الجواب وباللہ التوفیق

Forgiveness of sins other than “shirk” does not mean that those sins will be forgiven unconditionally and hence will carry no punishment.

Only when a person repents and seeks Allah’s forgiveness, can that sin be pardoned. But if a person dies without repenting and seeking forgiveness from Allah (SWT), his sin may be forgiven in the hereafter through Allah’s mercy, otherwise be held accountable and receive due punishment, after which that sin will be forgiven.

Similar is the situation with the sin of backbiting. If a person dies without seeking pardon from that person, the burden of backbiting will stay on with him, which will be subject to punishment, after which that sin will be washed away. But “Shirk” is the one sin which will never be forgiven.

Since backbiting is associated with the rights of people, therefore it is important to seek pardon from that specific person in this life, verbally or in writing. It is not necessary to indulge into the details of the matter, but is sufficient to say: “forgive me for my shortcomings towards you., But if  for any reason such a path is not doable or the person is not reachable, then ask Allah (SWT) for HIS forgiveness and blessings on that person and try to do some virtuous deeds in his favor.

If possible, praise that person in front of the people who witnessed that backbiting and try to clear any suspicions about him.

(۔(مستفاد از انفاس عیسیٰ: جلد اول

:شامی میں ہے 

وَفِيهَا: الْغِيبَةُ أَنْ تَصِفَ أَخَاك حَالَ كَوْنِهِ غَائِبًا بِوَصْفٍ يَكْرَهُهُ إذَا سَمِعَهُ. عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ - رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ - قَالَ قَالَ - عَلَيْهِ الصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ -، «أَتَدْرُونَ مَا الْغِيبَةُ؟ قَالُوا اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ قَالَ: ذِكْرُك أَخَاك بِمَا يَكْرَهُ قِيلَ: أَفَرَأَيْتَ إنْ كَانَ فِي أَخِي مَا أَقُولُ؟ قَالَ قَالَ: إنْ كَانَ فِيهِ مَا تَقُولُ اغْتَبْته، وَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِيهِ فَقَدْ بَهَتَّهُ» وَإِذَا لَمْ تَبْلُغْهُ يَكْفِيهِ النَّدَمُ وَإِلَّا شُرِطَ بَيَانُ كُلِّ مَا اغْتَابَهُ بِهِ۔۔۔

.(قَوْلُهُ وَإِذَا لَمْ تَبْلُغْهُ إلَخْ) لَيْسَ هَذَا مِنْ الْحَدِيثِ بَلْ كَلَامٌ مُسْتَأْنَفٌ

قَالَ بَعْضُ الْعُلَمَاءِ: إذَا تَابَ الْمُغْتَابُ قَبْلَ وُصُولِهَا تَنْفَعُهُ تَوْبَتُهُ بِلَا اسْتِحْلَالٍ مِنْ صَاحِبِهِ فَإِنْ بَلَغَتْ إلَيْهِ بَعْدَ تَوْبَتِهِ قِيلَ لَا تَبْطُلُ تَوْبَتُهُ، بَلْ يَغْفِرُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى لَهُمَا جَمِيعًا لِلْأَوَّلِ بِالتَّوْبَةِ وَلِلثَّانِي لِمَا لَحِقَهُ مِنْ الْمَشَقَّةِ، وَقِيلَ بَلْ تَوْبَتُهُ مُعَلَّقَةٌ فَإِنْ مَاتَ الثَّانِي قَبْلَ بُلُوغِهَا إلَيْهِ فَتَوْبَتُهُ صَحِيحَةٌ، وَإِنْ بَلَغَتْهُ فَلَا بَلْ لَا بُدَّ مِنْ الِاسْتِحْلَالِ وَالِاسْتِغْفَارِ، وَلَوْ قَالَ بُهْتَانًا فَلَا بُدَّ أَيْضًا أَنْ يَرْجِعَ إلَى مَنْ تَكَلَّمَ عِنْدَهُمْ وَيُكَذِّبَ نَفْسَهُ وَتَمَامُهُ فِي تَبْيِينِ الْمَحَارِمِ