Is a person considered sinful if he imitated the voices and personalities of others for the purpose of laughter, without the intention of backbiting or mockery, then later learned that what he did falls under backbiting, and repented from that? And is it obligatory for him to seek forgiveness from those he imitated, or is supplicating, seeking forgiveness for them, and giving charity on their behalf sufficient?

Mimicking people, their voices, and their movements for the purpose of laughter and play is considered backbiting if people dislike it, based on what was narrated from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: "Do you know what backbiting is?" They said, "Allah and His Messenger know best." He said, "It is your mentioning your brother with what he dislikes." The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, forbade mimicking people or mentioning them with what they dislike, as when Aisha mimicked Safiyyah to the Messenger of Allah, he said: "You have uttered a word which, if it were mixed with the water of the sea, would contaminate it."

Backbiting is your mentioning a person with what they dislike concerning them, whether it is related to their body, their religion, their worldly affairs, their physical appearance, their character, their wealth, or anything else, whether by speech, writing, symbol, or gesture.

As for the ruling on imitating people, if the imitation is intended for slandering, fault-finding, or belittling, then it is backbiting and is forbidden. If it is out of admiration, and the imitated person is not affected, then it might be permissible, but refraining from it is better to avoid falling into what is prohibited.

And for one who backbit due to ignorance and then became aware of the matter, we hope there is no sin upon him if he repents. It is obligatory to absolutely refrain from backbiting. And for one who backbit a person and cannot seek their forgiveness without causing harm, then let him mention them in good terms and praise them in the gatherings where he backbit them.