Is mentioning a person negatively in the media considered backbiting (Gheebah), and for whom is backbiting permissible?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Mentioning something about a person that he dislikes is backbiting. Its ugliness increases if it is done through media outlets to spread defects. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, defined backbiting as "your mentioning about your brother what he dislikes." So, if what is said is true about him, then he has backbitten him; but if it is not true, then he has slandered him. Backbiting is forbidden by the Qur'an, the , and scholarly consensus. It is permissible to mention the faults of certain individuals in specific cases.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/126959
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 126959
- 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