Is it obligatory to seek forgiveness of the person you have gossiped about?

Question

Is it obligatory for a person who has gossiped about a Muslim and wants to repent to Allaah to seek the forgiveness of the person about whom he gossiped?

Does he have to tell him what he said about him behind his back, if he thinks that telling him about it may make him hate him? In this case does he have to tell him, or is it sufficient to ask his forgiveness without telling him what was said?

Answer 1

Seems to me all you religious people make it up as you go along.

Answer 2

well im not sure...

but i think sometimes telling the person might actually make u feel like a better person and that a huge weight haas been lifted up ur shoulders... but im not sure wether u have to tell them...

as for the hating thing... well i suppose we wud deserve it... but atleast u'll feel lighter within urself and tht person may see that u have changed and are reallysorry so they may not hate u :D

hope this helps

jazakh Allah khair

Answer 3

no its not obligatory to tell this Muslim what you have spoke of him.

What I read was, he doesn't have to tell if it'd have a negative outcome as you stated, and it is better to not say it in these kinds of situation, but to make up for it and to be sincere in your repentance, pray for his forgiveness, make du'a for him, be nice to him, may be give gifts, and speak good of him in his absence(to counteract the harm you might have caused).  Because when you die, Allah will not forgive you if he doesn't forgive (since you did wrong to him).

narrated from Abu Sa’eed: “When the people of Paradise cross al-siraat and stand on a bridge between Paradise and h**l, they will settle their scores with one another, and when they are cleansed and purified, permission will be given to them to enter Paradise.” Saheeh Muslim

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EDIT:

It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever has wronged his brother with regard to his honour or anything else, let him seek his forgiveness today, before there will be no dinar and no dirham, and if he has any good deeds to his credit they will be taken from him in a manner commensurate with the wrong he did, and if he has no good deeds, then some of his counterpart’s bad deeds will be taken and added to his burden.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 2317.

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said:

Whoever wrongs a person by slandering him, backbiting about him or insulting him, then repents, Allaah will accept his repentance, but if the one who was wronged finds out about that, he has the right to settle the score. But if he slandered him or backbit about him and the person did not hear of that, then there are two views according to the scholars, both of which were narrated from Ahmad, the more correct of which is that he should not tell him that he spoke against him in his absence. It was said that he should rather speak well of him in his absence just as he spoke badly of him in his absence, as al-Hasan al-Basri said: the expiation for gheebah is to pray for forgiveness for the person about whom you backbit.

Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 3/291

Answer 4

yes it is. but if you can't then you have to pray to Allah for him.

seeking forgiveness from the person is obligatory.cuz this is huqooq ul ibaad. and not huqooq ul allah. if it would be huqooq ul allah then you have to ask Allah to 4give u but this is huqooq ul ibaad and you have to ask the person.but if it's impossible like if the person is dead or for ex if u made fun of a community(like v indians have sardar jokes, it's attacking all the sardar) so u have to ask Allah to forgive their sins and pray for them.

Answer 5

It's not obligatory, but it would be nice

Answer 6

Dear Muhyi Al Din

I know you probably feel real bad. Toba toba toba. If it is all squashed and the air is clear let Allah cover your sin. If it is getting worse and worse.......................

Then yeah I think its your duty to clear the air. Or you will be feeling bad for a looooong time.

Hope I helped.

peace

EDIT: OHHHHH, Sorry. Of course not. llooolll

Answer 7

Okay, if you stopped thinking about whether or not Allah would seek the forgiveness of a fellow muslim he showed disrespect to for just one moment and ask yourself what you would want if someone did that to you, you'd have your answer.

p.s; are you actually a muslim?

Your perception of the concept of Allah is... odd...

Answer 8

If telling truth will hurt people,there is no need to tell it.Just repent and tell truth to the people to whom you gossiped.No need to tell the person,and try not to repeat it..Allah will forgive for sure..

Answer 9

Go to Jesus, the only one Who can forgive your sin.  He loves you dearly.  The price has been paid for you already.  Just tell Him you know you were wrong, then ask Him what to do next.  

Answer 10

i think so because its haram to talk behind someones back