traduza o texto completo e perfeitamente para o português Chapter 75
MEANING OF BACKBITING
Talking about a momin in a tone that would hurt him, if he were around,
and heard you talk, is tantamount to backbiting.
Even if this backbiting is in gestures and and subtle indications, it is taboo. However if the name of the person is not mentioned and only said
that in the city there is a person who has such and such a bad habit, then
it will not be termed backbiting. But if certain traits are attributed to a
person in his absence, and, in fact, he doesn’t manifest those traits, then
the act is backbiting and is taboo. In fact this would be an allegation
much worse than backbiting.
484Chapter 76
JUSTIFICATION FOR BACKBITING
There are ten situations in which backbiting is justified
1. When a tyrant oppresses someone and the oppressed persons
seeks help from another person in authority by informing him of
the oppression he has suffered at the hands of the tyrant.
2. Recounting the faults of a person to someone else with the solemn
hope that this way the faults of the person could be corrected.
3. While applying for an edict (fatwa) mentioning the name of the
other party. For example, informing to the jurist the name of a
brother who is denying to him his just rights.
4. If a momin takes the advice of another momin whether he can entrust his valuables to a particular person and that whether that
person, in his opinion, can be depended upon.
5. Revealing the hypocritic acts of the hypocrites that can harm the
society is justified.
6. If a jurist (mujtahid) points out the khata e mujtahidi (error of judgement) of another mujtahid, it is permissible.
7. Arguing about the veracity or otherwise of narrators of events is
permitted.
8. When people are told about a particular failing of a person and
they don’t agree, then highlighting that defect as an explanation is
justified. For example, someone says about a person that he is volubly talkative!
9. If a group of persons is compulsively commiting the same mistake, then it is permissible to talk about their failings.
10. When a culprit is arraigned in front of a magistrate for repeated
commitment of crimes, then it is justified to recount his foul acts in the
court.
485Chapter 77
GIVING EAR TO BACKBITING
One who listens to backbiting is a sinner as much as the one who carries
the tales. Hazrat Ameer al Momineen (a.s) has said, “The one who gives
ears to backbiting is one of the two backbiters!” It is a common saying
that one should discourage backbiting. If one fails to achieve this, then he
should discreetly walk away from the place.
Imam Mohammed Baqir (a.s) has said, “One who prevents people
from backbiting against brother momins and helps them, Allah will save
him from the travails of this world and the Hereafter.”
Imam Jafar e Sadiq has said, “If someone is, whom we donot know,
backbites about a momin, we should not belittle the momin. Who knows
he may be the righteous one!”
486Chapter 78
EXPIATION FOR BACKBITING
The expiation for backbiting is that one should seek the pardon of those
against whom he has committed the act and try to remove the rancor
from their hearts.
The Prophet of Allah (a.s) has said that backbitring is a sin worse than
adultery. People asked the reason for this. The Prophet (a.s) replied, “If
one repents having committed adultery, Allah might pardon the person.
But repentence for having done backbiting is not accepted till the person
who was the victim of the act does not forgive the perpetrator.” Also the
Prophet (a.s) said, “If a person whose backbiting has been done is not
aware of the act, even then the person who has talked about him should
personally seek his forgiveness. If, in the meantime, the victim dies, the
backbiter will not be pardoned at all.”