Does speaking about someone with words they dislike in their presence, in a language they don't understand, count as backbiting?
Speaking ill of a person, saying what they dislike, is forbidden, whether they are present or absent, and whether they understand the speech or not. This is because harming Muslims and slandering their honor are prohibited. This falls under the category of backbiting (), because a person's presence is not considered if they do not hear or do not understand the language; the consideration is based on their hearing and understanding. Some scholars have explicitly stated that two people conversing in a language not understood by a third, when that third person is present, is considered a forbidden secret consultation (tanaji). Accordingly, speaking ill of a person in their presence, in a language they do not understand, is considered backbiting, and it is absolutely forbidden.
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