What is the ruling on listening to backbiting (gheebah) and slander (hameemah) in the workplace, given its frequent occurrence and the inability to advise the speakers each time, along with the necessity of remaining in the workplace to perform one's duties?
Backbiting is forbidden in Islamic law and is one of the major sins. The listener is complicit in the sin if they do not object to it. It is obligatory to advise those who backbite and remind them of the gravity of this sin, and to try to change the course of the conversation to beneficial topics. If they do not desist from backbiting, then one must leave the gathering if possible. If you are unable to, then you must condemn the evil in your heart. It is also recommended to occupy oneself with remembrance (dhikr) and reading or listening to the Quran.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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