Most of know the definition of gheeba in Islam.  We know that we are not supposed to speak about our Muslim brother or sister in their absence with anything which they would not like us to be saying about them.  We know that if we speak about them in this way and it is all true that we have committed a heinous sin called gheeba which Allah has forbidden in the most severe of terms - equating it to eating the flesh of another Muslim after they have died.  We also know that the sin is even greater if what we are saying is untrue or inaccurate.  The Prophet (sas) said:

"A tadroona maa al-gheeba?"  Qaaloo: Allah wa rasooluhu a'lam. Qaala: "Dhikruka akhaaka bimaa yakrahu."  Qeela:  Afa ra'ita in kaana fiy akhee maa aqoolu?  Qaala:  "In kaana feehi maa taqoolu faqad ightabtahu wa in lam yakun feehi maa taqoolu faqad bahattahu."

"Do you know what backbiting is?"  They said:  Allah and His Messenger know best.  He said:  "For you to mention your brother with that which he dislikes."  It was said:  What about if my brother really has/does what I have said?  He said:  "If he has what you said, then you have backbitten him and if he does not have what you said

Unfortunately, knowing and practicing are not the same thing.  Although most Muslims understand the definition and the seriousness of gheeba, it is very widespread among Muslims.  Its causes and its uses vary widely.  Some may feel a need to "get something off their chest" because of some emotional distress, anger or hurt.  Even though they know they have no business speaking of such things, their emotional need drives them to disobey Allah Most High.  Other times, it springs out of envy, jealousy or possesiveness toward others and quickly crosses over into and even more serious evil: nameema.  Nameema means for one to take words and information from one place to another place (sometimes accurately, usually not) for the purpose of causing discord and strife among others.

Other "agendas" may drive one to gheeba, buhtaan and nameema.  These could include political power struggles or Islamic factionalism causing the desire for one's "group" to be victorious over its opponents even if that means resorting to lying and all of the above-mentioned sins.  In Islam, the "end" does NOT justify the "means".  If you see groups which resort to these kind of methods, then you know they are not on the right path right away even before considering their message.  There are groups on the internet right now which fabricate dates on old news articles in order to make them look like current news, impersonate others by purchasing e-mail accounts with a very similar name and then sending out spastic e-mails in order for others to think badly of the targetted individual.  This trick is widely known among dirty U.S. politicians - i.e., sending out flyers or other information under the name of one's opponents and whose content "sounds like" the opponents position - at least at first - but gets crazier and crazier as you continue to read.  Ronald Reagan used this technique when running for High School class president and in most elections he was involved in after that.  OK, that is Ronald Reagan, but when individuals assocated with what they call the "Supreme Islamic Council" use such tactics, that speaks volumes about their character and their true nature.  Allah said:

{Wa man yaksib khatee'atan au ithman thumma yarmi bihi baree'an faqad ihtamala buhtaanan wa ithman mubeenan.}

{And whoever earns and evil deed and then alleges it upon an innocent other as taken upon themself a falsehood and a clear sin.}  An-Nisaa:112

The war against Islam is heating up - and it is coming almost exclusively from those who call themselves Muslim at this time.  The long honeymoon if just being able to build masajid in this country and get together for prayer and simple social events is over.  If you try to practice and/or teach anything resembling Islam, you will be ruthlessly attacked with all manner of slander, character assassination and even physical attack.  If you dare to even think that Allah's final communication to mankind (like many before it) included a LAW (shari'a) by which we have been commanded to live as individuals, communities, nations and as an Ummah, then you have become an extremist, a terrorist, you are advocating your "own brand" of restrictive, imposing Islam and you must be fought.  Through centuries of Islam, Muslims fell into various corruption and deviation, but it was unheard of that anyone could doubt the very applicability and binding nature of the Shari'a upon every Muslim!

The first step to avoiding gheeba and other sins is to learn to think the best of every Muslim.

{Yaa ayyuhaa alladhina aamanoo ijtaniboo katheeran min adh-dhanni inna ba'dha adh-dhanni ithmun.  Wa laa tajassasoo wa laa yaghtab ba'dhukum ba'dhan.  A yuhibbu ahadukum an ya'kula lahma akheehi maitan fa karihtumoohu wa ittaqoo Allaha inna Allaha tawwaabun raheemun.}

{O you who believe stay away from too much supposition for some supposition is surely sinful.  And do not spy on one another nor backbite one another.  Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother after he has died?  You hate that.  And beware of Allah, verily Allah is ever-forgiving, merciful.} Al-Hujuraat:12

If you concern yourself with the faults of others, Allah will expose your faults.  The result will be an entire nation with all of its dirty laundry on parade. The Prophet (sas) said:

"Yaa ma'shara man aamana bi lisaanihi wa lam yadkhul al-eemaanu qalbahu laa taghtaaboo al-muslimeen wa laa tattabi'oo 'auraatahum, fa inna man ittaba'a 'auraatahum yattabi'a Allahu 'auratahu.  Wa man yattabi'a Allaha 'auratahu yafdhahuhu fiy baitihi."

"O you who have believed with your tongues but faith as not yet entered your hearts, do not speak about the Muslims behind their backs.  And do not seek out their faults for surely whoever seeks out their faults, Allah will seek out his faults.  And, when Allah seeks out someone's faults, He will scandalize him even in his own home."  Abu Daud & Ahmad

Umar ibn Al-Khattab (ra) said:  "When times become corrupted, beware of people in the issue of thinking low of others.  It is upon every Muslim to make no excuses for any backbiter, even if what he says is true.  And do not assist him even if he intends truth with his backbiting.  That is of evil manners and lack of self-control and lack of dignity.  This is because the backbiter who is speaking the truth may reveal something ugly which was hidden or draw back a curtain which was closed or make into scandal that which was hidden.  He has make lawful that which is unlawful, failed to respect the rights of another and failed to respect the prohibitions of Allah."