Expiation for backbiting
| Fatwa #856 | Category: Miscellaneous | Country: Pakistan | Date: 9th October 2023 |
| Fatwa #856 | Date: 9th October 2023 |
| Category: Miscellaneous | |
| Country: Pakistan | |
Question
sometime ago i backbit and engaged in alot of idle talk about alot of people as i was not much practicing muslim. those people are not aware of my backbiting. now i have turned back to Allah, i have repented alot and repented sincerely and realized my mistake, it turns out that the people i used to backbit are alot since i dont remember them all can i make dua generally for all people that i backbit without taking their names or mentioning them? like ” ya Allah forgive all the people that i backbit and raise them in ranks”. can i make supplication for them like this? also will ALLAH swt forgive me? iam afraid despite my repentence Allah will punish me in my grave and hereafter due to this major sin or any. does Allah forgives such sins? Victim of the backbiting are not aware, and iam afraid they might feel hurt upon informing them. I sincerely repented and made dua for them. Will Allah swt forgive me in this case?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Brother/Sister in Islam,
It is pleasing to note that you have turned your life around and have become a practicing Muslim. May Almighty Allah keep you steadfast on Iman. Aameen.
If the people are not aware and you fear they will not like it should you tell them, then it is not necessary to tell them what has been done. Rather, perform two rakaats of Salat-ut-Tawbah and make dua to Almighty Allah and beg His forgiveness. As you have rightly done, keep making dua for the favours of Allah to descend on those you backbit.
Almighty Allah is Most Merciful and Most Kind. We as His slaves are sinners. But Almighty Allah is Most Forgiving. Do not despair, as long as you sincerely implore Almighty Allah, He will forgive and continue to forgive.
Consider the following verse of the Holy Quran,
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَنْ يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَلِكَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ (النساء: 48)
Translation: “Indeed, Allah does not forgive that partners be associated with Him, but He forgives all other sins for whomsoever He wishes”
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Bilal Pandor
Concurred by
Mufti Muhammad IV Patel
Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah
Lusaka, Zambia