— Aladodo Abdus-Salam
“Have you seen his post on X?”
“No. What happened?”
“Oh, you honestly don’t know? He’s been messing around, and he got exposed!”
“How am I supposed to know when you’ve not told me? Oya, full gist.”
That’s how it often starts. The internet is a world of its own—an escape from reality. A virtual space connecting billions of users from diverse cultural backgrounds, ethics, religions, thoughts, convictions, and races. Facebook, X, WhatsApp, Instagram, Snapchat, WeChat, Telegram, YouTube—all are platforms where people meet those they might never see until death.
For some, these platforms are an opportunity to grow knowledge, build businesses, and propagate ideas and beliefs. For others, they are a way to unwind after a long day—maybe watching cat videos on YouTube. Yet, for another category, social media is where they live, eat, and breathe—for gossip and gist.
Among these billions are Muslims. Muslims whose religion teaches them that the dignity and honour of both Muslims and non-Muslims must be protected. Muslims who are convinced that one should hold firmly to the injunctions of Allah, even when the journey is rough.
But with social media just a button away, the challenge is real—for Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Why? Because everyone wants to follow the latest trend, the newest discussion on Facebook, the hottest hashtags on X, the most followed pages on Instagram, or the most buzzing channels on YouTube. This urge to stay “in the know” has turned social media into a place of savagery, bants, and slander. Kids hurl insults at adults, men blackmail women, women drag men as “scum” and “cheats,” while strangers expose the secrets of their partners—for likes, retweets, shares, and comments.
As tempting as it is, Muslims must be cautious of the trends they fuel, the conversations they engage in, and the gist they consume. Why? Because the dignity of all people must be safeguarded. Because gossip and slander fall into backbiting. And because the soundness of a Muslim’s faith lies in avoiding what does not concern them.
Take, for example, a social media influencer who chooses to marry a second wife for reasons known to him, and his first wife raises no complaint. That is his matter, not ours. The best response is to wish them well and pray for Allah’s blessings in their marriage. It is not right to invade the comment section, lambasting the man for marrying again or attacking the woman for “allowing” it.
This aligns with the Prophet’s ﷺ words:
On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Part of the perfection of one’s Islam is leaving that which does not concern him.” (An-Nawawi,11)
If Allah makes a matter known to you about your brother or sister, you should not carry it to your friend’s inbox or post it publicly, even if the person never sees it. Why? Because the Prophet ﷺ warned us:
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked, “Do you know what backbiting is?”
They replied, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He said, “It is saying something about your brother that he dislikes.” Someone asked, “What if what I say about him is true?”
The Prophet ﷺ said: “If what you say about him is true, you have backbitten him, and if it is not true, you have slandered him.” (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 2589).
If speaking the truth about someone behind their back is backbiting, then spreading lies is outright slander. Sadly, many today slander believing Muslim women online—mocking their hijab, questioning their modesty, or ridiculing them for their choices. Yet Allah warns us:
“Verily, those who accuse chaste women, who never even think of anything touching their chastity and are good believers, are cursed in this life and in the Hereafter, and for them will be a great torment.” (Surah An-Nur, verse 23).
We must understand: our actions on social media do count. Just as our words are written down, so too are our posts, comments, and voice notes. Allah says:
“On the Day when their tongues, their hands, and their feet will bear witness against them as to what they used to do.” (Surah An-Nur, verse 24).
If a Muslim errs in private, advise them privately. Do not take it to X for dragging. If they sin openly, correct them openly—but without backbiting thereafter. We should not be suspicious, nor should we spy on one another. Allah commands:
“O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion, indeed some suspicions are sins. And spy not, neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it. So hate backbiting. And fear Allah. Verily, Allah is the One Who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful.” (Surah Al-Hujurat, verse 12).
Backbiting should never be a source of joy, for its punishment is severe. Abu Bakrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ once passed by two graves and said:
“They are being punished, and they are not being punished for something major. One is being punished because he did not protect himself from urine, and the other is being punished because of backbiting.” (Sunan Ibn Maajah, 349).
It is true that social media makes backbiting easy, but ease does not make it right. None of us is entirely free from this weakness, yet we must not normalize it. As Muslims, our Islam distinguishes us from others. You would not want your matters to become the trending gist, so why make another’s life your entertainment?
We ask Allah to forgive the words we have spoken and those we have wronged, knowingly or unknowingly. May He keep us steadfast upon His religion, grant us goodness, and admit us into Paradise. Aameen.