Backbiting and Fault-Finding in Islam: Sharʿi Limits and Guidelines
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah – Tawḍīḥ al-Aḥkām, Vol. 2, p. 241
Question:
If the faults of a pious person or a righteous group are mentioned to people with the intention of ensuring that those faults are not mistaken as part of the religion, is this permissible?
Similarly, if in matters of business dealings, marriage proposals, or other needs, someone asks you about the faults of your brother, is it permissible to mention those faults in his absence?
Some people, when speaking ill of their brother, claim: “We can say this in front of him, so it is not backbiting.” Others say: “If we told him, he would not mind, so it is not backbiting.”
A brief and comprehensive answer is required regarding all these matters.
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʿAmma Baʿd!
If mentioning the faults of a person or a group is done for a Sharʿi necessity and with the intention of advising and protecting Muslims – as in "al-naṣīḥah lil-muslimīn" (sincere advice for the Muslims) – then in such cases, it is permissible to mention those faults.
An example is found in the practice of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, as he said:
«اما ابو جهم فلایضع عصاه عن عاتقه و اما معاویة فصعلوک لا مال له»
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Ṭalāq, Bāb al-Muṭallaqah al-Bāʾin Lā Nafaqah Lahā, Ḥadīth 1480)
If there is no Sharʿi justification and no intention of "al-naṣīḥah lil-muslimīn" (sincere advice), then spreading information about a Muslim’s faults without reason is a severely blameworthy act.
Such an act falls under backbiting (ghībah) and slander (buhtān), both of which are major sins in Islam.
ھٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah – Tawḍīḥ al-Aḥkām, Vol. 2, p. 241
Sharʿi Guidance Regarding Backbiting and Pointing Out Faults
Question:
If the faults of a pious person or a righteous group are mentioned to people with the intention of ensuring that those faults are not mistaken as part of the religion, is this permissible?
Similarly, if in matters of business dealings, marriage proposals, or other needs, someone asks you about the faults of your brother, is it permissible to mention those faults in his absence?
Some people, when speaking ill of their brother, claim: “We can say this in front of him, so it is not backbiting.” Others say: “If we told him, he would not mind, so it is not backbiting.”
A brief and comprehensive answer is required regarding all these matters.
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʿAmma Baʿd!
If mentioning the faults of a person or a group is done for a Sharʿi necessity and with the intention of advising and protecting Muslims – as in "al-naṣīḥah lil-muslimīn" (sincere advice for the Muslims) – then in such cases, it is permissible to mention those faults.
An example is found in the practice of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, as he said:
«اما ابو جهم فلایضع عصاه عن عاتقه و اما معاویة فصعلوک لا مال له»
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Ṭalāq, Bāb al-Muṭallaqah al-Bāʾin Lā Nafaqah Lahā, Ḥadīth 1480)
If there is no Sharʿi justification and no intention of "al-naṣīḥah lil-muslimīn" (sincere advice), then spreading information about a Muslim’s faults without reason is a severely blameworthy act.
Such an act falls under backbiting (ghībah) and slander (buhtān), both of which are major sins in Islam.
ھٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
