What is the interpretation of the Almighty's saying: "A slanderer, going about with calumnies," and what is the sign of the backbiter in his nose, and what is the definition of backbiting and its forms?

The 'Hammaz' (slanderer/backbiter) is one who verbally abuses people to their faces, while the 'Lammaz' (fault-finder) is one who speaks ill of them in their absence. The 'Mashshaa' bin Nameem' (tale-bearer) is one who actively spreads corruption among people. As for a mark on the nose of a tale-bearer, there is no known religious text that mentions it. The characteristic mentioned in Surah (definition) Al-Qalam is a threat against those who possess evil attributes, such as the frequent swearer who is worthless, the slanderer, the tale-bearer, the hinderer of good, the transgressor, the sinful, the crude, and the ignoble, and whoever said that Allah's verses are fables of the ancients.

Ibn Kathir interpreted "Sanashimuhu 'alal Khurtoom" (We will brand him on the snout/nose) with several interpretations: clarification and clear manifestation of his affair, or a permanent disgrace, or a mark on his nose, or his fighting in Badr, or the mark of the people of Hell by blackening his face on the Day of Judgment. Ibn Jarir inclined towards the possibility of combining all these meanings in this world and the Hereafter.