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{{Ethics-Vertical}}
'''Namima (Talebearing)''' or '''Nammāmi''' (Arabic: {{ia|النمیمه}}) is among [[greater sins]] and refers to mentioning someone's words to others in order to ruin their friendly relationships. Namima is a sin of the tongue and is criticized in the [[Qur'an]] and [[hadiths]]. It usually accompanies some other moral vices such as [[backbiting]] and [[tuhma]] (slander) and originates from vices such as [[envy]]. Murder, humiliation, and debasement are mentioned among its consequences in this world and the [[hereafter]].

== Definition ==
Namima refers to mentioning someone's words to others in order to ruin their friendly relationships. However, it is not limited to speech and includes writing and making gestures as well. Disclosing some issues a person does not want other people to know is also called namima.<ref>Fayḍ al-Kāshānī, ''al-Maḥajja al-bayḍāʾ'', vol. 5, p. 277; Narāqī, ''Jāmiʿ al-saʿādāt'', vol. 2, p. 274.</ref> The person who mentions someone's words to another in order to ruin their friendly relationships is called "Nammam". In some cases, namima accompanies with disclosing a person's secrets, [[slander]], [[hypocrisy]], [[envy]], [[lying]] or [[backbiting]].<ref>Fayḍ al-Kāshānī, ''al-Maḥajja al-bayḍāʾ'', vol. 5, p. 278.</ref>

=== Differences with Si'aya ===
[[Si'aya]] (tale-bearing) is a kind of namima. Mentioning someone's words to a person they are afraid of (such as kings) is called si'aya.<ref>Fayḍ al-Kāshānī, ''al-Maḥajja al-bayḍāʾ'', vol. 5, p. 279.</ref> [[Muhammad Mahdi al-Naraqi|Al-Naraqi]] considered si'aya the worst kind of namima and regarded its wrongness greater than other kinds of namima. He believed that si'aya originates from [[greed]] and [[envy]].<ref>Fayḍ al-Kāshānī, ''al-Maḥajja al-bayḍāʾ'', vol. 5, p. 279.</ref>

== In the Qur'an and Hadiths ==
The word "namim" is mentioned once in the Qur'an. In verse 11 of [[Qur'an 68]], following namims (calumniators) is prohibited.{{enote|scandal-monger, talebearer}} It is said that the word "humaza" in the first verse of [[Qur'an 104]] is namima.<ref>Fayḍ al-Kāshānī, ''al-Maḥajja al-bayḍāʾ'', vol. 5, p. 275.</ref> Also, some [[exegete]]s interpreted the expression "hammalat al-hatab" about [[Abu Lahab's]] wife in the Qur'an referring to her namima (Talebearing).<ref>Ṭūsī, ''al-Tibyān'', vol. 10, p. 428.</ref>

Some scholars of ethics considered a namima among those criticized in verse 27 of [[Qur'an 2]],{{enote|—those who break the covenant made with Allah after having pledged it solemnly, and sever what Allah has commanded to be joined, and cause corruption on the earth—it is they who are the losers.}} and verse 42 [[Qur'an 42]].<ref>Fayḍ al-Kāshānī, ''al-Maḥajja al-bayḍāʾ'', vol. 5, p. 279.</ref>{{enote|The ground for action is only against those who oppress the people and commit tyranny in the land in violation of justice. For such there will be a painful punishment.}}

Namima in hadiths has been criticized as one of moral vices and [[greater sins]]. In ''[[al-Kafi]]'', [[al-Kulayni]] has mentioned three hadiths under the title of al-namima. In these hadiths, a nammam has been mentioned the worst of people and deprived of entering the [[paradise]].<ref>Kulaynī, ''al-Kāfī'', vol. 2, p. 269.</ref> Some hadiths have mentioned namima among the causes which bring about the [[punishments of the grave]].<ref>Ibn Shuʿba al-Ḥarranī, ''Tuḥaf al-ʿuqūl'', p. 14.</ref> In some others, the tendency toward practicing it has been mentioned among characteristics of hypocrites.<ref>''Miṣbāḥ al-sharīʿa'', p. 145.</ref>

