💌 To those with friends who indulge in childish gossiping,
Who collect sins through character assassination
And who misuse their voice for lying and backbiting:
Are you too scared to defend those who are backbitten,
Or are you as low as gossipers so you join them?
~•~
Three things, if you do them, signify you're guilty too
Of backbiting since you're sad, jealous or insecure:
One: When your friends make jokes to destroy someone's repute,
You chime in, add remarks like "Yeah, she's weird. That's for sure.",
"You're right. His dark teeth are nasty. He's one ugly dude."
~•~
And "I agree. She eats so much. Even more than pigs."
Two: When you pass by friends preoccupied with gossip,
Or they mock absentees in a way that's offensive,
You laugh out loud, giggle, and become more attentive,
Not stopping the sinful talk nor changing the subject.
~•~
Three: When you overhear someone's name being tarnished,
Or witness colleagues verbally spoil their good image,
All you do is listen, with a smile, cowardly sit,
And refuse to say a word, afraid they'll get upset.
Why not leave them till they're done eating a Muslim's flesh?
~•~
Next time clowns and jokesters joke about one who's absent,
Speak up, or comment with "It's wrong to be backbiting.",
Say something positive to deflect their foul statements,
Or ditch that group with toxic souls who gain people's sins.
Pure hearts are allergic to nonsense and gossiping.
~•~
📖 Abu Darda RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Whoever defends the reputation of his brother, Allah will defend his face from the Hellfire on the Day of Resurrection."
Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 1931
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Albani
📖 Asma’ Bint Yazid RadhiAllahu 'anha narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Whoever defends the flesh of his brother from backbiting, it will be a duty upon Allah to free him from the Hellfire."
Source: Musnad Ahmed 26950
Grade: Hasan (Fair) according to Al-Suyuti
📖 Wathilah Ibn Al-Asqa’ RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Do not rejoice over the misfortune of your brother, lest Allah has mercy upon him and afflicts you with trials."
Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 2506
Grade: Hasan (Fair) according to At-Tirmidhi
https://abdurrahman.org/2015/04/26/the-sin-of-listening-to-the-backbiting-and-not-prohibiting-it-imam-nawawi/amp/