GHIYBAH – غيبة

Literally: Backbiting; speaking ill of a person behind his back, or telling tales about someone in his absence.

Etymology: Derived from the Arabic root gh-y-b (غ ي ب), which signifies absence, concealment, or being hidden from sight, ghiybah etymologically denotes an action directed at someone who is physically absent and unaware.

As an Islamic Term: Maliciously discussing in their absence a Muslim brother or sister's defect or characteristic that they actually possess, yet they would dislike to have mentioned. If the spoken matter is false, it is no longer ghiybah but rather slander or defamation (iftirâ or buhtân), which constitutes a separate and grievous sin in the Sharî‘ah.

(For further explanation, please refer to the Conclusion of the Twenty-Second Letter.)