Is Your Tongue Erasing Your Good Deeds This Ramadan?
You’ve fasted all day, prayed Taraweeh, and given charity. But with just one careless conversation, you could be erasing all your good deeds. Sounds shocking? That’s the reality of Gheebat (Backbiting) – one of the most dangerous sins that silently destroys good deeds faster than you realize.
%20Erasing%20Good%20Deeds%20Without%20Realizing.webp "Gheebat (Backbiting) Erasing Good Deeds Without Realizing")
But what exactly is Gheebat?
It’s not just about spreading false rumors. In fact, even if you’re speaking the truth about someone in their absence – if it hurts their reputation or dignity – it counts as Gheebat. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) explained:
"If what you say about your brother is true, then it is Gheebat (backbiting), and if it is false, then it is Buhtan (slander)."
This makes Gheebat more common and dangerous than we think. It’s not just lies that destroy good deeds; even truthful gossip does.
Why is Gheebat Worse Than Adultery?
You might wonder: How can speaking the truth about someone be worse than adultery?
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) answered this, saying:
"Al Gheebatu Ashaddu min az-Zina" ("Backbiting is worse than adultery.")
But why?
- Adultery, though a major sin, can be forgiven by Allah if the sinner sincerely repents.
- Gheebat, however, requires forgiveness from the person you spoke about – only then will Allah forgive you.
Imagine this: You’ve prayed, fasted, and given charity, but on the Day of Judgment, the person you spoke about claims all your good deeds because of your Gheebat. Is that small conversation worth losing your hard-earned rewards?
How Gheebat Destroys Good Deeds
1. Complete Erasure of Good Deeds
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) warned:
"A person utters a word without thinking of its consequences, and because of it, he will fall into the Hellfire farther than the distance between the east and the west."
Gheebat is like a silent thief – it doesn’t just take a part of your good deeds; it erases them completely. You may not even realize the impact, but it’s already done its damage.
2. Pleasurable Yet Destructive
Why is Gheebat so common? Because it feels good. It feels satisfying to share juicy gossip or vent about someone’s flaws. But this false pleasure is one of Satan’s deadliest tricks.
The Story of Prophet Musa (Moses) and Satan
This powerful incident is preserved by Imam Ghazali in Mukashifat Ul Quloob, illustrating the deceptive tactics of Satan and how backbiting can feel pleasurable while erasing all good deeds.
The Story:
While traveling, Prophet Musa (Moses) encountered Satan holding honey in one hand and dirt (dust) in the other. Curious, Musa asked:
- Musa (AS) asked: "O Satan, what is the use of this honey and dirt?"
- Satan replied:
- Honey: "I use this honey on the lips of a person who engages in backbiting. When a person speaks ill of someone behind their back, I place this honey on their lips, making the act feel sweet and pleasurable. This false sweetness blinds them to the sin they are committing."
- Dirt (Dust): "I sprinkle this on the face of an orphan. When people approach the orphan to show kindness or compassion, I cover the orphan’s face with dust, making them appear less appealing. As a result, people feel repelled and move away, losing an opportunity to gain great reward from Allah."
The Lesson:
This story shows how Satan manipulates human emotions:
- Sweetness of Gheebat: Satan makes gossip feel sweet and pleasurable, leading people to engage in it repeatedly, thus erasing their good deeds.
- Repelling Good Deeds: By making orphans seem less approachable, Satan prevents people from showing kindness, thereby robbing them of great rewards.
Reflect: Is that moment of pleasure worth losing your good deeds?
Consequences of Gheebat
1. A Sin Greater Than Adultery
As mentioned earlier, backbiting is worse than adultery because its consequences are more far-reaching:
- Hurt Feelings: It damages the dignity and honor of others.
- Social Division: It creates animosity, breaks trust, and destroys relationships.
- Spiritual Loss: It nullifies good deeds, making the person spiritually bankrupt.
2. No Forgiveness Without Reconciliation
A critical consequence of Gheebat is that Allah will not forgive this sin unless the victim forgives first.
- On the Day of Judgment, the person who was backbitten will take good deeds from the one who backbit them, leading to spiritual bankruptcy.
- Imagine standing before Allah, only to see your book of good deeds empty because they were taken by those you spoke ill of. Is it worth the risk?
Protect Yourself from Gheebat
1. Guard Your Tongue
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
"Whoever guarantees me the protection of what is between his jaws (the tongue) and what is between his legs (chastity), I will guarantee him Paradise."
- Avoid gossip, slander, and mocking others, even in jest.
- Silence is better than speaking ill – if you have nothing good to say, say nothing at all.
2. Repent and Seek Forgiveness
- If you’ve engaged in backbiting, repent sincerely and seek forgiveness from the person you spoke about. It may be uncomfortable, but it’s the only way to reclaim your good deeds.
- Allah is Most Merciful, but only if you sincerely repent and correct your wrongs.
3. Redirect Conversations
- If you find yourself in a gathering where people are backbiting, politely change the subject or leave the gathering.
- Silence or passive listening also counts as participation in Gheebat. Don’t be a silent accomplice.
4. Replace Gheebat with Duas
- If you feel tempted to speak ill of someone, make dua for them instead. This not only protects your good deeds but also purifies your heart from envy and hatred.
Final Reflection: Is It Worth It?
The next time you feel the urge to gossip or speak ill of someone, ask yourself:
- Is this worth losing my prayers, fasting, or charity?
- Am I willing to let Satan’s honey destroy my good deeds?
- What will I do if the person I talked about demands my good deeds on the Day of Judgment?
Don’t let Gheebat erase your good deeds this Ramadan. Make a commitment to guard your tongue and protect your rewards.
