Question
What is the meaning of gossip, slandering and gheebat? Yasmin and Zaheera used to travel together daily to work in one car. They had a discussion regarding the petrol expenses but could not agree. They broke of contact. Rukayya seeing that the two are no longer together asked Zaheera: "Did you guys have a fight? I hope you did not have a fight?" Zaheera responded: "I'm not gona say anything, and Allah grants barakah in the salary for petrol." Does this statement fall into the context of back-biting or slandering? Does it mean that Zaheera was creating ill-feeling in Rukayya's heart for Yasmin? Zaheera has the intention of asking maaf (forgiveness) from Yasmin for this statement. Please advise.
Answer
Gossip is termed nameemah in the
Qur'aan and Hadith. It refers to any talk whether true, false, futile or idle which persons carry about just to create conversation, mischief and shaitaaniyat to soothe the 'itching' in their bestial nafs. While both men and women indulge in gossip, it is a special trait of women. Whenver they see or hear anything they remain restless as if they are itching – their restlessness continues unabated until they have finally discharged their nafsaani flotsam and jetsam by gorging it out to some people. They typically start off: 'Did you hear what Yasmin said (or did)…….' Severe warnings of dire punishment are sounded for gossipmongers in the Qur'aan and Hadith.
- Source
- themajlis.co.za
- Published in
- The Majlis Vol 19 No 05
- PDF page
- 5