The Best Dowry (Part Seven)

Fasting and Gheebat

There is no need to stress the importance of Fasting to you. You do keep, besides Ramadhaan Shareef, Nafl fasts, like most girls are in the habit of. In this particular act, women display more courage than men. But what is necessary to mention is that the fast should be maintained in its pure and pristine state.

Abstention from gheebat (backbiting) is incumbent at all times, because gheebat is a major sin. The Qur’aan Shareef and Hadeeth Shareef denounce gheebat severely. Allah Ta’ala says:

“O those who profess to be Believers! Stay away much from suspicion. Indeed, some suspicions are sinful. Do not pry and do not backbite each other. Do any of you like to devour the flesh of his brother (or sister)!? You detest it. Fear Allah. Indeed, Allah accepts repentance all the time and He is exceedingly compassionate.” (Surah Hujuraat)

Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaih wasallam) said:

“Gheebat is worse than zina.”

The Sahaabah (Radhiyallahu anhum) asked: “Yaa Rasulallah! Why is gheebat worse than zina?”

Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) replied: “A man commits zina, then Allah Ta’ala accepts his taubah. But one who indulges in gheebat is not forgiven until the one whose gheebat he made does not forgive him.” (Mishkaat Shareef)

Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam also said: “Atonement for gheebat is to seek forgiveness for the person who you backbite. In your Du’aa you should say, ‘O Allah! Forgive us and him.’” (Mishkaat Shareef)

But whilst fasting, there is an even greater need to be careful in this regard.

Do not backbite anyone. The reward for fasting is eliminated because of backbiting. Allah Ta’ala does not care for a fast in which a person speaks lies and backbites.

(Behtereen Jahez – To be continued, Insha Allah)