As geebat repent needs forgiveness first from the person whome geebat has been done & then
Allha will forgive but if a person who has done geebat due to no courage or any other fear of fitnah
If he will not ask forgiveness from the person so what to do in that situation
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Backbiting (geebah) is from those sins which pertain to Haqooq-ul-‘ibad (rights of people). Since these rights are connected with people, fulfilling them and asking for forgiveness will be associated with people as well. In order to repent from such sins, it is not only necessary to plead to Allah for forgiveness, but also ask the person who’s right was violated for pardon and forgiveness. Until this is not done the repentance (tawbah) will not be complete.
However, if someone has back bitted another in such a way that they have not come to find out about what has been spoken about them, then it will not be necessary to ask him for forgiveness. It will be sufficient for one to repent sincerely to Allah, and make the firm intention to abstain from such sins in the future[1].
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Abdullah Ghadai
Student Darul Iftaa
Michigan, U.S.A
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
[1] الدر المختار شرح تنوير الأبصار وجامع البحار (ص: 665)
الغيبة أن تصف أخاك حال كونه غائبا بوصف يكرهه إذا سمعه. عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال عليه الصلاة والسلام: أتدرون ما الغيبة؟ قالوا: الله ورسوله أعلم، قال: ذكرك أخاك بما يكره، قيل: أفرأيت إن كان في أخي ما أقول؟ قال: إن كان فيه ما تقول اغتبته، وإن لم يكن فيه فقد بهته، وإذا لم تبلغه يكفيه الندم، وإلا شرط بيان كل ما اغتابه به.