“What do you think (1) if what I say about my brother is in fact true?” He replied, “If what you say about him is true, you have backbitten him; but if it is not true, you have slandered him.” (2) Reported by Muslim.
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Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that, in his sermon on the Day of Sacrifice at Minā during the Farewell Pilgrimage, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Your blood, your property, and your honor are sacrosanct among you, just as the sanctity of this day of yours, in this month of yours, in this city of yours. Have I conveyed the message?” Agreed upon.
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ʿĀʾishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: I remarked to the Prophet ﷺ, “It is enough (3) about Safiyyah that she is such-and-such.” One of the narrators explained that she meant “short.” He said, “You have uttered a word which, were it mixed with the water of the sea, it would taint it!” She added, “I also once mimicked a person (4) in his presence,” whereupon he said, “I would not like to mimic anyone, even if I were given such-and-such.” Reported by Abū Dāwūd and al-Tirmidhī, who classified it as ḥasan ṣaḥīḥ. (5)
The meaning of “would taint it” is that the word would mingle with the seawater so thoroughly that its taste or odor would change because of its intense foulness and repulsiveness. This ḥadith is among the most powerful warnings against backbiting. Allah the Exalted says, “Nor does he speak from whim; it is nothing but revelation sent down” (Quran 53:3-4).
- Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “When I was taken up (during the Ascension), I passed by a people with nails of copper clawing at their faces (6) and chests. I asked, ‘Who are these, O Gabriel?’ He said, ‘These are the ones who consume people’s flesh and assail their honor!’” Reported by Abū Dāwūd.