Bissmillah wasallallahu ^ala rasulillah.
Brothers and sisters know that Gossip (ghibah) is a disease prevailing in many societies. In addressing this issue, let us remind ourselves and others to be cautious of spreading this disease. Allah said in Surat al-Hujurat, Ayah 12 In this verse, Allah ordered us not to commit gossip (ghibah) amongst one another as it is similar to one eating the flesh of his dead brother. Allah gave us this comparison to show the ugliness of this sin and to guide us to clear ourselves of it. There are many hadiths of the Prophet highlighting the unlawfulness of gossip (ghibah). Among them is one related by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim from the route of Abu Musa al-Ash^ariyy: This hadith refers to when the Prophet was asked about the best among the Muslims, to which he replied: <> Also, in a hadith related by Abu Dawud from the route of Anas, he said: This hadith refers to when Prophet Muhammad ascended to the skies. He passed by people who were scratching their faces and chests with nails made of brass. The Prophet asked Jibril who those people were, and Jibril replied, “The ones who were eating the flesh of other people.” This is a direct reference to those who commit gossip (ghibah).
When the Prophet spoke about gossip (ghibah), he gave a very specific definition. In a hadith related by Muslim, Abu Dawud, an-Nasa’iyy, and at-Tirmidhiyy, from the route of Abu Hurayrah, the Messenger, when asked about gossip (ghibah), said: The Prophet defined gossip (ghibah) as mentioning something about your Muslim brother that he hates. The Prophet was asked, “What if that thing I mentioned was something truthful about him?” The Prophet said, “If it was in him, then you have committed gossip (ghibah), and if it was not in him, then you have committed al-buhtan”–which is a sin more enormous than gossip (ghibah).
Hence, gossip (ghibah) is mentioning about your Muslim brother something that he hates, whether he is alive or dead. (The precept is that if the person spoken about would be hurt by your words reaching him, then it is gossip (ghibah).
Therefore, mentioning about your Muslim brother something he hates is gossip (ghibah)–whether regarding his body, dress, house, character, or the like.
May Allah protect our us from committing the all different kinds of sins.