Is a generalization, such as saying "All girls do not understand," considered backbiting (gheebah)? And is talking about an unknown person on the radio considered backbiting?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Gheebah (backbiting) is your mentioning about your Muslim brother something that he dislikes. Backbiting only occurs when specific, named individuals are mentioned. The statement, "All girls do not understand," is not backbiting because it is an incorrect generalization. Similarly, if someone says, "The people of such-and-such a town are stingy or bad people," that is not backbiting. However, speaking about a Muslim in a way that he dislikes is forbidden, whether on the radio or elsewhere, and whether you know him or not.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/39290
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 39290
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy