Veteran Pakistani actress Shagufta Ejaz has asked her fans to stop speaking about others behind their backs and to let go of the habit of being overly curious about someone else’s personal life. She reflected on how toxic such behavior is and emphasized that it has been strongly forbidden by Allah.
In a video clip circulating on social media, Shagufta stated that when people talk about someone’s character or engage in negative gossip about another person in their absence, that is backbiting. She noted that Allah has strongly condemned such conduct in the Quran, comparing it to eating the flesh of one’s own dead brother.
She raised a very wise point. Shagufta reflected that when a person does something wrong for the first time, they feel hesitant. The second time, they feel slightly less hesitant. Soon after, they begin performing that habit with comfort and assurance, justifying it with all the wrong reasons.
The senior artist asked her followers why there is a constant need to be curious about what is happening in other people’s lives, continuously thinking about whether someone has gotten divorced or has settled their personal matters. She added that even the feeling of being curious about other people’s private affairs is prohibited in Islam. A person should only take interest in things that others wish to disclose about themselves and should not ask questions about their personal life.
Here are the exact words uttered by Shagufta during her latest statement:
“Jab hum kisi ke character par baat karte hain, jab hum kisi ki burai karte hain wo bhi doosron ke saamne, wo gheebat hoti hai. Aur Quran mein Allah ta’ala farmate hain ke ye itna bura hai jaise hum apnay murda bhai ka gosht kha rahe hain. Aur ek waqt aata hai. Shuru mein jab app pehli dafa koi kaam karte hain tou bura lagta hai, uske baad thoda kam bura lagta hai, aur uske baad kami bartee jaati hai aur app us cheez ko comfortably karne lagte hain. Aur phir uske baad app usko justify karne lagte hain aur app ke paas ek hazaar reasons shaitaan daalta hai app ke dimaagh mein. Kisi ki talaaq hui, kisi ki sulah hui. Allah kehte hain ke tajassus karna gunah hai. Utna hi jano jitna koi appko wo batata hai. Isliye humein bohat se sawaal nahi poochne chahiye.”