Surah Al Ahzab Tafseer

وَالَّذِينَ يُوْذُونَ الْمُوْمِنِينَ وَالْمُوْمِنَاتِ بِغَيْرِ مَا اكْتَسَبُوا

And those who annoy believing men and women undeservedly,

means, they attribute to them things of which they are innocent, which they do not know and do not do.

فَقَدِ احْتَمَلُوا بُهْتَانًا وَإِثْمًا مُّبِينًا

they bear the crime of slander and plain sin.

This is the most serious slander, to tell or transmit things about the believing men and women that they have not done, in order to bring shame upon them and accuse them of shortcomings.

Among those to whom the description most applies are those who disbelieve in Allah and His Messengers, followed by the Rafidites who accuse the Companions of shortcomings and faults of which Allah has stated that they are innocent, and describe them as the opposite of what Allah has said about them.

Allah, may He be exalted, has told us that He is pleased with the Migrants and Ansar, and has praised them, but these foolish and ignorant people inveigh against them and accuse them of shortcomings, and say things about them that they did not do and could never have done. In reality, their hearts are misguided, for they condemn those who deserve praise and praise those who deserve condemnation.

Abu Dawud recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that it was said:

"O Messenger of Allah, what is backbiting (Ghibah)?"

He said,

ذِكْرُكَ أَخَاكَ بِمَا يَكْرَه

It is when you mention something about your brother that he dislikes.

It was asked, "But what if what I say about my brother is true"

He said,

إِنْ كَانَ فِيهِ مَا تَقُولُ فَقَدِ اغْتَبْتَهُ وَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِيهِ مَا تَقُولُ فَقَدْ بَهَتَّه

If it is true, then you have committed backbiting (Ghibah) about him, and if it is not true, then you have slandered him.

This was also recorded by At-Tirmidhi, who said, "Hasan Sahih.