Hadith: Bakebiting

Hazrat Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah [SAWW](PBUH) said, "During the Miraj (the Night of Ascension), I saw a group of people who were scratching their chests and faces with their copper nails. I asked, `Who are these people, O Jibril?' Jibril replied: `These are the people who ate flesh of others (by backbiting) and trampled people's honour.''
[Abu Dawud Hadith # 4878].
 

Lesson : as mentioned above in Surah Al-Hajj Ayat 21."And for them are hooked rods of iron (to punish them)" "These are the people who ate flesh of others'' is a metaphor for backbiting. "To trample people's honour'' is akin to harming their goodwill and honour. The punishment for these things mentioned in Hadith makes their seriousness obvious.