In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, may the blessings and peace be upon our beloved master Muhammad, the last of Prophets, on his family, and all his companions.
Dear brothers and sisters! Defamation of character is publishing false statements (spoken as slander or written as libel) that harm someone’s reputation, dignity, or livelihood, damaging their good name in the community by portraying them negatively, such as being a liar, thief, or generally untrustworthy. To prove defamation, the false statement must be presented as fact (not opinion), published to a third party, and cause actual harm (financial or emotional), with public figures needing to prove the speaker knew it was false (actual malice).
Respected brothers and sisters! Here are the different types of Defamation of character:
1. Slander: False defamatory statements made orally (spoken).
2. Libel: False defamatory statements made in writing, print, or other permanent form (like blogging or photos).
Yes, Islamic teachings strongly condemn defamation of character, considering it a major sin with severe consequences both in this life and the hereafter.
Islamic teachings on this topic emphasise the importance of guarding one’s tongue and protecting the honour of fellow Muslims.
Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) clarified the difference between backbiting (Ghibah) and slander (Buhtan). He said:
“If what you say of him is true, you have backbitten him, and if what you say of him is not true, you have slandered him.”
So slander is thus a more severe sin.
The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said:
“He who defends the honour of his brother, Allah will secure his face against the Fire on the Day of Resurrection.”
Therefore defamation of character (Ghibah/Slander) is a major sin, violating a Muslim’s honour, blood, and wealth, with severe spiritual consequences like losing good deeds or taking on others’ bad deeds, punishable by 80 lashes if proven in court for accusing chaste women without witnesses. Islam emphasises protecting reputation, forbidding backbiting and false accusations, urging repentance, and promoting brotherhood, viewing such acts as destructive to unity and dignity.
Spreading lies or discussing a Muslim’s faults in their absence (backbiting) is a serious offense, akin to eating one’s dead brother’s flesh.
A Muslim’s honour is sacred, and harming it is a major transgression.
Speaking ill of someone when it’s true is ghibah (backbiting); speaking ill when it’s false is buhtan (slander/false accusation), which is even worse.
Defamation of character causes fitnah, strife and discord, which is highly condemned, as seen in the Quran’s condemnation of false accusations against chaste women.
Those who defame others risk losing their good deeds to the victim or taking on the victim’s bad deeds.
Accusing chaste women without four witnesses carries a punishment of 80 lashes, and their testimony is rejected.
A person must seek forgiveness from the wronged party, either by asking for pardon or by making amends if telling them would cause more harm (by praying and speaking well of them).
Fellow brothers and sisters! Reject the lie against your Muslim brothers and sisters, forbid the slanderer, and advise them. Maintain a good opinion of the person being defamed. View slander as a gift of good deeds from the slanderer, as their sins are transferred to you. Seek immediate forgiveness from the person wronged, as no monetary or good deeds will suffice later.
I repeat, Islamic teachings strongly condemn defamation of character, whether through backbiting (speaking the truth about someone in a way they would dislike) or slander (spreading falsehoods). These acts are considered major sins that destroy relationships and have severe spiritual consequences.
The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said:
“The Muslim is one from whose tongue and hand Muslims are safe.”
In a professional setting, this means fostering an environment of trust and safety, where colleagues feel secure from malicious gossip or unfounded accusations.
The tongue is emphasised as a primary source that can lead people to Hellfire if not controlled. The advice is simple yet profound:
“Speak good or remain silent.”
Slandering an innocent person is a sin for which one cannot escape punishment, in this life or the next, unless the wronged person forgives them.
The story from Surah An-Nur in the Qur’an recounts how the Mother of the Believers, Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), was wrongly accused of adultery. The Qur’anic verses was revealed in response reprimanded those who spread the rumours, highlighting how quickly falsehood can spread and how tremendous a sin it is in the sight of Allah (Qur’an, 24:12-15).
This story is a powerful reminder to verify information before spreading or sharing it, especially in the age of social media where information goes viral rapidly.
And when the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) faced persistent slander and defamation from the Quraish leaders, he never stooped to their level. His conduct demonstrated patience and dignity, serving as a model for dealing with workplace or professional defamation.
The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) once passed two graves and mentioned the inhabitants were being punished for major sins: one for not being careful about urine, and the other for spreading malicious gossip (slander).
This story powerfully illustrates that verbal sins are significant enough to warrant punishment in the grave itself.
