The Top 5 Misconceptions of Backbiting and How To Respond To Them

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Greetings,

What about if someone has broken the law? Is it bad to report it?

Peace
 
czgibson said:
Greetings,

What about if someone has broken the law? Is it bad to report it?

Peace
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depends. but if what you are saying is beneficial to the community, you should say it. it's similar to press rules. it has to be beneficial to public, it has to be real, it has to be recent (or related to recent) , and it has to be balanced.
 
Greetings czgibson,
czgibson said:
What about if someone has broken the law? Is it bad to report it?
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No, it isn't. The Holy Qur'an says:

"O ye who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest ye swerve, and if ye distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do." [An-Nisa 4:35]

Regards
 
Greetings,

Thanks for your replies, burdenofbeing and Osman.

Isn't it irresponsible of the article not to mention this, though?

Someone could read it and just assume that they should cover up any crimes committed by someone they know, since backbiting is apparently "one of the most disgusting acts one could ever commit".

Does anyone else see how an article like this could be extremely dangerous?

Peace
 
Hello czgibson,
czgibson said:
Thanks for your replies, burdenofbeing and Osman.
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No problem at all. It's a pleasure. :)

czgibson said:
Isn't it irresponsible of the article not to mention this, though?

Someone could read it and just assume that they should cover up any crimes committed by someone they know, since backbiting is apparently "one of the most disgusting acts one could ever commit".

Does anyone else see how an article like this could be extremely dangerous?
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I can see your point and perhaps it would have been wise for the article to also make make mention of this. To be fair, however, the kind of backbiting that, certainly I and I suspect most other Muslims hear being committed and sometimes even engage in, is usually discussing the personal affairs of others or talking about somebody's personal faults behind their back.*

I think that is what the article is aimed at, since that is the type of backbiting that most Muslims engage in.

* I apologise for using so many clauses in this sentence.

Regards
 
As salaam alaykum.

Such a good benefical article! Jazaak'Allah Khair brother Osman for brought it up.

Unfortuanetly, too many people who have done this by every day out there. May Allah Taala saves us from torment of Hell-Fire.
 
Wa 'Alaykum As-salaam,
FatimaAsSideqah said:
Unfortuanetly, too many people who have done this by every day out there. May Allah Taala saves us from torment of Hell-Fire.
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Ameen thumma Ameen. The sin of backbiting is indeed a very easy one to fall into. :(
 
Ok so what if you're reffering to groups is it still backbiting ?
 
Osman said:
:sl:



I have no idea whether that would constitute backbiting. What makes you want to know? :)

:w:
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Isn't it obvious? its the same reason you posted this article; to prevent backbiting
 
aadil77 said:
Ok so what if you're reffering to groups is it still backbiting ?
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Gheebah (backbiting) means say about others things that they dislike. It is permissible in some situations, such as the advice of one who is able to advise you, and complaining about one who is mistreating you.
What is the definition of gheebah and what is the ruling on it?

Praise be to Allaah.

Gheebah (backbiting, gossip) means that a person mentions the faults of his Muslim brother in his absence, which he would not like if he heard about it, when there is no need to mention them.

When I say “mentions the faults of his brother”, this excludes cases when the other person says something to praise or commend him.

When I say “Muslim brother”, this excludes the kaafir, for there is no gheebah in the case of a kaafir.

When I say, “in his absence”, this excludes things said in his presence, which is not called gheebah according to the more correct of the two scholarly opinions.

When I say, “which he would dislike if he heard about it”, this excludes things which he would not mind.

When I say, “when there is no need to mention them”, this excludes cases when there is a shar’i reason for doing that, such as warning against an innovator to make people aware of his bid’ah.

It is essential to pay attention to the following in such cases:

1. Sincerity towards Allaah and seeking His pleasure.

2. Paying attention to the interests being served by such things.

3. What is said should be limited to the shortcomings in question and should not go further, to matters in which there is no benefit.

The scholars agreed that it is haraam to talk behind a person’s back for no legitimate purpose. Most of them stated that this is a major sin and that it varies in degree, some kinds being worse than others. The one who backbites about a scholar is not like one who backbites about an ignorant person. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“… neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting). And fear Allaah. Verily, Allaah is the One Who forgives and accepts repentance, Most Merciful”

[al-Hujuraat 49:12]

In Saheeh Muslim it is narrated from al-‘Alaa’ ibn ‘Abd al-Rahmaan from his father from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Do you know what gheebah is?” They said, “Allaah and His Messenger know best.” He said, “That you say something about your brother that he dislikes.” He was asked, “What if what I say about my brother is true?” He said, “If what you say is true then you have gossiped about him, and if it is not true then you have slandered him.”

Abu Dawood narrated in his Sunan via Nawfal ibn Masaahiq from Sa’eed ibn Zayd that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The most prevalent kind of usury (riba) is going to lengths in talking unjustly against a Muslim’s honour.”

And he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Your blood, your wealth and your honour are sacred among you, as sacred as this day of yours in this month of yours in this land of yours. Let those who are present convey it to those who are absent; perhaps he will convey it to one who has more understanding than he does.”

(Agreed upon, from the hadeeth of Abu Bakrah).

One of the worse types of gheebah and one which is most emphatically forbidden it to look down upon a Muslim and do one’s utmost to insult him, show disrespect towards him and cast aspersions upon his honour. This is a blameworthy characteristic and a serious malady; it is one of the major sins and the one who does this is subject to the warning and a severe punishment.

Shaykh Sulaymaan ibn Naasir al-‘Alwaani
http://islamqa.com/en/ref/9784/backbite
Ruling on backbiting about non-Muslims
http://islamqa.com/en/ref/13611/backbite
Backbiting (gheebah) and its expiation
http://islamqa.com/en/ref/23328/backbite
Hope this help you should read them
 
Umar, about kaafirs:

Backbiting about a kaafir is haraam if he is a dhimmi [a non-Muslim living under Islamic rule], because that puts them off from accepting the Jizyah and it is going against the treaty of dhimmah (agreement between non-Muslim subjects and the Islamic state) and the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). 'Whoever makes a snide comment to a dhimmi has earned Hell.' (Narrated by Ibn Hibbaan in his Saheeh)

At any rate, it's not the best idea to do gheebah of kaafirs, unless you intend to harm them for a just cause.
 
burdenofbeing said:
Umar, about kaafirs:

Backbiting about a kaafir is haraam if he is a dhimmi [a non-Muslim living under Islamic rule], because that puts them off from accepting the Jizyah and it is going against the treaty of dhimmah (agreement between non-Muslim subjects and the Islamic state) and the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). 'Whoever makes a snide comment to a dhimmi has earned Hell.' (Narrated by Ibn Hibbaan in his Saheeh)

At any rate, it's not the best idea to do gheebah of kaafirs, unless you intend to harm them for a just cause.
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Indeed akhi
That is why i posted all the other links hope you all read them :)
 
oh, sorry. I didn't check them out.
but the main text may sound like it's ok to say whatever you like about kaafirs. which is not the case.
 
aadil77 said:
What does this mean?^


Sorry but still need answers
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:) sorry but if you read the other 2 links i posted you will understand what it means the first one i posted was about backbiting muslim so it dosent include the rulings of non muslims but the other 2 links explains pls read them
 

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