You will notice that no one pays attention to a person who talks too much. As a result he loses his respect. He will not have any close friends since people will try to avoid him. In general, he will be thought of as a child.

When a person talks too much, he is giving away all his secrets, and he does not even realise. This explains why Imam Ali (A) has said:

"The heart of a fool lies behind his tongue."

This shows that the secrets (heart) of a fool is revealed when he speaks.

On the contrary the person who is wise will only talk when it benefits him, which is why Imam Ali (A) also said:

"The tongue of a wise man lies behind his heart."

Blabbering is something which many people do often. Certain people, when they get together start talking about useless things, talk about other people, talk about who is doing what and who is going where. All this just turns out to be Gheebat and Fitna. You should always try to avoid these types of meetings or groups, since you will come out without any benefit, and in the meantime, someone's name and honour would have been damaged.

Prophet Isa has explained us to treat our words as if they were gold. Would you throw away gold to anyone, and just treat it like sand. Well you should not throw your words away either. They are too expensive and important to be treated as dust, to throw away.

Imam Zainul Abideen (A) and Gheebat (Backbiting & Gossip):

Once a man who claimed to be a friend of our 4th Imam, Imam Zainul Abideen (A) came to him and told him that so and so had been saying horrible things about him.

Imam Zainul Abideen (A) replied that he had not heard anything and would not have if the man had not told him. Imam Zainul Abideen (A) then continued that the person who had said the horrible things was as if he had shot an arrow and missed the target but the man who had told him was as if he had picked up the fallen arrow and hit the target with it.

Allah does not like the habit of spreading scandal and gossip even if it be true.

In the time of Prophet Musa (A), once there was a severe drought. For months there had been no rain. The people prayed and prayed but no rain came.

When Prophet Musa (A) went to mount Sinai to pray, Allah revealed to him that amongst his people there was someone who spreading scandal and because of this person Allah had not let it rain.

Prophet Musa (A) asked Allah who this person was so that he could tell him off for what he had done. Allah replied that did Prophet Musa (A) want Him to do what He had forbidden for others. (i.e. talk about others).

Moral..

• Do not talk about other people Gheebat (Backbiting) when they are not there even if what you say is true.