Short answer
Yes. Gossip that mentions people's faults behind their backs is backbiting (ghibah), and carrying talk between people to stir trouble is namimah. Both are major sins, and the Prophet ﷺ said the talebearer will not enter Paradise. Listening to gossip with enjoyment shares in the sin.
Ghibah and namimah are haram and among the major sins. Listening to them willingly is also sinful. You must object, change the subject or leave, and you must not pass the talk on.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
Gossip usually takes one of two forms. Ghibah is speaking about someone in their absence in a way they would dislike, even when it is true. Namimah is carrying words from one person to another to damage their relationship: 'Do you know what she said about you?' Both are covered in the Quran and the sunnah. See what backbiting is for its definition and exceptions.
Namimah has some of the strongest warnings. The Prophet ﷺ said that the talebearer will not enter Paradise. He passed by two graves and said both were being punished for things that seemed small: one did not protect himself from urine, and the other went about spreading tales. The Quran describes the person not to obey as a scorner who goes about with malicious gossip.
What counts today:
- forwarding screenshots of someone's private messages;
- 'tea' channels and group chats that discuss people's lives;
- telling a friend what a relative said about her, to set them against each other;
- speculating about someone's marriage, money or faith.
If someone brings you gossip, the scholars give six steps: do not believe it straight away, tell the person to stop, dislike it for Allah's sake, do not think badly of the one spoken about, do not go looking for more, and do not pass it on. Talking about events, ideas or public matters without targeting a person is not gossip. Helpful warnings, such as about a fraudster, are allowed; see the backbiting page for the conditions. The four schools agree on this ruling.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Qalam 68:10-11
وَلَا تُطِعْ كُلَّ حَلَّافٍۢ مَّهِينٍ ﴿١٠﴾ هَمَّازٍۢ مَّشَّآءٍۭ بِنَمِيمٍۢ ﴿١١﴾
And do not obey every worthless habitual swearer [And] scorner, going about with malicious gossip -
Spreading malicious talk is a blameworthy trait.
Quran, Surah Al-Hujuraat 49:12
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱجْتَنِبُوا۟ كَثِيرًۭا مِّنَ ٱلظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعْضَ ٱلظَّنِّ إِثْمٌۭ ۖ وَلَا تَجَسَّسُوا۟ وَلَا يَغْتَب بَّعْضُكُم بَعْضًا ۚ أَيُحِبُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَن يَأْكُلَ لَحْمَ أَخِيهِ مَيْتًۭا فَكَرِهْتُمُوهُ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ تَوَّابٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ ﴿١٢﴾
O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Accepting of repentance and Merciful.
Backbiting is forbidden and compared to eating a dead brother's flesh.
Sahih Muslim 105
Sahih... لا يدخل الجنة نمام ...
"The talebearer will not enter Paradise."
Namimah is a major sin.
Sahih al-Bukhari 218
Sahih... وأما الآخر فكان يمشي بالنميمة ...
"As for the other, he used to go about spreading tales."
Spreading tales is a cause of punishment in the grave.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Hazr wa al-Ibaha, on ghibah. Ghibah and namimah are major sins; listening willingly shares in the sin.
- al-Adhkar (Nawawi), Chapter on the prohibition of namimah. The six steps for someone who is brought gossip.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.