Question Summary:
Forgiveness of Allah Ta’āla in regards to backbiting

Question Detail:

My question is about the forgiveness of Allah in regards to backbiting. Sometimes if a person has been backbited, it may hurt his feels and he/she may get upset if they find out that they have been backbited. I have heard from an imam that we can ask for the forgiveness of those who we have backbited and that will be enough for our forgiveness and as a result that person who been backbited cannot take our deeds or put sins onto us on the day of Qiyamaah. However, if a person has died and possibly backbited or offended someone in their lifetime, can I ask for forgiveness or do anything that can have the deceased person (s) sin(s) of backbiting to be forgiven to assure nobody can come on the day of resurrection to claim any reward from that deceased person? Jzk.

Answer :

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 that person did not come to find out about what has been spoken about him, 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 the evil sin of backbiting in the future
 
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Huzaifah Deedat
Student Darul Iftaa
Lusaka, Zambia
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
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 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
http://askimam.org/public/question_detail/32649.