How to Repent and Rectify Backbiting, Insults and Slander?

Question

Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh,

I am a student, and in the past, together with some of my friends, I spoke badly about one of our teachers behind his back and made many insulting and disrespectful comments about him. We also made and shared some jokes, GIFs, and Telegram

stickers mocking him. Some of the insults were very offensive. I later sincerely regretted what I had done. I stopped doing it, deleted anything that was still under my control, and when people later spoke badly about this teacher in gatherings, I defended him and did not speak against him to the school administrators.

My question is: According to Hanafi fiqh, what exactly should I do to make amends for these wrongs and fulfill the rights of this person? Do I have to inform the teacher about everything we said and ask him to forgive me, or if informing him would cause additional distress, embarrassment, or harm, is sincere repentance, seeking Allah’s forgiveness, praying for him, and correcting the consequences of my actions sufficient?

I am especially concerned about the very offensive insults. If some of those statements were false and could be considered slander or false accusations, does that change the ruling?

Some of the stickers/GIFs are no longer under my control because other people may have copies of them, and I cannot delete those copies. I have deleted everything that I can personally control and I will not share or spread them again. What is my responsibility regarding the copies that I can no longer control?

Also, there was once a teacher evaluation/survey in which students could rate teachers. I honestly do not remember whether I gave this particular teacher a good or bad rating. Since I am not certain, do I need to do anything regarding this? Please advise me according to Hanafi fiqh. I would like to correct my mistake properly without causing further harm to the teacher.

Jazakum Allahu Khayran.

Baba Abu Bakr · Accepted Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-Salāmu ʿAlaykum Wa-Raḥmatullāhi Wa-Barakātuh

In principle, backbiting a Muslim is a grave sin. In the Qurʾān Majīd, Allah Taʿālā likens backbiting to eating the flesh of one’s dead brother. Numerous stern warnings regarding this sin are also found in the blessed aḥādīth.

The manner of rectifying this sin depends on whether the person who was backbitten is aware of it.

If the person is aware that he was backbitten, then, in addition to sincerely repenting to Allah Taʿālā, one should seek his forgiveness, as the matter involves the rights of a fellow human being (ḥuqūq al-ʿibād). However, it is not necessary to disclose the details were doing so would cause further hurt or harm. Rather, forgiveness may be sought in general terms. If the person is unaware, it is not necessary to inform him of the backbiting. Rather, one should sincerely repent to Allah Taʿālā, seek His forgiveness, and make duʿāʾ for the person. Similarly, if the person has passed away, one should repent, seek Allah’s forgiveness, and make duʿāʾ for him, while rectifying any other outstanding rights where applicable. The same principles apply to mockery, ridicule, insults, jokes, GIFs, stickers, messages, and other material through which a person was demeaned or his honour attacked. One should therefore repent from all such conduct, cease it, and resolve never to return to it. Any material still within one’s possession or control should be deleted, and one should not forward, repost, or circulate it further. If copies have been retained by others and are genuinely beyond one’s control, one is not responsible for what one cannot reasonably remove or control. Nevertheless, where reasonably possible, one should take appropriate steps to prevent further circulation and rectify any actual harm caused.

If false statements or accusations were made, this is distinct from ordinary Ghībah(backbiting) and may constitute Bhutan(slandering). Where such statements caused reputational harm, they should, where reasonably possible and without causing greater harm, be corrected to those to whom they were communicated.

Thus, the objective is not merely to disclose one’s past wrongdoing, but to repent sincerely, discontinue the sin, prevent further harm, and rectify any rights or damage to the extent reasonably possible without causing greater harm. [1]

And Allah Taʿāla Knows Best.

Question

Answer