“Hey did you hear about so and so?” Our eyes raise and we gasp “no I have not, tell me!” Gossip is so pervasive in our lives that we cannot even grocery shop without checking out the latest celebrity gossip. Gossip is so pervasive in all societies because it makes us feel good when someone is doing something shocking or is doing worse than us. It is so easy to not even recognize that we are gossiping because it has become such an integral part of our lives. There are plenty of Islamic lectures and articles on its evils that you can search for so  I will leave that part to the experts. We all know about the ayah “O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion, in deeds 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 God, verily, God is the one who accepts repentance, Most Merciful”(49:12). What I didn’t realize for a long time was this ayah was about gheeba, saying something true about someone! Slander, when one makes up a story about another person, is far worse of a punishment. One scholar said that it’s possible that the politicians will make it to heaven based on all the people that are gossiping about them. I don’t know about you, but I find it hard work to fast and do my salah and give charity and I really don’t want to fork over my good deeds to someone that I don’t even like. I have been working on this part of myself by not really talking on the phone with people and avoiding known gossips in the community. What tips do you have to avoid gossiping? Would love to hear from you guys! Leave your comments below