Exceptions In Backbiting

بـسـم الله والحـمـد لله والـصلاة والـسـلام عــلى رسـول الله، وبـعـد

Revised on April 27, 2013

Complaint: A person who was unjustly treated. He can go to who is in position to remove the unjustness, like a judge or leader, and talk about how the other person took away his rights. Because the people cannot preserve their rights except this way. This is not backbiting because Allaah said:

{Allaah does not like that the evil should be uttered in public except by him who has been wronged. And Allaah is Ever All-Hearer, All-Knower.} [Surah An-Nisaa’ (4): 148]

Narrated Abu Sa`eed al-Khudree رضي الله عنه: While Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم was sitting, a Jew came and said, “O Abul Qaasim! One of your companions has slapped me on my face.” The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asked who that was. He replied that he was one of the Ansaar. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم sent for him, and on his arrival, he asked him whether he had beaten the Jew. He (replied in the affirmative and) said: “I heard him taking an oath in the market saying: ‘By Him Who gave Moses superiority over all the human beings.’ I said: ‘O wicked man! (Has Allaah given Moses superiority) even over Muhammad? I became furious and slapped him over his face.” The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Do not give a prophet superiority over another, for on the Day of Resurrection all the people will fall unconscious and I will be the first to emerge from the earth, and will see Moses standing and holding one of the legs of the Throne. I will not know whether Moses has fallen unconscious or the first unconsciousness was sufficient for him.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (2412, 4683). It is also reported on the authority of Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (3408, 3414, 3415, 4671, 7472)]

Fatwa: Asking for fatwa, (an Islaamic legal opinion) from a person with knowledge. In such a request, he might mention things that happened between him and somebody else. Some of the things might not be good. But, Islam allows you to mention them as long as your intention is to know the hukum, (legal Islaamic ruling) in those matters. However, it is better to avoid mentioning names, if that is possible.

Narrated `Aaishah رضي الله عنها: Hind bint `Utba said: “O Allaah’s Messenger! Abu Sufyaan (her husband) is a miser and he does not give me what is sufficient for me and my children. Can I take of his property without his knowledge?” The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Take what is sufficient for you and your children, and the amount should be just and reasonable.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (2460, 3825, 5359, 5364, 5370, 6641, 7161, 7180)]

Advising: Advising the Muslims about what is good for them in their daily life. For example, if somebody asks you about a man or women whom he/she intends to marry or is a partner in business. You are required to tell what you know about him in terms of his suitability for what you are asked about.

Narrated Faatimah bint Qays: I mentioned to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم that Mu`aawiyah ibn Abu Sufyaan and Jahm had sent proposals of marriage to me. Thereupon Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “As for Abu Jahm, he does not put down his staff from his shoulder (i.e. he is always travelling), and as for Mu`aawiyah, he is a poor man, having no property. Marry Usaamah ibn Zayd.” I objected to him, but he again said: “Marry Usaamah.” So I married him. Allaah blessed our marriage and I was envied (by others). [Saheeh Muslim (3526, 3527, 3528)]

Warning: Warning Muslims against evil and raising up their awareness of the enemies of Islam, especially if the enemies are from inside, such as they might be Muslims but they work, think, and plan against Islam.

Narrated Aishah: A man asked permission to enter upon Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Admit him. What an evil brother of his people or a son of his people.” But when the man entered, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم spoke to him in a very polite manner. (And when that person left) I said: “O Allaah’s Messenger! You had said what you had said, yet you spoke to him in a very polite manner?” The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “O ‘Aaishah! The worst people are those whom the people desert (avoid) or leave in order to save themselves from their dirty language or from their transgression.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (6054, 6131), Saheeh Muslim (6268)]

Narrated Zaid bin Arqam: While I was taking part in a Ghazwa (and the people suffered from lack of provisions), I heard `Abdullaah bin Ubai (bin Abi Salool) saying (to his companions), “Don’t spend on those who are with Allaah’s Messenger, that they may disperse and go away from him. If we return (to Madeenah), surely, the more honorable will expel the meaner amongst them.” I reported that (saying) to my uncle or to `Umar who, in his turn, informed the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم of it. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم called me and I narrated to him the whole story. Then Allaah’s Apostle صلى الله عليه وسلم sent for `Abdullaah bin Ubai and his companions, and they took an oath that they did not say that. So Allaah’s Apostle صلى الله عليه وسلم disbelieved my saying and believed his. I was distressed as I never was before. I stayed at home and my uncle said to me: “You just wanted Allaah’s Apostle to disbelieve your statement and hate you.” So Allaah revealed (the Surah beginning with) {When the hypocrites come to you.} [Surah Munaafiqoon (63):1] The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم then sent for me and recited it and said: “O Zaid! Allaah confirmed your statement.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (4949, 4950, 4952, 4953)]

Criticizing: Criticism of untrustworthy narrators or witnesses is also permissible, and there is an ijmaa’ on this by the scholars. Rather it is mandatory and its benefit is very clear.

Narrated `Aaishah رضي الله عنها: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “I do not think that so-and-so and so-and-so (mentioning them by names) know anything of our religion.” (And Al-Laith (the sub-narrator) said: "These two persons were among the hypocrites.”) [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (6067, 6068)]

Seeking Help: Seeking help to change a Munkar (wrong deed) and to correct the wrongdoers. A person may say: “A person does such and such, so stop him.” His intention should be to check the Munkar. If this is not the case, then the statement is Haraam.

{Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allaah. Verily, Allaah is Severe in punishment.} [Surah Al-Maaidah (5): 2]

Identification: And the last case in which Muslims are allowed to talk about others, without considering it as backbiting, is when you identify someone as the blind, deaf, mute, and handicapped person. The objective is not to put him down, but only to identify him as he is known. However, if we can avoid mentioning his handicap, and finding other ways to identify him, such as his name, then this would be better.

But beware that all the above mentioned exceptions should be done with a sincere intention of helping the oppressed, or changing the evil, or warning people against them. This should not be done for a mere conversation, or for defaming someone, or showing-off (by indirectly claiming that I am better than such and such).

And Allaah is the Granter of success.