Adab #023 **Rulings pertaining as to when backbiting becomes permissible** The original ruling concerning backbiting is that it is Haram. However, there are instances where it becomes permissible to backbite for the greater benefit (maslahah). This is when the motive behind it is to wish well and not find faults. There are 6 reasons as to when backbiting becomes permissible: 1. An open sinner or; the one who harms the Muslims through his books, his speech or his ideology, or; an innovator who publicly spreads his innovation. With regards to such an individual, it becomes permissible to make mention of his open sins, his harmful ideologies or his open innovations. This wont be considered backbiting as long as the one speaking does it for the sake of Allah by warning against him or trying to eradicate the evil in this person. This is based on the statement of the Prophet ﷺ when he said in the absence of a man: Let him in. What an evil brother of his people! [al-Bukhari] Imam al-Bukhari used this narration as proof to show the permissibility of backbiting the corrupted and suspicious people. Imam Ahmad was asked, Is it more beloved to you that a man prays, fasts and secludes himself or that he speaks out against the people of innovation? He replied, If he prays and fasts and secludes himself (in worship) then it is for himself, whereas if he speaks out against the innovators then it is for the Muslims and this is better. Three conditions apply with regards to backbiting an open sinner or innovator a) The person has to sincerely intend it for the sake of Allah and with the intention to wish well for the Muslims, to warn them against him and to eradicate his falsehood. If a person refutes this open sinner (or innovator) out of personal enmity, jealousy or the likes - then backbiting in this case becomes impermissible. b) The open sinner (or innovator) is alive. It isnt permissible to backbite the deceased unless he has books that are spreading his evil and innovation or he has followers spreading it - then it is wajib to warn against him as the origin for the permissibility for backbiting still stands. c) One must be just in what he is saying about the open sinner (or innovator). He should only mention about his open sins (innovations) and nothing more (which he didnt do or say). Anything extra will enter into slander. The other 5 reasons as to when backbiting becomes permissible are: 2. Describing a person if he was to have any defects like being one-eyed, crippled or having weak eyesight; as long as it is not done to put him down or to criticise him. Such descriptions are given about individuals who are looking to get married or when someone wants to have a partnership with this individual or have dealings with the individual. 3. When one wants to make a complain regarding the one who wronged him, by saying He wronged me.. or he took my money.. or he is an oppressor.. then this is not considered backbiting on the condition that he complains to someone who has the ability to resolve the issue or to lighten it. 4. Seeking aid by mentioning about a person in order to change evil. This is only when a person thinks that the one to whom the complaint is put forward has the ability to remove the evil. In this case it is allowed to even backbite about a person who doesnt openly sin. 5. Whilst seeking a ruling from a Mufti saying, So and so has wronged me by doing such and such. What can I do in order to settle the issue with him? 6. When warning the Muslims from being mislead by an individual; like: criticising narrators (in the chains of transmission in hadith), those who testify/witness or the ones occupying positions of being in charge of teaching or giving rulings whilst not being qualified for it. Al-Nawawi, after mentioning the above six reasons, said: The evidences for these are apparent from the well known authentic narrations and most of these (legitimate) reasons for the permissibility of backbiting are agreed upon.
Posted on: Sun, 26 Oct 2014 22:21:23 +0000
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