligning another person in his presence.

These matters are prohibited for both the fasting person and others. However, they have been mentioned here by way of emphasis, because the obligation upon the fasting person to fulfill obligatory duties and refrain from prohibited matters is more emphatic than it is for others.

The evidence for this is the saying of Allah Most High: “O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may become mindful of Allah.” [al-Baqarah] This is the wisdom behind the prescription of fasting: that it should be a means of attaining mindfulness of Allah, by fulfilling obligatory duties and abstaining from prohibited matters.

The evidence for this from the sunnah is the Prophet’s saying, peace and blessings be upon him: “Whoever does not give up false speech, acting upon it, and ignorant conduct, Allah has no need for him to give up his food and drink.” (1) That is, Allah did not intend by fasting that we merely abstain from food and drink; for if that were what Allah intended, it would imply that Allah wishes to punish us. Yet Allah Most High says: “Why should Allah punish you if you are grateful and believe?” [al-Nisaʾ: 147] Rather, He wants us to be mindful of Allah, as He says: “So that you may become mindful of Allah.”

His statement in the hadith, “Whoever does not give up false speech,” means lying. Or, if you wish, you may say that falsehood is every prohibited statement, because it deviates from the straight path.

His statement, “and acting upon it,” means acting upon falsehood, which includes every prohibited deed.