Allah Almighty says: {When they hear vain talk, they turn away from it} [Surat al-Qasas: 55] And He says: {and those who turn away from all that is vain.} [Surat al-Mu’minūn: 3] And He says: {Indeed, the hearing, the sight, and the heart, all of them will be called to account.} [Surat al-Isrā’: 36] And He says: {When you see those who ridicule Our verses, turn away from them until they engage in another discourse. If Satan should make you forget, then as soon as you remember, do not remain with the wrongdoing people.} [Surat al-An‘ām: 68]
1) One of the distinguishing sign of the believers is their turning away from foul speech.
2) It is obligatory to leave gatherings where there is backbiting of other people when one is not able to forbid it.
1528/1- Abu al-Dardā’ (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever protects the honor of his brother in his absence, Allah will protect his face from the Fire on the Day of Judgment.” [Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi; he classified it as Hasan (sound)]
1) Defending the honor of a Muslim is a means for salvation from the punishment of the Day of Judgment.
2) The Hadīth indicates that the Muslim’s inviolability is a serious matter, and that assaulting it by words or deeds is a crime.
1529-/2- ‘Itbān ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported in his famous lengthy Hadīth which we previously cited in the Chapter on Hoping for Allah’s Mercy that: “When the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) got up to offer the prayer, he said: ‘Where is Mālik ibn al-Dukhshum?’ A man said: ‘He is a hypocrite who does not love Allah or His Messenger.’ Thereupon, the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘Do not say that. Do you not know that he said: There is no god but Allah, seeking thereby nothing but Allah’s Countenance, and that Allah has forbidden the Fire for anyone who says: There is no god but Allah, seeking thereby nothing but Allah’s Countenance.’” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
‘Itbān is the more famous pronunciation of this Companion’s name, and it is also reported to be ‘Utbān.
1) It is obligatory to defend the believers, protect their honor in their absence, help them, and never fail them.
2) The Hadīth highlights the virtue of the Testimony of Faith; whoever says it while fulfilling its requirements, seeking thereby the Countenance of Allah, He will make the Fire forbidden for him.
1530/3- Ka‘b ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported in his lengthy Hadīth on the story of his repentance which we previously cited in the Chapter on Repentance that he said: “The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said when he was sitting with the people in Tabūk: ‘What has Ka‘b ibn Mālik done?’ A man from the tribe of Banu Salamah said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, the embellishment of his cloak and an appreciation of his flanks have detained him.’ Mu‘ādh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) said: ‘What an evil thing you have said! O Messenger of Allah, by Allah, we know nothing about him but good.’ The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) remained silent.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
Flanks: his two sides, and it is an indication of his self-admiration.
--
1) Whoever hears his Muslim brother being backbitten must defend him and express his disapproval to the backbiter. This is one of the rights the believers have upon one another.
2) Attending gatherings where there is backbiting of others, and assaulting the honors of people without showing one’s disapproval of that exposes him to punishment.