Six Exception to Backbiting

 🌴Praise be to Allah Almighty.

      

 *Six Exception to Backbiting*

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      ```Very Important```

*Although backbiting is a major sin and should be avoided at all times, there are six situations, under certain circumstances, in which backbiting is deemed to be permissible.*

*1. Times of oppression*

*It is permissible for an individual who has been oppressed or wronged to complain to a person of authority or any well-known person who can assist in the situation by removing the oppression and helping the oppressed receive justice against the oppressor. However, we should avoid going around complaining to different people about this particular person just for the purpose of venting or complaining.*

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*2. Seeking advice or fatwa*

*It is permissible to seek advice from a scholar regarding a particular person you are having problems with in order to receive advice or religious ruling on the situation. For example, “My wife did such and such to me” or “my husband did such and such a thing” , “ how shall I handle the situation ?”*

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*3. Warning others against someone’s evil*

*For the purpose of protecting and giving sincere advice, it is permissible to warn others against a particular person if that person behaves or possess qualities that may harm others. Examples include*

*Warning others against a person who is known to be a liar, thief, or troublemaker*

*Warning a person against a potential suitor known to possess negative qualities such as stinginess, bad tempered, does not pray, interacts with the opposite gender….etc.*

*Informing those who intend to establish a business relationship with a dishonest or unethical person.*

*Note: If warning against a particular person can be achieved by simply saying: “I advise you not to marry this person” or “You should not engage in any business transaction with this person”….. then mentioning the person’s bad characteristics or shortcomings is not permissible as it is no longer necessary to do so.*

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*4. Openly commits evil*

*If a person publicly commits evil, bidah (innovation), or mischief, then it is permissible to speak openly about what he/she is doing.*

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*5. For identification purposes*

*If someone is known by a certain nickname or trait, then it is permissible to call him/her by that name providing it is not used as a way to belittle/mock that person, rather just for identification. Example, “the deaf one”, “the blind one”, “the one who limps”, etc. Situations in which there is a need to describe the physical appearance of someone in order to identify him is lawful, but it is best to use other milder words to describe a person if possible.*

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*6. Seeking help to change evil*

*If one knows of a particular person who has the capacity and wisdom to help an evil-doer or sinner stop sinning and change their habits, then it is permissible to approach that person and speak to them about the sinner for the purpose of seeking his help to intervene and give that person guidance.*

*May Allah Almighty help us to safeguard our tongues and protect us from such major sins. Aameen*

*Don't forget to share all good messages as much as possible, to share in on the reward and also to inspire an amazing sunnah revival.*