I sit with my grandmother so she will not be lonely. However, she always gossips and backbites. Sometimes she asks me to play some songs for her. What should I do?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and messenger.

Being dutiful to one’s grandmother requires forbidding her from committing sins but this must be done in a kind manner. You should exert every effort to guide her, and occupy her time with good deeds so that Allaah The Almighty may grant her a good end to her life.

It is advisable that whenever you visit her that you do not give her the chance to backbite. You should fill this time by talking about the women of the righteous predecessors and stories of women who repented to Allaah, and such stories are available in different books. It is also better to spend some time with her enlightening her about the Prophetic narrations which encourage the mention of Allaah The Almighty, reciting and listening to the Quran, listening to religious lessons, and clarifying the prohibition of backbiting and insulting. You should seek to make her long for Paradise and clarify the way to attain it. You should also take some useful tapes with you and give her the chance to listen to them instead of turning on the radio and listening to songs.