== In Jurisprudence and Ethics ==
In the books of ethics, namima is mentioned under [[moral vices]] and sins of the tongue (harms of the tongue).<ref>Fayḍ al-Kāshānī, ''al-Maḥajja al-bayḍāʾ'', vol. 5, p. 275-280.</ref> Also in the books of [[jurisprudence]], it has been mentioned in discussions about hudud and [[ta'zirat]] (discretionary punishments)<ref>Ḥillī, ''Qawāʿid al-aḥkām'', vol. 3, p. 549.</ref> and [[makasib al-muharrama]] (forbidden businesses).<ref>Najafī, ''Jawāhir al-kalām'', vol. 22, p. 73.</ref>

=== Rulings in Jurisprudence ===
Namima is among [[greater sins]] and is forbidden.<ref>Najafī, ''Jawāhir al-kalām'', vol. 13, p. 310.</ref> In ''[[Irshad al-qulub]]'', [[Hasan b. Abi l-Hasan al-Daylami|Daylami]] has mentioned it a sin greater than backbiting.<ref>Daylamī, ''Irshād al-qulūb'', p. 118.</ref> [[Al-'Allama al-Hilli]] said that an army commander should not include a namim in his army; and, if a namim participates in the war, he should not receive a share of [[booties]].<ref>Ḥillī, ''Tadhkirat al-fuqahāʾ'', vol. 9, p. 51.</ref>

In the views of [[Shi'a]] [[jurists]], earning property through namima is [[forbidden]].<ref>Najafī, ''Jawāhir al-kalām'', vol. 22, p. 73.</ref> Also, if someone attributes namima to another, he will receive a ta'zir (discretionary punishment).<ref>Ḥillī, ''Qawāʿid al-aḥkām'', vol. 3, p. 549.</ref>

''' Exception '''

In some cases, namima is permissible; including practicing namima among enemy's forces in order to make divisions among them.<ref>Najafī, ''Jawāhir al-kalām'', vol. 22, p. 73.</ref>

== Cause and Origin ==
[[Muhammad Mahdi al-Naraqi|Al-Naraqi]] mentioned the origin of namima, raging and sensual faculties.<ref>Narāqī, ''Jāmiʿ al-saʿādāt'', vol. 2, p. 274-280.</ref> In some books of ethics, some causes have been mentioned for it including:
* Harming someone whose words are reported.
* Showing affinity to someone, before whom, another person's speech is mentioned
* Fun and amusement
* Telling nonsense<ref>Fayḍ al-Kāshānī, ''al-Maḥajja al-bayḍāʾ'', vol. 5, p. 277; Narāqī, ''Jāmiʿ al-saʿādāt'', vol. 2, p. 274-275.</ref>
* Making divisions among people
* Envy

== Consequences ==
Some consequences are mentioned for namima in hadiths, some of which are:
* [[Punishment of the grave]]: [[Ibn Abbas]] narrated that one-third of the punishment of the grave is because of namima.<ref>Majlisī, ''Biḥār al-anwār'', vol. 6, p. 245.</ref>
* Deprivation of entering the paradise: In a hadith from [[Imam al-Baqir (a)]], namim is mentioned among those who will be deprived of entering the [[paradise]].<ref>Kulaynī, ''al-Kāfī'', vol. 2, p. 269.</ref>
* Failure in [[fulfillment of supplications]]: According to [[Ka'b al-Ahbar]], [[Israelites]] were afflicted with famine. [[Prophet Moses (a)]] several times asked God for rain, but God did not fulfill his request. Then, God [[revealed]] it to Moses (a) that, "there is a namim among your people, and for as long as he insists on namima, I will not answer your requests." Then, prophet Moses (a) asked God to introduce that namim to him. God said, "I prohibit you of namima, how should I practice it?!"<ref>Fayḍ al-Kāshānī, ''al-Maḥajja al-bayḍāʾ'', vol. 5, p. 276.</ref>
* Humiliation and debasement: It is narrated that namima is based on lying, [[envy]], and [[hypocrisy]] and it is an oven in which the fire cooks humiliation and debasement.<ref>Fayḍ al-Kāshānī, ''al-Maḥajja al-bayḍāʾ'', vol. 5, p. 279.</ref>
* Bringing about hatred and division: It is narrated from [[Imam Ali (a)]], "Avoid namima, because it sows the seed of hatred and divides between people and God."<ref>Āmadī, ''Ghurar al-ḥikam'', p. 167.</ref>

