It is to be noted that Islam aims at strengthening the ties among Muslims and stands against all things that cause dissension among people, sour their relationships or add fuel to the flames.
Almighty Allah says, “O ye who believe! Shun much suspicion; for lo! some suspicion is a crime. And spy not, neither backbite one another. Would one of you love to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Ye abhor that (so abhor the other)! And keep your duty (to Allah). Lo! Allah is Relenting, Merciful.”
In this way, Islam is against all forms of gossip and backbiting which aim at harming people and causing dissension among them.
However, Islam deems every person responsible for the area of his domain and requires him to take all permissible means to fulfill his task properly. In this sense, we can perceive the issue of preparing secret reports about employees or the work assigned to one as a trust which requires truthfulne
ss and justice.
Sheikh `Atiyyah Saqr, former head of Al-Azhar Fatwa Committee, states the following: “Gossiping means passing on the news and conditions of some people with the intention of causing them harm or gaining a desired reward from those to whom the news is conveyed.
In Islam, gossip is well known to be a detestable act which exposes the one who spreads it to severe punishment. The Prophet, peace be and blessings be upon him, said, “Anyone who spreads gossip will not enter the Garden.” (Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim)
This Hadith indicates that such a person will never enter the Garden at all if he deems this act lawful or that he will not enter it until he dwells in the Hell for some time if he dies without repenting from this act. Moreover, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, commanded his Companions not convey to him any bad thing about any of them so that he’d attend to them without being affected by any reports about any of them. (Reported by Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi)
Nevertheless, if a person is commanded to make a report regarding the work or a certain worker for the purpose of supervising the work movement and rectifying the faults, then it is necessary to provide a true and sincere image without any addition or deduction and without any intention to harm anybody. This is based on the fact that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to send expeditions to get the news of the enemy so as to prepare for the fight. ‘Acts are to be judged by intentions and everyone shall not have but what he intended.’
It should be known that secret reports constitute a form of testimony. Hence, one should be keen that they be just and true and prepare them without being affected by any reward or punishment from any person.
In this regard, it suffices to quote the following Qur’anic verses:
“O ye who believe ! Be ye staunch in justice, witnesses for Allah, even though it be against yourselves or (your) parents or (your) kindred, whether (the case be of) a rich man or a poor man, for Allah is nearer unto both (than ye are) . So follow not passion lest ye lapse (from truth)…” (An-Nisa’: 135)
“And if ye give your word, do justice thereunto, even though it be (against) a kinsman…” (Al-An`am: 152)
“Shall We treat those who believe and do good works as those who spread corruption in the earth; or shall We treat the Pious as the wicked?” (Sad: 28)
“And for all there will be ranks from what they do, that He may pay them for their deeds! and they will not be wronged.” (Al-Ahqaf: 19)
“Say (unto them, O Muhammad): The comfort of this world is scant; the Hereafter will be better for him who wardeth off (evil); and ye will not be wronged the down upon a date stone.” (An-Nisa’: 77)”