PRACTICAL REMEDY TO GHEEBAH 1.) One should take action and not be passive and quiet when gheebah is taking place. Rather one should take a practical approach. If someone does gheebah in front of you, then you should prevent the person from doing it. [This could easily be done in a friendly manner by changing the subject saying, “Aw come on.... Let’s talk about something else!”] If the person still persists in his gheebah then you must excuse yourself to leave that gathering. [Make an excuse to go to the bathroom or something else. Freshen up and come back. Hopefully the person will get the idea that you are trying to avoid his harmful conversation by leaving that gathering]. And if he doesn’t get the idea, then one should clearly let him know that what he is doing is a sin and do not be afraid of breaking his heart or hurting his feelings. A true believer does not break his own Deen for the sake of not breaking the heart of someone else. We do not cause hurt to our own Imaan for the sake of not hurting someone else’s feelings. 2.) One very brilliant remedy to this evil habit is that you should notify the person whom you have back-bitten and let him know what you said about him. If one punishes and humiliates the nafs like this a couple of times then one will regret doing this sin for good Insha-Allah. From Islahul Gheebah: http://annoor.wordpress.com/2007/01/...or-backbiting/ Also just a side note, don't worry about this whole countdown thing, I've seen it happen to girls my age so many times, I guess its a trend for the "cool kids" to do this to those who are trying to better themselves. Inshallah you'll be rewarded for all of your struggles, just think of it as another test and another opportunity to prove your love for Allah. If people look down on you for doing what you're supposed to be doing, then what they think doesn't really matter to begin with. Pretty soon it will be over and they'll think of someone else to bother.