Quran Warns against Tale-Bearing

IQNA – Tale-bearing is the act of gossiping in an indiscreet manner and telling someone what another person has said without his consent.

This involves revealing secrets and leads to vices and that is why Islam has banned it.

This improper behavior undermines human and social relations and severs the bonds of friendship, kindness and faith.

The Quran says in Verse 1 of Surah Al-Humazah: “Woe to every slanderer (tale-bearer) and backbiter.”

We also read in Verse 11 of Surah Al-Qalam: “(God knows well about) Defamer, going about with slander.”

This verse talks about a person who goes to people for tale-bearing and creating hostility and hate among them. Such a person tells what others have said with the aim of fomenting differences and conflicts. He undermines friendship and kindness among people and provokes sedition.

This action has been described as a grave sin and a dangerous one because it undermine people’s unity in the society.  

The Quran stresses that people should not trust a tale-bearer and such a person should be isolated in society.

An example of tale-bearing in the early years after the advent of Islam was that of the hypocrites who, after failing to confront Islam and the Holy Prophet (PBUH) directly, tried to undermine the religion via hypocrisy and tale-bearing.

God says in Verse 6 of Surah Al-Hujurat: “Believers, if an evildoer brings you a piece of news, inquire first, in case you should unwittingly wrong others and then repent of what you have done.”