al-Ghayba
- Author died
- -
- Editions
- Dar Al-Qasim
al-Ghayba (Backbiting) is an Islamic ethical treatise by the contemporary author Abd al-Malik ibn Muhammad ibn Abd al-Rahman al-Qasim, addressing the prohibition, spiritual harms, and societal dangers of backbiting.
Purpose and Themes
The work is written in the style of concise didactic and hortatory epistles, an approach characteristic of al-Qasim's broader output, which includes his moral exhortation series Ayna Nahnu min Ha'ula'? (Where Are We Compared to Them?) . In his writings, al-Qasim emphasizes spiritual vigilance, rectifying everyday shortcomings, and reviving the exemplary conduct of early Muslim generations (al-salaf) .
In al-Ghayba, the subject matter centers on:
- Definition and Scope: Clarifying the nature of backbiting in Islamic jurisprudence and ethics—defined principally as mentioning another person in a manner they would dislike—and distinguishing it from slander (buhtan).
- Scriptural Evidence: Presenting evidence from the Quran and the Sunnah establishing the strict prohibition of backbiting and its categorization among the major sins.
- Spiritual and Social Consequences: Highlighting how backbiting corrodes brotherhood, causes discord, and depletes an individual's righteous deeds.
- Remedies and Guarding the Tongue: Providing practical spiritual guidance on restraining speech, repenting from past offenses, and emulating the restraint of early pious exemplars.
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