JUST GET HUNGRY AND THIRST

By: Ahmad Syahrin Thoriq

Do you know because the consequences of backbiting are so bad for worship, especially fasting, that there are some scholars who argue that this one sin is one of the things that can break fasting? 

Anas bin Malik radhiyallahu'anhu said:

إذا اغتاب الصائم أفطر

"Whoever commits backbiting has his fast broken." (Narrated by Ibn Abi Asim)

Al Imam Auza'i Rahimahullah said:

يبطل الصوم بالغِيبة، ويجب قضاؤه

"Invalidates a person's fast because of backbiting, and he is obliged to make up his fast." [1]

Among the adz Dzahiri schools of thought is al imam Ibnu Hazm al Andulisy who stated that backbiting and namimah are one of the invalidators of Ramadan fasting. 

Meanwhile, the majority of scholars are of the opinion that this is not the case, some scholars have even said: "If backbiting is one of the invalidations of fasting, who would be the person today who can be said to be fasting?"

However, almost all scholars agree that backbiting, lying and namimah are among the things that erase the reward of fasting, at least it can greatly reduce it. 

The backbiters, liars and complainers are parties that are definitely meant in the following words of the Prophet sallallaahu'alaihi wassalam:

كَمْ مِنْ صَائِمٍ لَيْسَ لَهُ مِنْ صِيَامِهِ إِلَّا الْجُوْع وَالْعَطْش

"How many people fast but he does not get anything from his fast except hunger and thirst." (HR. Nasa'i)

And the scholars also reminded of this. Imam Mujahid Rahimahullah said:

مَن أحبَّ أن يسلم له صومه، فليجتنب الغِيبة والكذب

"Whoever wants his fast to be safe, then he should stay away from backbiting and lying." [2]

Al Imam Abul 'Aliyah Rahimahullah said:

الصائم في عبادة ما لم يغتب

"A person who fasts is counted as worshiping as long as he does not commit backbiting." [3]

Hopefully this simple writing can be a useful reminder. 

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1. Majmu Syarah al Muhadzdzab (6/398)

2. Az Zuhud no. 1203

3. Itihaf expert al Islam p. 65