What are tale-bearing (namima) and backbiting (ghiba)? Is it considered tale-bearing to relay bad things about a person while mentioning their name, or is it also considered tale-bearing without mentioning their name? And is speaking about a person's flaws in the presence of someone who is already aware of them considered backbiting?
Backbiting (namīmah) is the act of conveying speech between people with the intention of causing mischief, or disclosing what is disliked to be disclosed, whether it be words or actions. It is more severe than slander (gheebah).
Slander (gheebah) is mentioning your brother with flaws that he dislikes, and which are present in him. If they are not in him, then it is a calumny (buhtān).
Both slander and backbiting are legally forbidden and naturally detested, unless refraining from them would lead to corruption or engaging in them would serve a benefit, such as giving advice or averting mischief, in which case they might become obligatory.
Relating what was said without mentioning the name, as a form of advice, is not considered forbidden slander.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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