What is backbiting (gheebah) and how do I stop?

The short answer

Backbiting is mentioning someone in their absence in a way they would dislike, even if it is true. The Quran compares it to eating your dead brother's flesh. To stop, guard your tongue, change or leave conversations that turn to gossip, defend the absent person, and repent, including by speaking well of anyone you backbit.

Evidence 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Explanation

What it is. The Prophet ﷺ asked his Companions, "Do you know what is backbiting?", and explained: "your talking about your brother in a manner which he does not like" 1. It covers comments on someone's looks, family, religion, habits or mistakes, by words, mimicking them 4, or even a screenshot shared in a group chat.

How serious it is. Allah says: "do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it" 2. When the Prophet ﷺ was taken up to heaven, he saw people scratching their faces and breasts with nails of copper, and was told they were "those who were given to back biting and who aspersed people's honour" 3. Even a small remark counts: when Aisha (RA) hinted that Safiyyah (RA) was short, he said, "You have said a word which would change the sea if it were mixed in it" 4.

How to stop:

  • Pause before speaking. "Anybody who believes in Allah and the Last Day should talk what is good or keep quiet" 5.
  • Stop digging. The Prophet ﷺ warned against searching for people's faults: whoever does that, Allah will expose his own faults 6.
  • Defend the absent. "Whoever protects his brother's honor, Allah protects his face from the Fire on the Day of Resurrection" 7. A simple "Let's not talk about them when they're not here" works.
  • Cover rather than expose. "Whoever screened a Muslim, Allah will screen him on the Day of Resurrection" 8.
  • Change the company if a group always turns to gossip.

If you have already backbitten. Repent to Allah, who "is Accepting of repentance and Merciful" 2. Scholars also advise speaking well of the person where you spoke badly, and making dua for them.

The evidence

  1. 1
    Hadith Sahih Muslim 2589
    Sahih Muslim

    Backbiting is mentioning your brother in a way he dislikes.

    Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:Do you know what is backbiting? They (the Companions) said: Allah and His Messenger know best. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Backbiting implies your talking about your brother in a manner which he does not like. It was said to him: What is your opinion about this that if I actually find (that failing) in my brother which I made a mention of? He said: If (that failing) is actually found (in him) what you assert, you in fact backbited him, and if that is not in him it is a slander

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَيُّوبَ، وَقُتَيْبَةُ، وَابْنُ، حُجْرٍ قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، عَنِ الْعَلاَءِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏ أَتَدْرُونَ مَا الْغِيبَةُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالُوا اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ ذِكْرُكَ أَخَاكَ بِمَا يَكْرَهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قِيلَ أَفَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ كَانَ فِي أَخِي مَا أَقُولُ قَالَ ‏"‏ إِنْ كَانَ فِيهِ مَا تَقُولُ فَقَدِ اغْتَبْتَهُ وَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِيهِ فَقَدْ بَهَتَّهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

  2. 2
    Quran Al-Hujuraat · 49:12

    Do not backbite; it is like eating your dead brother's flesh; Allah accepts repentance.

    يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱجۡتَنِبُواْ كَثِيرࣰ ا مِّنَ ٱلظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعۡضَ ٱلظَّنِّ إِثۡمࣱۖ وَلَا تَجَسَّسُواْ وَلَا يَغۡتَب بَّعۡضُكُم بَعۡضًاۚ أَيُحِبُّ أَحَدُكُمۡ أَن يَأۡكُلَ لَحۡمَ أَخِيهِ مَيۡتࣰ ا فَكَرِهۡتُمُوهُۚ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ تَوَّابࣱ رَّحِيمࣱ‏ ۝١٢

    O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Accepting of repentance and Merciful

  3. 3
    Hadith Sunan Abi Dawud 4878
    Sahih graded by Al-Albani

    When taken up to heaven, the Prophet ﷺ saw backbiters scratching their faces and breasts with nails of copper.

    Narrated Anas ibn Malik: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: When I was taken up to heaven I passed by people who had nails of copper and were scratching their faces and their breasts. I said: Who are these people, Gabriel? He replied: They are those who were given to back biting and who aspersed people's honour. Abu Dawud said: Yahya b. 'Uthman has also transmitted it from Baqiyyah, there is no mention of Anas in it

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ الْمُصَفَّى، حَدَّثَنَا بَقِيَّةُ، وَأَبُو الْمُغِيرَةِ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا صَفْوَانُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي رَاشِدُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، وَعَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ لَمَّا عُرِجَ بِي مَرَرْتُ بِقَوْمٍ لَهُمْ أَظْفَارٌ مِنْ نُحَاسٍ يَخْمِشُونَ وُجُوهَهُمْ وَصُدُورَهُمْ فَقُلْتُ مَنْ هَؤُلاَءِ يَا جِبْرِيلُ قَالَ هَؤُلاَءِ الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ لُحُومَ النَّاسِ وَيَقَعُونَ فِي أَعْرَاضِهِمْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ حَدَّثَنَاهُ يَحْيَى بْنُ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ بَقِيَّةَ لَيْسَ فِيهِ أَنَسٌ ‏.‏

  4. 4
    Hadith Sunan Abi Dawud 4875
    Sahih graded by Al-Albani

    A remark about Safiyyah's height was a word that would change the sea if mixed in it.

    Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin: I said to the Prophet (ﷺ): It is enough for you in Safiyyah that she is such and such (the other version than Musaddad's has:) meaning that she was short-statured. He replied; You have said a word which would change the sea if it were mixed in it. She said: I imitated a man before him (out of disgrace). He said: I do not like that I imitate anyone even if I should get such and such

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عَلِيُّ بْنُ الأَقْمَرِ، عَنْ أَبِي حُذَيْفَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ قُلْتُ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَسْبُكَ مِنْ صَفِيَّةَ كَذَا وَكَذَا قَالَ غَيْرُ مُسَدَّدٍ تَعْنِي قَصِيرَةً ‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ لَقَدْ قُلْتِ كَلِمَةً لَوْ مُزِجَتْ بِمَاءِ الْبَحْرِ لَمَزَجَتْهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَتْ وَحَكَيْتُ لَهُ إِنْسَانًا فَقَالَ ‏"‏ مَا أُحِبُّ أَنِّي حَكَيْتُ إِنْسَانًا وَأَنَّ لِي كَذَا وَكَذَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏

  5. 5
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 6018
    Sahih Bukhari

    Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak good or keep quiet.

    Narrated Abu Huraira:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Anybody who believes in Allah and the Last Day should not harm his neighbor, and anybody who believes in Allah and the Last Day should entertain his guest generously and anybody who believes in Allah and the Last Day should talk what is good or keep quiet. (i.e. abstain from all kinds of evil and dirty talk)

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَحْوَصِ، عَنْ أَبِي حَصِينٍ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ مَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ فَلاَ يُؤْذِ جَارَهُ، وَمَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ فَلْيُكْرِمْ ضَيْفَهُ، وَمَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ فَلْيَقُلْ خَيْرًا أَوْ لِيَصْمُتْ ‏"‏‏.‏

  6. 6
    Hadith Sunan Abi Dawud 4880
    Hasan Sahih graded by Al-Albani

    Do not backbite Muslims or search for their faults; whoever does, Allah will expose his faults.

    Narrated AbuBarzah al-Aslami: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: O community of people, who believed by their tongue, and belief did not enter their hearts, do not back-bite Muslims, and do not search for their faults, for if anyone searches for their faults, Allah will search for his fault, and if Allah searches for the fault of anyone, He disgraces him in his house

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَسْوَدُ بْنُ عَامِرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ عَيَّاشٍ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ جُرَيْجٍ، عَنْ أَبِي بَرْزَةَ الأَسْلَمِيِّ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ يَا مَعْشَرَ مَنْ آمَنَ بِلِسَانِهِ وَلَمْ يَدْخُلِ الإِيمَانُ قَلْبَهُ لاَ تَغْتَابُوا الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَلاَ تَتَّبِعُوا عَوْرَاتِهِمْ فَإِنَّهُ مَنِ اتَّبَعَ عَوْرَاتِهِمْ يَتَّبِعِ اللَّهُ عَوْرَتَهُ وَمَنْ يَتَّبِعِ اللَّهُ عَوْرَتَهُ يَفْضَحْهُ فِي بَيْتِهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

  7. 7
    Hadith Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1931
    Sahih graded by Al-Albani

    Whoever protects his brother's honour, Allah protects his face from the Fire.

    Abu Ad-Darda narrated that the Messenger of Allah said:"Whoever protects his brother's honor, Allah protects his face from the Fire on the Day of Resurrection

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ، عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرٍ النَّهْشَلِيِّ، عَنْ مَرْزُوقٍ أَبِي بَكْرٍ التَّيْمِيِّ، عَنْ أُمِّ الدَّرْدَاءِ، عَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ مَنْ رَدَّ عَنْ عِرْضِ أَخِيهِ رَدَّ اللَّهُ عَنْ وَجْهِهِ النَّارَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ أَسْمَاءَ بِنْتِ يَزِيدَ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ ‏.‏

  8. 8
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 2442
    Sahih Bukhari

    Whoever screens a Muslim, Allah will screen him on the Day of Resurrection.

    Narrated `Abdullah bin `Umar:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "A Muslim is a brother of another Muslim, so he should not oppress him, nor should he hand him over to an oppressor. Whoever fulfilled the needs of his brother, Allah will fulfill his needs; whoever brought his (Muslim) brother out of a discomfort, Allah will bring him out of the discomforts of the Day of Resurrection, and whoever screened a Muslim, Allah will screen him on the Day of Resurrection

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ بُكَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ عُقَيْلٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، أَنَّ سَالِمًا، أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ الْمُسْلِمُ أَخُو الْمُسْلِمِ، لاَ يَظْلِمُهُ وَلاَ يُسْلِمُهُ، وَمَنْ كَانَ فِي حَاجَةِ أَخِيهِ كَانَ اللَّهُ فِي حَاجَتِهِ، وَمَنْ فَرَّجَ عَنْ مُسْلِمٍ كُرْبَةً فَرَّجَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ كُرْبَةً مِنْ كُرُبَاتِ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ، وَمَنْ سَتَرَ مُسْلِمًا سَتَرَهُ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ‏"‏‏.‏

This answer was compiled with the help of AI, using only the verified texts shown here. Every reference links to its source. If you find a mistake, please report it. Updated 2026-09-24

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