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Social Media: How people unwittingly engage in backbiting and slander.
By Alhassan A. Bala
The growing number of technological advancements in the world has virtually collapsed the existing barriers of distance, race, continent, ethnicity and so forth, thereby making it easier for diverse people to discuss, relate or share information, video calls, voice calls, conversations and secrets.
Significantly, the advancement is most felt in the ubiquitous social platforms than in other forms, which equally have their own unique impacts.
Alhasan A. Bala
Religiously, Islam is not averse to advances and development in life, but still cautions the people against using it in a way that will lead them to disobey Allah (the exalted).
No doubt, the issue of backbiting and slander has gained ground among Muslims despite the fact that the acts are also among the great sins they commit.
Islam therefore, demands that our relationship with one another should be with ultimate sincerity and much responsibility. And also demands that we respect one another.
Islam teaches us that we are not only held accountable for our own attitudes and actions but also for anything else over which we have control or influence over, in the society we live in. Upon this therefore, the Almighty mentions in the Qur’an:
“O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion, indeed some suspicions are sins. And spy not neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting). And fear God, verily, God is the one who accepts repentance, Most Merciful. (49: 12).
Consequently, a tradition of the prophet by Abu Hurairah narrated that the prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him said “Do you know what backbiting is?” They said, “God and His Messenger know best.” He then said, “It is to say something about your brother that he would dislike.” Someone asked him, “But what if what I say is true?” The Messenger of God said, “If what you say about him is true, you are backbiting him, but if it is not true then you have slandered him.” (Culled from Muslim Ahadith collections).
Indeed, when we ponder on this verse and the Hadith of the prophet, we can say majority of social media users and in fact most of our phone calls as well, have bearing towards either of the three things mentioned in the verse and Hadith, that is: spy, backbiting and slandering.
Most people are carried away by thinking that no one will see the conversation, forgetting that Allah said:
“Surely Allah knows the Unseen in the heavens and the earth. He even knows the secrets hidden in people’s breasts.” (Suratul Hud verse 123).
Allah (SWA) also cautioned Muslims on rumours and news.
“O ye who believe! If a wicked person (Fasik) comes to you with news, ascertain the truth, lest ye harm people unwittingly, and afterwards become full of repentance for what ye have done. Q, 49:6.
Lastly, we should also know that we have in mind that we have enough time to repent and ensure we avoid any form of backbiting or slander with colleagues and friends in office, school or our immediate community. It is never too late for one to seek forgiveness from his God. And Allah promises to accept individual’s sincere repentance so long that individual has not reach his last moment of his life.
To do that is even made more simpler with the availability of social media tools.
As the prophet Muhammad Peace be upon Him said in a popular hadith; “say good or keep mute.”
Alhassan A. Bala, is an Abuja-based broadcast Journalist and a Student of Islamic Studies, University of Abuja.
balahassan2007@gmail.com