Character & conductFrom the masjid's own video, Jul 18, 2026.
Backbiting destroys relationships and good deeds
“Is there anything that causes people to be thrown in the hellfire except the harvest of what they are saying?”
In one sentence
Backbiting (ghibah) is a major sin, compared by Allah to eating the flesh of one's dead brother, that destroys relationships and good deeds, so believers must repent, guard their tongues, and either speak good or remain silent.
The khutbah in 7 steps
- Recap of the series on the dangers of the tongue and the hadith of Mu'adh on the harvest of tongues
- Exegesis of Surah Al-Hujurat 49:12: suspicion leads to spying leads to backbiting, and the flesh-of-the-dead-brother parable
- The Prophet's definition of ghibah: mentioning your brother with what he dislikes, even if true
- Punishments and consequences: the smell of backbiters, copper fingernails in the Mi'raj, the bankrupt person on Judgment Day
- How backbiting destroys families and communities and serves Iblis's goal of division
- Call to repentance and practical remedies: seek forgiveness, stop backbiting gatherings, keep good company
- Closing hadith: say good or remain silent, followed by community announcements and dua
Try this week
Repent sincerely to Allah and treat the khutbah as a new start in guarding the tongue
Seek forgiveness from people you have backbitten; if that would cause greater harm, make dua and give charity on their behalf
If you mentioned someone badly in a gathering, mention them well in the same gathering
When people start backbiting in a gathering, stop them, change the subject, and remind them it is haram
Surround yourself with people who do not backbite
Follow the standard: speak good or remain silent, silence can be your salvation
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 49Central text of the khutbah: avoid suspicion, do not spy, do not backbite; backbiting likened to eating the flesh of one's dead brother; ends with Allah being Accepting of repentance
Quran 3:102Opening command to be mindful of Allah as He deserves and to die only in submission
Jami` at-TirmidhiPeople are thrown into Hellfire on their faces only by the harvests of their tongues
Sahih MuslimBackbiting is mentioning your brother with what he dislikes; if true it is backbiting, if false it is slander
Sahih MuslimThe truly bankrupt comes with prayer, fasting, and zakah but loses all hasanat to those he backbit, slandered, and wronged
Sahih MuslimIblis despaired of being worshipped in Arabia but not of sowing conflict and division among Muslims
Sahih al-BukhariA servant may speak a word pleasing to Allah that raises his rank, or a word of Allah's displeasure that casts him into Hellfire
Sahih al-BukhariClosing exhortation: whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak good or remain silent
Quotes
In the khateeb's words
“Is there anything that causes people to be thrown in the hellfire except the harvest of what they are saying?”
“to talk about your brother, to mention your brother about things that he dislikes, things that he's not happy with, things that doesn't please him when he hears that.”
“The bankrupt person of my ummah is the one who comes on the day of judgment with”
“Whoever believes in Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala and the hereafter, you believe in Allah, that Allah has seen you”
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