So before sharing any information about a Muslim, colleague or business, always verify its authenticity. The Qur’an (49:6) instructs believers to investigate news brought by a “disobedient one” to prevent harming people out of ignorance.
And encourage dialogue based on good character and mutual respect. As a leader or team member, set a standard that rumour-mongering will not be tolerated.
If you hear someone being slandered in your presence, Islam encourages you to defend them. Standing up for a wronged person not only protects their reputation but is also a highly rewarded act.
Defamation of Character is also known as a ‘character defamation,’. defamation of character is the legal term for when a person’s reputation is dragged through the mud via a false assertion of fact, which is ultimately published or communicated to a third-party. More specifically, the defamation of the character’s definition may be broken down into two fundamental types as mentioned above: libel and slander.
Libel: the written or published (pictures, video, and media) communication of a false statement to a third-party, which ultimately causes harm or damage to another’s reputation.
Slander: the spoken and verbal communication of a false statement to a third-party, which ultimately causes harm or damage to another’s reputation.
And in order to successfully bring a character defamation lawsuit, plaintiffs will typically have to prove the following four elements:
1. The statement/s in question were false,
2. The statement/s were “of and concerning” the plaintiff (the plaintiff may be reasonably identified),
3. There was publication to a third-party, and The plaintiff suffered damages as a result of the false statements.
4. Defamation laws vary from country to country, but generally, a person must prove that a statement was defamatory to make a claim. All of the following must be established by a person who brings a defamation lawsuit against another:
1. The statement was published by the defendant, meaning it was distributed to at least one person other than the plaintiff.
2. The statement provides enough information that the plaintiff is identifiable.
3. The statement harmed the plaintiff’s reputation in some way.
4. In addition, the plaintiff must be able to prove that the defendant was negligent in some way, either in doing something she should not have done or failing to do something he or she should have. If the plaintiff is a private figure, only negligence must be proven. If the plaintiff is a public figure, such as a government official, he or she also must prove actual malice, which is a reckless disregard for the truth of the published statement. Finally, the allegation made about the plaintiff must be false.
Most states also recognise that certain statements are defamatory per se, and therefore, no proof is needed. Some such examples include:
• Allegations that harm a person’s trade, profession, or professional standing;
• Allegations that a person is infected with a sexually transmitted disease;
• Allegations that an unmarried person is unchaste; or
• Allegations of criminal activity.
A plaintiff bringing a defamation claim may be awarded monetary damages pertaining to:
• Loss of job,
• Loss of reputation,
• Humiliation,
• Or mental anguish.
In order to do so, it must be proven that these losses resulted from the defamatory statement. Lower monetary damages may be awarded if it can be proven that the plaintiff had a poor reputation before the alleged defamatory statements were made. A court also may order a retraction of the statement. Rules vary from country to country.
So as a Muslim, be careful who you insult and slander. Spreading rumours and speaking ill of others will cost you dearly on the scale of deeds. Leave such acts!
Dear servants of Allah! Defamation of character in Islam encompasses Namimah, Buhtan and Ghibah.
Namimah or malicious gossip: means telling one person what another said in order to cause trouble between them.
Buhtan or slander: means saying things about a Muslim that is not true, or in other words, telling lies about him.
Ghibah or backbiting: means speaking about a Muslim in his absence and saying things that he would not like to have spread around or mentioned.
In a Hadith collected by Abu Dawud that Abu Hurairah said:
“It was asked, ‘O Allah Messenger (Peace be upon him)! What Is Backbiting?’ He said, “Mentioning about your brother in a manner that he dislikes.” He was asked, ‘What if my brother was as I mentioned?’ He said: “If he was as you mentioned, you will have committed backbiting. But if he was not as you say about him, you will have slandered him.” [At-Tirmidhi]
Allah Almighty says:
“… Nor defame yourselves…” [Surah Al-Hujurat: 11]
This forbids Muslims from defaming each other.
“… Neither backbite one another.” [Surah Al-Hujurat: 12]
This prohibits backbiting. Backbiting was sternly warned against, which is why Allah the Exalted and Most Blessed compared it to eating the flesh of a dead human being. Allah the Most High says:
“Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Nay, You would hate it.” [Surah Al-Hujurat: 12]
Just as you hate eating the flesh of a dead person, on account of your nature; so hate backbiting, on account of your religion. This Qur’anic verse seeks to discourage people from backbiting and warns against it.
Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) narrated that during the Night of Ascension (Mi’raj), he saw a group of people who were scratching their chests and faces with their copper nails. He said, that when he asked:
“Who are these people, O Jibril?’ Jibril replied: ‘These are the people who ate the flesh of others (by backbiting) and trampled on people’s honour.” [Riyadus Salihin]
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:
“A man will come on the Day of Resurrection with good deeds like mountains, but he had wronged this one, taken the wealth of that one and slandered the honour of another. So each of them will take from his good deeds. And if there is nothing left of his good deeds, it will be taken from their evil and placed on him.”
He among men who is a slanderer, and a backbiter, is cursed and condemned as Allah Almighty states:
“Woe to every Humazah, Lumazah.” [Surah Al-Humazah: 1]
Hamz is defamation by action, while Lamz is by words.
The majority of Islamic scholars have stated that repentance for committing the sin of defamation is that one refrains from defamation intending not to repeat it again. Some Islamic scholars stated, that it is not necessary for one to ask those whom he has backbitten to forgive him because if they knew what was said about them, they could be hurt more than if they were not told about it. It is better, they said, that one should praise those whom he has backbitten in audiences in which he has committed the act. It is also better if one defends the injured party against any further backbiting, as much as one can, as recompense for his earlier backbiting.
Dear brothers and sisters! As mentioned above, during the Prophet’s time, there were certain people in Madinah who wanted to defame a member of the Prophet’s family. It was a case of character assassination. At that juncture some Qur’anic verses were revealed, which appear in Surah Al-Nur.
According to Islamic teachings, character assassination is a heinous crime. An act of this kind is against humanity, against ethical values, and against Qur’anic teachings. Those guilty of any ethical crime of this nature will be severely punished by Allah Almighty.
The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) once said:
“If you make a negative remark against someone while that person is innocent, then it will have a boomerang effect. Your negative remark will turn back upon you and you will find that remark being applied to you.” [Bukhari]
According to Islamic teachings, character assassination is a heinous crime. An act of this kind is against humanity, against ethical values.
The practice of character assassination is injurious to the whole of society; it spreads the feeling of mistrust. It causes misunderstanding and the result is very dangerous, for everyone becomes suspicious of the other members of society.
In such a society, no healthy activity is possible and no positive planning can be done. The habit of character assassination is bad for all and good for none.
The whole of society must be alert to anyone indulging in this kind of activity and the wrongdoer must be openly condemned. Indeed, social ostracism is the only check by which this kind of baneful habit can be eliminated from society.
Character assassination is more dangerous than physical assassination. Any society that ignores this heinous practice is callous and inhuman.
My beloved people! Character assassination, involving slander (false accusations) and backbiting (speaking ill even if true), is considered a heinous crime and a major sin in Islam, often described as more damaging than physical harm. It breeds mistrust, destroys reputations, and incurs severe punishment in the hereafter.
Finally, know that, every word uttered is recorded by angelic watchers. Allah Almighty says:
“Not a word does he (or she) utter but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it).” [Qur’an, 50:18]
This serves as a constant reminder of accountability.
The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) warned that negative remarks made against an innocent person will have a boomerang effect, turning back upon the slanderer.
A famous event during the Prophet’s time involved the character assassination of his wife, Aisha (RA), by hypocrites and some misguided believers. Rumours of infidelity spread, causing immense pain. Verses of Surah An-Nur were revealed to clear her name and establish strict rules against false accusations, mandating severe punishment for those who accuse chaste women without four witnesses, and rejecting their testimony forever after.
When faced with personal character attacks, the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) would remain calm and even pray for the abuser. He became angry only when matters of principle or the rights of others were violated. He taught that if a person insults you with a quality they know you possess, you should not retaliate with a flaw you know they have; instead, leave them, and the evil consequence will be upon them.
A true Muslim is not engaged in cursing, ill-speech, backbiting, stealing, murder, violence, and other activities that harm others. We treat people in a manner that they feel safe around us. Muslims are people of peace (Salam).
May Allah keep us all under His mercy. May Almighty Allah keep us steadfast upon His religion, ameen.
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. Prayers, peace and mercy are upon our beloved master, Muhammad, the son of Abdullah (Peace be upon him), his family and Companions.
Murtadha Muhammad Gusau is the Chief Imam of Nagazi-Uvete Jumu’ah and the late Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Okene’s Mosques, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. He can be reached via: gusauimam@gmail.com or +2348038289761 or +2348024192217.
