Question

I saw a Hadith on your website regarding backbiting which is not authentic.

The following is a longer version. Is this version authentic?

Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
Beware of backbiting, for backbiting is worse than fornication, I said: And why that, O Messenger of Allah? He said: “Because a man commits adultery, and he repents to Allah, then Allah forgives him, while backbiting is not forgiven until his companion forgives it.”

Answer

This is the same Hadith referred to in our answer. The version you have cited is the complete Hadith and is not suitable to quote as Hadith of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).

The following statement of Sufyan ibn ‘Uyaynah (rahimahullah) [Demise: 198 A.H.] may be quoted instead:

Sufyan ibn ‘Uyaynah (rahimahullah) says: “In the sight of Allah, backbiting is worse than adultery and consuming alcohol because adultery and consuming alcohol is between you and Allah. If you repent, Allah will forgive you. However backbiting is not forgiven until the person you spoke against forgives you”.

(Shu’abul Iman, Hadith: 6314)

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

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التخريج من المصادر العربية

شعب الإيمان: (٩/ ٩٨)
(٦٣١٤) – أخبرنا أبو طاهر الفقيه، أنا أبو بكر محمد بن عمر بن حفص التاجر، نا جعفر بن محمد الصائغ، نا إسحاق بن إسماعيل، قال: سمعت سفيان، يقول: الغيبة أشد عند الله عز وجل من الزنا وشرب الخمر؛ لأن الزنا وشرب الخمر ذنب فيما بينك وبين الله عز وجل، فإذا تبت عنه تاب الله عليك، والغيبة لا يغفر لك حتى يغفر لك صاحبك.