Abstain From Gheebat

Main Topic

Preparing for the blessed month of Ramadan by purging spiritual diseases of the heart, with a special emphasis on abstaining from backbiting (ghibat).

Key Lessons

• Many people fast or pray at night but gain nothing except hunger and exhaustion because open and hidden sins strip away the spiritual light (nur) of their good deeds.
• Backbiting (ghibat) is severe because it ruins good deeds instantly, creates arrogance, and cannot be forgiven by Allah Ta'ala until the victim forgives the offender.
• One should never trivialize any good deed or consider any sin minor; dismissing a sin as small reflects disrespect toward Allah Ta'ala.
• Backbiting is fueled by underlying spiritual diseases such as anger, malice, and envy (hasad).
• Purifying the heart from ill feelings allows a person to experience spiritual strength and joy in worship during Ramadan.

Quranic/Hadith References

• Hadith: Many who fast gain nothing but hunger, and many who pray at night gain nothing but tiredness.
• Surah Al-Hujurat: Allah Ta'ala compares backbiting to eating the flesh of one's dead brother.
• Incident from the Seerah: Two fasting women during the time of Nabi Sallallahu alayhi wasallam vomited raw flesh and blood because they engaged in backbiting while fasting.
• Hadith to Sayyidina Abu Dharr Radiyallahu anhu: Do not consider any good deed trivial, even meeting your brother with a smiling face.
• Narrations regarding a sinful woman forgiven for watering a thirsty dog, and a woman punished in the grave for mistreating a cat.
• Story of the Sahabi whom Nabi Sallallahu alayhi wasallam promised Jannah due to his practice of holding zero malice or dirt in his heart for anyone.

Practical Advice

• Use the months prior to Ramadan to audit internal spiritual diseases like anger, pride, and jealousy.
• Never dismiss sins by comparing yourself to those doing worse; focus on Whom you are disobeying.
• Look for simple daily opportunities for reward, such as serving parents, offering water to others, or smiling at fellow believers.
• Implement a pact with spouses or friends to immediately call out and stop backbiting whenever a conversation starts sliding into it.