Fasting but Gossiping, Here are the Heavy Risks that will be Obtained

Dream - Gossip or backbiting is talking about the faults or flaws of others. Another term for it is gossiping, which is still widely done by people in their lives, even unconsciously.

In Islam itself, the act of gossiping is strongly prohibited because it can bring sin and negative impacts in someone's life. In fact, the matter of gossip is also explained in one verse, namely Surah Al-Hujurat verse 12 which says that gossip is likened to eating one's own flesh. How terrifying is that?

Just doing gossiping is already strongly prohibited, then what if someone does it while fasting? What risks will be obtained by someone who gossips while fasting?

To find out the explanation, here is as summarized by Dream through various sources.

Understanding Gossip and Its Law

Quoted from merdeka.com, gossip comes from the Arabic language, namely ghaabaa, yaghiibu, ghaiban which means absent and not present. Through this understanding, it can be understood that gossip is a form of someone's absence in a conversation.

In Islam, gossip itself is strongly prohibited because it can bring the risk of slander. In fact, gossip is very close to other bad deeds, such as envy, jealousy, and slander.

People who like to gossip are also explained in Surah Al-Hujurat verse 12 as follows:

يٰٓاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوا اجْتَنِبُوْا كَثِيْرًا مِّنَ الظَّنِّۖ اِنَّ بَعْضَ الظَّنِّ اِثْمٌ وَّلَا تَجَسَّسُوْا وَلَا يَغْتَبْ بَّعْضُكُمْ بَعْضًاۗ اَيُحِبُّ اَحَدُكُمْ اَنْ يَّأْكُلَ لَحْمَ اَخِيْهِ مَيْتًا فَكَرِهْتُمُوْهُۗ وَاتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ ۗاِنَّ اللّٰهَ تَوَّابٌ رَّحِيْمٌ

Meaning: "O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Accepting of repentance and Merciful." (QS. Al-Hujurat: 12)

Furthermore, it is also explained in a hadith as follows:

"A Muslim is a brother to another Muslim. He should neither deceive him nor lie to him, nor leave him without assistance. Everything belonging to a Muslim is inviolable for a Muslim; his honor, his blood, and his property. Piety is here (and he pointed to his chest three times). It is enough evil for a man to hold his brother Muslim in contempt. All things of a Muslim are inviolable for his brother-in-faith: his blood, his property, and his honor." (HR.At-Tirmidzi)

Risks of Gossiping while Fasting

So, what about the act of gossiping done while fasting? What consequences will be obtained?

Imam Al-Ghazali quotes a comment from Al-Minawi regarding a hadith that explains that a person who fasts but breaks the fast with what is forbidden or eats the flesh of his brother (gossip), then that person is someone who is fasting but cannot keep his body parts away from sinful acts.

Then there is a statement "except for hunger", which means that he does not receive rewards from Allah SWT and his fasting is not accepted. So, he must make up for or qada' his fast.

Just like the saying of Prophet Muhammad pbuh:

"Whoever does not give up false speech and acting upon it, Allah has no need of him giving up his food and drink (i.e. Allah will not accept his fasting)." (HR Al-Bukhari)

Through the above hadith, it explains that a person who fasts but cannot refrain from foul language and lying, then the value of his fasting will be reduced, hated by Allah SWT, and his fasting will not be accepted.

There is also another opinion that says that the above hadith is not interpreted as the fasting being nullified. But as a warning for those who do such things while fasting. So, they don't need to cancel their fasting and make up for it outside the month of Ramadan.

Then according to the Shafi'i school of thought, when someone gossips while fasting, it is considered a sin, but it does not invalidate the fast.