Is it permissable to backbite about a kaafir/kaafira!

Kakorot

Junior Member
:salam2:

Some non-Muslims I know are soooooooooooooooooooooooo annoying!! And it's hard not to backbite about them!!!!!!!!!! :mad: Allaah give us sabr!!!!!!!!!!! I did a bit of research, so I thought I'd share:

Ruling on backbiting about non-Muslims
Please inform us if the gheebah (backbiting) is the same for non-believers as it is for Muslims.


Praise be to Allaah.

Firstly, it is not a Muslim characteristic to speak rudely. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The Muslim does not slander, curse, speak obscenely or speak rudely.” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, who said, this is a ghareeb hasan hadeeth; it was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani). Whoever does a thing a lot, it will become his habit, so the Muslim should keep away from all the ways that lead to evil, whether minor or major. Whoever drives his sheep near the enclosure of the king is bound to cross the line.

Secondly, if your question is referring to backbiting about a kaafir by mentioning his physical defects, such as his having a long nose or a big mouth, etc., then do not do this, because this is making fun of the creation of Allaah. If it means talking about his bad characteristics which he flaunts openly, such as zina and immorality, or drinking alcohol, and warning against him, there is nothing wrong with that. There follow some of the comments of the scholars on this topic:

Zakariya al-Ansaari said: “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). It is permissible (to backbite about a kaafir) if he is a harbi (one who is at war with the Muslims), because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to command Hassaan to lampoon the mushrikeen.”

(Asna al-Mutaalib ma’a Haashiyatihi, vol. 3, p. 116)

Ahmad ibn Hajar al-Haythami said in al-Zawaajir ‘an Iqtiraaf al-Kabaa’ir (vol. 2, p. 27): “Al-Ghazaali was asked about backbiting about a kaafir. He said: with regard to a Muslim, it is forbidden for three reasons: causing offence; criticizing the creation of Allaah, for Allaah is the Creator of the deeds of His slaves; and wasting time in something that is of no benefit. The first is haraam, the second is makrooh, and the third is not the best thing that one can do. With regard to the dhimmi, he is like the Muslim as far as not harming him is concerned, because the Lawgiver protects his honour, blood and property. It was said in al-Khaadim, the first view is correct. Ibn Hibbaan narrated in his Saheeh that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, ‘Whoever makes a snide comment to a Jew or a Christian deserves Hell.’ The meaning of making a snide comment is to make someone hear something that will cause offence to him. There is no stronger evidence than this, i.e., it is haraam. Al-Ghazaali said: with regard to the harbi, the former is not haraam, and the second and third are makrooh. With regard to one who commits bid’ah (innovation), if he is becomes a kaafir thereby, then he is like a harbi, otherwise he is like a Muslim, but speaking of him with regard to his bid’ah is not makrooh. Ibn al-Mundhir said, concerning the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), “It is your mentioning about your brother that which he dislikes,” – this indicates that in the case of one who is not your brother, such as a Jew or a Christian or a follower of any other religion, or one whose bid’ah has put him beyond the pale of Islam, there is no backbiting in his case.”


Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
 

Frank_H_Smith

New Revert 2010
As Salamu 'Alaykum,

I am glad you posted this. If someone wrongs me or someone to whom I am close. And, then they give me a big smile and attempts to talk to me. I will say to them something like this: "It always amazes me how people can stab others in the back and then smile to their face." That usually fain confusion or ignorance to what I am referring. Then I will say something like this: "What you don't know to what I am referring? The other day you did this (or I was told by so and so that you did or said this) and now you want to be friendly?"
And, at this point usually they will deny it (which if I am not sure, I will tell them that if I was misinformed, I sincerely apologize or if I know that it is a fact or if I was told it by a third person, I will suggest we go talk to the person) And, if they refuse or have an excuse then I can usually count on them not doing it again or at least not trying to deceive me.

I started doing this when I was 15 and another boy my age told me that one of the "tough" kids had said something about my mother. I went to the person accused and asked him why he would lie about my mom. He said he didn't; so, I suggested that we go speak with Bobby, the original person who told me. When we confronted him together, he said he just wanted to see which of us was "tougher."

Now, I am not sure if that is inappropriate for a Muslim, but I am sure that is not backbiting. But, if someone asks why I don't like a person, I will give the reason and here is where I don't know if it is backbiting or not. I have already spoken to the person; so, I am not saying anything behind his or her back that I haven't said to their face.

I am studying Al Quran and Hadiths to learn proper conduct as a Muslim. However, I have guidelines from other sources which is why I will often share something from the Bible. That way if a person to whom you are talking with denies AL Quran as Kalaam of Ar Rahman and says something like this: "I only go by the Bible!" You can politely say there is much wisdom in the BIble; for example, "it says in Proverbs:

Pro 6:16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
Pro 6:17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
Pro 6:18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
Pro 6:19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
Pro 6:20 My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

So, if the writer felt that these were an abomination unto ALLAH, then I certainly want to avoid them unless AL Quran tells me differently. (The unless part you can leave off if you think that will make them defensive and sidetrack the conversation. You could just say and that confirms what Allah say in and give the Ayat or Ayah.

And, if I am not mistaken, the Bible also say in James:

Jas 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
Jas 3:1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
Jas 3:2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
Jas 3:3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
Jas 3:4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
Jas 3:5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
Jas 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
Jas 3:7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
Jas 3:8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

Insha Allah, someday I will have memorized as much of AL Quran as I have the Bible, but as the Bible says:

Isa 28:10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: "The best of you is he who learns the Quran and teaches it to others." [AlBukhaari]

The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: "One who is proficient in the Quran is associated with the noble, upright, recording angels, so beautify the Quran with your voices." [Al-Bukhaari]

So, this is a very important question and I look forward to reading the answers because:

Guarding one's speech is so important that Muslims will be held accountable for everything they say: “Not a word does he (or she) utter but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it)” (Qur'an 50:18).

"O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion, in deeds some suspicions are sins. And spy not 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 Allah, verily, Allah is the one who accepts repentance, Most Merciful." (49: 12)

"The believers are successful, whose who in their prayer have khushu (fear of Allah) and those who refrain from vain talk..." (Qur'an 23:1-3)

We created man and We know what his own self whispers to him. We are nearer to him than his jugular vein. And the two recording angels are recording, sitting on the right and on the left. He does not utter a single word, without a watcher by him, pen in hand! (Surah Qaf, 16-18)

Standing over you are guardians, noble, recording, who know what you do. (Surat al-Infitar, 10-12)

Everyone has a succession of angels in front of him and behind him, guarding him by Allah's command. Allah never changes a people's state until they change what is in themselves. When Allah desires evil for a people, there is no averting it. They have no protector apart from Him. (Surat ar-Ra'd, 11)

Writing these down help me to learn them. Hope no one minds.
 

Kakorot

Junior Member
^ JazakaAllaahu Khayran.

Backbiting is the truth behind someones back, whereas, a slander is a lie behind someones back.

I broke up with this so called friend today. They got a family member involved and I see this person's mum a lot at the library :/ I hope this situation doesn't escalate...Make du'aa for me please.

All I'm going to say from experience is stick to the Muslim crowd. I'm never going to get close to a non-Muslim again, Inshaa Allaah -__-

:wasalam:
 

Frank_H_Smith

New Revert 2010
As Salamu 'Alaykum,

In my limited experience, there are non-belivers, hypocrits, and True Believers in all the Albrahamic Religions. The first two types can hurt us know matter what religion they claim. The last will last down life for a brother or sister knowing that there is no greater love then this. Insha Allaah, you will find healing in Allah. Alhamdulillah.

Was Sallem
 
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