Backbiting is a major sin in Islam that includes speaking harmful words about others when they are not present. The Prophet Muhammad defined backbiting as saying something about your brother that they would dislike, even if what you say is true. Believers must be conscious of their speech and avoid judging or finding faults in others. Instead, they should focus on using good words. Repentance and seeking forgiveness is important for those who engage in backbiting.

1. BACKBITING IN ISLAM
Often we fall into sins because of our tongue. The evils of tongue include backbiting,
slander, lying, excessive talking which hardens the heart and also lets the good deeds
of a believer completely lost. Sometimes we become so quick in passing judgment and
finding out the faults of our brothers and sisters yet we forget that Allah can humiliate us
even if one hides in his own house.
A believer should be conscious of the words that he utters from his mouth. The Prophet
SAW defined backbiting when he said--"Do you know what is meant by backbiting?
They said Allah and His Messenger know best." He said, to say something about your
brother which he dislikes. One asked, Even if what I say is true about my brother? He
replied," If such defects you say are true about him, then you have backbitten him, and
if he does not have what you say, then you have committed slander against him. "
(Muslim) . Please note how our blessed Prophet (Alayhi Salatu Wasalaam) used
"defects" because we are too quick to talk about the defects behind a person's back but
not the positive or good side of the individual. The real challenge for us is to use good
words in the absence of them. This will increase our spirituality. And that is what will
make us a true believer.
Backbiting is a major sin and includes proper repentance
from Allah and seeking forgiveness from the individual whom
you have backbitten. To reconcile later is very difficult, so it is
better not to say such words before our utterance. Sometimes
we use words just for fun without even realizing the evil
consequences of such words. Some examples are like when
you talk about a person's physical defect & body stature.
There is an example during the time of Prophet SAW when
once a woman visited Aisha R.A and when the woman got up
to leave, Aisha R.A made a sign with her hand indicating to the Prophet SAW that the
woman was short of stature. The Prophet immediately chastised her, saying "You have
backbitten!" and in another narration "You have said a saying that if mixed with the sea
it would change its color." (Sunan Abu Dawood).

2. Always remember that your speech could either be a means to enter paradise or hell-
fire. The Prophet SAW said - "Indeed a servant may say a word from which Allah's
pleasure is gained and the servant does not realize it, Allah will raise his levels. Indeed
a servant may say a word from which Allah's displeasure is gained and he does not
realize it, Allah will put him in Jahannam due to it (Al-Bukhari). We tend to fall or slip
with our tongue into the gathering where mostly backbiting takes place because
sometimes we become so curious to know about the third person who is not present
there or sometimes we just want to give our ear for the sake of it!
But let us remember the Glorious Quranic verse "O you who believe, abstain from many
of the suspicions. Some suspicions are sins. And do not be curious to find out the faults
of others & do not backbite another. Does one of your life that he eats the flesh of his
dead brother? You would abhor it. And fear Allah. Surely Allah is Most-Relenting, Very
Merciful." (Surah Hujurat, V-12)
Lastly, always remember that anyone can perform good deeds but we have to make
sure that we secure our good deeds. If for example, I pray my prayers but what if the
same moment I backbite any person. Chances are that I have given my Salah to the
same person and I will not find my Salah in my book of deeds on the Day of
recompense. So let's make sure to protect our good deeds.
How to stop it and avoid falling into the
major sin?
1. When you have recognized the people who backbite
more often, just completely avoid sitting in such
gatherings. If it happens in front of you, try to defend the
person because nobody has a clue about the person's
heart except Allah alone.
2. When someone does this in front of you, remind yourself and others would you want
your good deeds to get transferred to the person for free plus his burden of sins on the
Day of Recompense.
3. Does anybody want to eat the flesh of his dead brother?
4. Let's be conscious of Allah, the angels recording our good deeds and the standing in
front of Allah on the Day of Judgement when no injustice will happen.