Is inquiring about a family for marriage purposes, and hearing offensive things about them, considered backbiting (Gheebah), and would the listener be complicit in the sin?

The Sharia (definition) prohibits backbiting, and scholars have considered it to be among the major sins. However, scholars have excepted certain cases from prohibited backbiting for an overriding benefit, among which is seeking advice regarding marriage and similar matters. Therefore, there is no harm in inquiring about the lineage or ancestry of a woman a Muslim wishes to marry, and in hearing negative information about them to the extent that the benefit is realized. This is not considered prohibited backbiting. However, exceeding this limit is not permissible.