== Cure ==
The cure of namima is possible by eliminating its causes such as envy and [[hatred]]. Also, it has been recommended in hadiths to reflect upon the consequences of namima in this world and in the hereafter. [[Fayd Kashani]] has given recommendations to deal with a namim, which are:
* Not approving the words of namim
* Prohibiting him of namima (forbidding from evil)
* Not having bad assumptions about others after hearing a namim's words
* Not investigating about the correctness or incorrectness of a namim's words
* Not reporting the speech of a namim
* Taking him an enemy<ref>Fayḍ al-Kāshānī, ''al-Maḥajja al-bayḍāʾ'', vol. 5, p. 277-278.</ref>

==Notes==
{{notes}}

==References==
{{ref}}
* ''Miṣbāḥ al-sharīʿa''. Beirut: Aʿlamī, 1400 AH.
*Āmadī, ʿAbd al-Wāḥid b. Muḥammad al-Tamīmī al-. ''Ghurar al-ḥikam wa durar al-kalim''. Edited by Sayyid Mahdī Rajāʾī. Qom: Dār al-Kutub al-Islāmī, 1410 AH.
*Fayḍ al-Kāshānī, Muḥammad b. Murtaḍā al-. ''Al-Maḥajja al-bayḍāʾ''. Edited by ʿAlī Akbar Ghaffārī. Qom: Daftar-i Intishārāt-i Islāmī, [n.d].
*Ḥillī, Ḥasan b. Yūsuf al-. ''Qawāʿid al-aḥkām''. Qom: Daftar-i Intishārāt-i Islāmī, [n.d].
*Ibn Shuʿba al-Ḥarranī. ''Tuḥaf al-ʿuqūl''. Edited by ʿAlī Akbar Ghaffārī. Qom: Daftar-i Intishārāt-i Islāmī, 1404 AH.
*Kulaynī, Muḥammad b. Yaʿqūb al-. ''Al-Kāfī''. Edited by ʿAlī Akbar Ghaffārī & Muḥammad Ākhūndī. Tehran: Dār al-Kutub al-Islāmīyya, 1407 AH.
*Majlisī, Muḥammad Bāqir al-. ''Biḥār al-anwār''. Second edition. Beirut: Dār Iḥyāʾ al-Turāth al-ʿArabī, 1403 AH.
*Najafī, Muḥammad b. al-Ḥasan al-. ''Jawāhir al-kalām''. Edited by ʿAbbās Qūchānī & ʿAlī Ākhūndī. Beirut: Dār Iḥyāʾ al-Turāth al-ʿArabī, 1404 AH.
*Narāqī, Muḥammad Mahdī. ''Jāmiʿ al-saʿādāt''. Qom: Muʾassisa-yi Maṭbūʿātī-yi Īrānīyān, 1383 AH.
*Ṭūsī, Muḥammad b. al-Ḥasan al-. ''Al-Tibyān fī tafsīr al-Qurʾān''. Edited by Aḥmad Qaṣīr al-ʿĀmilī. Beirut: Dār Iḥyāʾ al-Turāth al-ʿArabī, [n.d].
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{{Ethic}}
{{Sins}}
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[[fa:سخن‌چینی]]
[[ar:النميمة]]
[[ur:چغل خوری]]
[[id:Namimah (Mengadu domba)]]

[[Category:Moral vices]]
[[Category:Grave sins in Islam]]
[[Category:Sins of the tongue]]
[[Category:Haram]]