Backbiting and slander

13-3-2004 | IslamWeb

Question:

How do you deal with evil people who want to defame your name and position in society by slandering and backbiting you? What is the best way to ensure that truth will prevail over their falsehood? I'd really appreciate your comments and advice.

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

 

First of all, you should exhort those people and clarify to them the Ruling of Allaah about the bickbiter / slanderer, as the Prophet said: "A backbiter / slanderer will not enter Paradise." [Muslim and Ahmad and others]

Backbiting and slandering are among the grave major sins.

Accusing a Muslim of Zina (fornication and adultery) is also among the major sins.  Allaah Says (what means): {And those who accuse chaste women and then do not produce four witnesses — lash them with eighty lashes and do not accept from them testimony ever after. And those are the defiantly disobedient,

Except for those who repent thereafter and reform, for indeed Allaah is Forgiving and Merciful.} [Quran 24:4-5]

Allaah also Says (what means): {Indeed, those who [falsely] accuse chaste, unaware and believing women are cursed in this world and the Hereafter; and they will have a great punishment. On a Day when their tongues, their hands and their feet will bear witness against them as to what they used to do.} [Quran 24:23-24]

Ibn Hajar Al-Haythami wrote in his book entitled Az-Zawaajir: "All the Muslim scholars agree that the above verse refers to accusations of Zina, homosexuality and such acts. Also accusing chaste men is like accusing chaste women."

Therefore, you may sue them to stop them from what they are doing. If exhortation and taking them to court does not benefit, then you may supplicate Allaah to repel their harm off you.

Allaah Knows best.