غيبة
Ghība
Speaking ill of someone in his absence, which the Quran compares to eating the flesh of one’s dead brother.
What it means
“Do not backbite one another. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it” (49:12). The Prophet defined it: “mentioning your brother in a way he dislikes.” When asked, “and if what I say is true?”, he said, “if it is true, you have backbitten him, and if it is false you have slandered him” (Sahih Muslim).