Allah Almighty says: {backbiter, gossip-monger} [Surat al-Qalam: 11] And He says: {Not a single word he utters but there is with him a vigilant watcher, ready [to record it].} [Surat Qāf: 18]
1536/1- Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The one who engages in malicious gossip will not enter Paradise.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
1) Malicious gossip is one of the major sins which blocks its doer from entering Paradise.
2) The Hadīth urges reconciliation between people, being one of the deeds that guarantee Paradise.
1537/2- Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) passed by two graves and said: “Verily, they are being punished, but not for a grave matter. No, it is grave in fact! As for one of them, he used to walk about with malicious gossip, and the other did not protect himself from the traces of his urine.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim; this is the wording of one of the narrations of Al-Bukhāri]
Scholars said the meaning of “not for a grave matter” is that the sins they are punished for are not grave according to their own assumption. It was also said that it means it was not hard for them to refrain from.
Did not protect himself from his urine: he did not avoid getting smeared by it; did not protect himself against being soiled by his urine.
1) Malicious gossip is prohibited because it is one of the major sins.
2) It is not permissible for one to look down upon sins and misdeeds; rather, he should feel that they are grave so that he would be urged to repent and seek Allah’s forgiveness.
1538/3- Ibn Masūd (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Shall I tell you what ‘Adh is? It is malicious gossip; tale-bearing and sowing enmity among the people.” [Narrated by Muslim]
‘Adh or ‘Idh: lying and slander.
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1) It is obligatory to warn against mischievous people and expose their ways and tricks.
2) The Hadīth openly criticizes malicious gossip because it is a reason for corrupting people’s relationships.