The Prevalence of Gossip
Gossip has become extremely widespread at all levels of society, including men and women of all ages. Whenever one tries to stop someone from talking behind someone else’s back, he replies: “I am not speaking ill of him, just explaining their true character.” The very notion of the explanation of one’s character is gossiping itself because the moral principle of misrepresentation is that if the mentioned trait is not present in your targeted person, it would be a greater sin named slander and defamation of his character; and if such trait does exist in that person, it is still gossiping. The criteria for distinguishing gossip are whether it would make their targeted person uncomfortable and angry if the same words are spoken in his presence. If the person would be disturbed when these words are spoken in his presence, why would you say something in his absence that would make him disturbed when he finds out? Such actions are far from the principles of kindness, brotherhood and humanity.