QUESTION:
Do the Ahaadith pertaining to backbiting/speaking in the absence of someone apply to:
1) Enjoining the good and forbidding the evil
2) Kuffar in general, and Kuffaar/Fussaaq specifically?
ANSWER:
1. The commentators of Hadith explain that it is permissible to make Gheebat of a Faasiq (who is openly involved in transgression) so that people become aware of him and are protected from his harm or evil. In fact, one will be rewarded for doing so as it falls in the category of prohibiting from evil. Hence, exposing his faults so that the Haqq can be made apparent and so that people can be guided, is not prohibited.
[Also check: Fataawa Uthmaaniyya Vol:10 Pg: 373]
2. It is permissible to make Gheebat of a Kaafir (who is termed as a Harbi). Yes, the jurists have written that making Gheebat of a Kaafir (who is a Dhimmi) is prohibited.
فتباح غيبة المجهول ….. وان اغتاب الفاسق ليحذره الناس يثاب عليه لأنه من النهي عن المنكر (رد المحتار ج٩ص٥٨٦)
وهو اضل ام بعيره فيه دلالة على ان إظهار العيب لإظهار الحق ودلالة الناس علي الهدي غير منهي عنه فمن اقتدي به الناس وهو غير متأهل لذلك وجب عليهم كافة اظهار معائبه والتشنيع على مثالبه لئلا تفتن الخليقة به (بذل المجهود ج١٩ ص١٢٧)
الدر المنضود ج٨ ص٦٦٠
لَيْسَ الْمُؤْمِنُ بِالطَّعَّانِ وَلا اللَّعَّانِ وَلا الْفَاحِشِ وَلا الْبَذِيءِ) رواه الترمذي (
قال زكريا الأنصاري: ” وَغِيبَةُ الْكَافِرِ مُحَرَّمَةٌ إنْ كَانَ ذِمِّيًّا ; لأَنَّ فِيهَا تَنْفِيرًا لَهُمْ عَنْ قَبُولِ الْجِزْيَةِ وَتَرْكًا لِوَفَاءِ الذِّمَّةِ وَلِقَوْلِهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم: (مَنْ سَمَّعَ ذِمِّيًّا وَجَبَتْ لَهُ النَّارُ) رَوَاهُ ابْنُ حِبَّانَ فِي صَحِيحِهِ وَمُبَاحَةٌ إنْ كَانَ حَرْبِيًّا ; لأَنَّهُ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَأْمُرُ حَسَّانَ أَنْ يَهْجُوَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ (أسنى المطالب مع حاشيته ج٣ ص١١٦)
ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Maulana Ahmed Saeed
Date:- 26 Rabi ul Awwal 1445 / 12 October 2023
CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai Saheb
