Speaking about someone behind their back wounds them. The Prophet strongly warned against backbiting.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) never searched out anyone's faults, nor did he relate to others the faults he knew. Backbiting stains hearts and erodes trust in a community.
What is the hadith source of this sunnah?
This sunnah rests on the following hadiths. The reference gives the collection, chapter and number where the hadith appears.
- M6593 Müslim, Birr, 70
- D4880 Ebû Dâvûd, Edeb, 35
- T2502 Tirmizî, Sıfatü'l-kıyâme, 51
More sunnahs in Speech Etiquette
As a table with references: Speech Etiquette sunnahs.
- Speak Good or Stay Silent: Keeping away from idle and harmful speech is the tongue's most valuable use.
- Never Lying: Keeping away from lying, even in jest, builds trust.
- Not Interrupting: Listening to someone without cutting them off while they speak is respect made concrete.
- Correcting Gently: Gentleness adds beauty to any task; the Prophet advised this.
- Controlling Anger: Controlling yourself in a moment of anger is the shortest way to be spared words you would regret.
- Beginning Speech in the Name of Allah: Beginning an important matter of speech by remembering Allah brings blessing to the words.
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