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Chapter 6. What Should One Do When He Hears His Shaikh,friend Or Someone Else Being Backbitten?

Know that it is upon the one who hears a Muslim being backbitten to oppose it and prevent the one doing the backbiting. If he is not able to prevent him with his speech, then he should stop him with his hand. If he is neither able to do so with his hand or with his tongue, then he should get up and leave that gathering. And if he hears his teacher(shaikh) being backbitten – or anyone else who has a right over him, or if the person(being backbitten) is from the people of righteousness and nobility, then his concern with what we have mentioned above should be greater.

Abu ad-Dardaa (radyAllahu anhu) narrated the Prophet (sallAllahu alyhi wa sallam)said: "Whoever turns away from (harming) the honor of his brother, Allah will turn his face away from the Hellfire on the Day of Judgment."  

And it is reported in Sahih Al-Bukhari and Muslim from Itbaan – or as some say Utbaan – in his long and famous hadith, in which he narrated: "The Prophet ( sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) stood up to pray, so the people said: Where is Maalik Ibn ad-Dukhshum? A man said: That hypocrite! Allah and His Messenger do not love him. So the Prophet ( sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) said: Do not say that! Do you not see that he says: Laa Ilaaha Illaa Allah (There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah), desiring by that, the face of Allah?"  

And it is reported in Saheeh Muslim on Al-Hasan Al-Basree that Aaidh Ibn Amr (radyAllahu anhu), one of the Companions of Allahs Messenger, entered in the presence of Ubaydullaah Ibn Ziyaad and said: “O my son, indeed I heard the Messenger of Allah ( sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) say:

Truly, the most evil of caretakers (leaders) are the oppressive rulers, so beware of being one of them.”

So he said to him: “Sit down, for you are only from the worthless scraps of the Companions of Muhammad!” So he responded: “Was there any worthless scraps among them? Rather the worthless scraps only appeared after them in others.”  

Kaab Ibn Maalik (radyAllahu anhu) reported in his long hadith concerning his repentance that the Prophet ( sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) said while sitting with some people in Tabook: “What did Kaab Ibn Maalik do?” A man from Banu Salima said: “O Allahs Messenger! The (beauty) of his cloak and a self-appreciation of his finery have allured and detained him (i.e. from going to fight in the expedition)!”

Upon this, Muaadh Ibn Jabal ( radyAllahu anhu) said to him: “What an evil thing you have said! I swear by Allah, O Messenger of Allah, we do not know anything about him except good.” So Allahs Messenger ( sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) remained silent.  

Jaabir Ibn Abdillaah and Abu Talha ( radyAllahu anhum) said: “Allahs Messenger (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) said: No (Muslim) person abandons another Muslim in a place where his sanctity will be violated and his honor will be lowered, except that Allah will abandon him in a place that he would love to have His support. And no (Muslim) person aids another Muslim in a place where hissanctity will be violated and his honor will be lowered, except that Allah willaid him in a place that he would love to have His support.”  

Muaadh Ibn Anas ( radyAllahu anhu) reported that the Prophet ( sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) said: “Whoever protects a believer from a hypocrite, Allah will send forth an angel that will protect his flesh on the Day of Judgement from (being burned by) the fire of Hell. And whoever accuses a Muslim of anything, desiring to disgrace him, Allah will withhold him over the bridge of the Hellfire until he takes back what he said.”