If someone backbites about someone else to you, chances are, they are backbiting about you to someone else.
"Verily, the hearing, and the sight, and the heart, of each of those ones will be questioned (by Allah).'' (17:36)
1528. Abud-Darda' (May Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (salalahu alayhi wasalam) said, "He who defends the honour of his (Muslim) brother, Allah will secure his face against the Fire on the Day of Resurrection.''
[At-Tirmidhi]
Commentary: If someone says something disgraceful against a Muslim, one must defend his Muslim brother (or sister, for that matter) and say that what has been stated about him or her is wrong and that he (or she) is free from the accusation made against him (or her).
1529. `Itban bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) said in his long Hadith cited in the Chapter entitled `Hope' reported: When the Prophet (salalahu alayhi wasalam) stood up to offer As-Salat (the prayer) he asked, "Where is Malik bin Ad-Dukhshum?'' A man replied: "He is a hypocrite. He does not love Allah and His Messenger.'' The Prophet (salalahu alayhi wasalam) said, "Do not say that. Do you not know that he said: La ilaha illallah (there is no true god except Allah),' seeking His Pleasure. Allah has made the fire of Hell unlawful for him who affirms that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah.'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Commentary: "Allah has made the fire of Hell unlawful'' means that a Muslim will not abide in Hell for ever. The reason is that if a Muslim has committed some major sin and Allah has not pardoned it, then he will certainly suffer its punishment in Hell. He will stay there as long as Allah wills. However, he will be later on shifted to Jannah. This Hadith also leads us to the conclusion that the backbiting of a Muslim is forbidden.
Your brother in Islam,
Fares Elahi
