To reveal the bad quality of a believer, which is actually found in him is gheebat (backbiting). However, to reveal detestable traits of a b...
To reveal the bad quality of a believer, which is actually found in him is gheebat (backbiting). However, to reveal detestable traits of a believer, which are not found in him is called an allegation (tohmat). The sole purpose behind leveling allegations is to defame the believer.
There are two words for backbiting, one is GHEEBAT, and the other is TOHMAT. When you speak about someone, and what you say is TRUE, then this is GHEEBAT. When you speak about someone, and what you say is FALSE, then this is TOHMAT.
Gheebat and Tohmat are a result of Jealousy. If a person is respected, has done good, has helped others, there will always be people who are angry and bitter that such a person is respected by all. The result is to try and slander and destroy this reputation by sowing seed of venom in their character, by telling the world lies so that the respect turns to outrage and shame. Such people are cursed by Allah (SWT), and are referred to as the evil whispers of mankind.
- Prophet Mohammed (s.a.w.s.) declared, ‘If a person levels an allegation against a believing man or woman for an act, which he/she has not done, then on the Day of Judgment, Allah, the Almighty, shall put him on a piece of fire until he is chastised for levelling that allegation.’
- Imam Sadiq (a.s.) narrates,‘When a believer levels an allegation against another believer, his faith dissolves just as salt dissolves in water.’(Kafi vol. 2 pg. 361)
- Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) exhorts, ‘Consider the word or action of a believer brother to be good, even if you are offended, and always think optimistically (about him) to the utmost. Do not think bad about him. If you do not get excuse in good actions, search for it over and over again, until the number (of excuses) reaches 70, if you still cannot find it, then think that we ourselves cannot think good about him.’
Many a times we find that our conversation with somebody about another believer turns out to be completely false. A person asked Ali (a.s.), ‘What is the distance between right and wrong?’ Imam (a.s.) replied, ‘Four fingers’. Imam (a.s.) then placed his four fingers between the eye and ear and said,‘that which is seen by the eye is true and that which is heard by the ear is mostly wrong or false.’
That is why before accusing anybody we should ponder on this fact.
- Ali (a.s) reveals,‘Happy is that person who is busy in searching for his own defects and is unaware of the defects of others.’
In another tradition it is narrated,‘One who calls himself bad, is saved from Satan’s deception.’
- Imam Ali (a.s.) advises:‘Refrain from the assemblies of allegation and suspicion because the companion of bad people is often deceived by them.’
(Beharul Anwaar vol. 15, pg. 90) - Prophet Muhammed (s.a.w.s.) said He is more accused of tohmat (allegation) who sits with the gathering of accusers..’(Beharul Anwaar vol. 15, pg. 90)
- Imam Ali b. Abi Talib (a.s.) revealed,‘He who sits in a place where allegations (tohmat) are levelled, should not blame those who entertain bad ideas about him.’
The one who is seen in the assembly of dubious and suspicious characters will find himself a target of accusations and allegations. These traditions highlight that even sitting or being seen with evil people can be harmful for our reputation (even if we don’t participate in their evil).
Once there was a man who did Tohmat of our Sixth Imam Sadiq (a.s.). Imam Sadiq (a.s.) did no know about it until a few days later when one of his 'friends' came to him and said, "Oh Imam, I have heard terrible news. This person has been going around and saying this about you."
Imam Sadiq (a.s.) became angry at his 'friend'. He said, "Think of the person who did Tohmat towards me as if he shot an arrow at my body. I did not hear him so it is as if the arrow missed me; But by telling me this news, you have picked up the arrow from the ground and have hit me with it."
It is the duty of a good Muslim to stop others from speaking ill of a person, and if that is not possible he should go away from the people who are talking ill.
