Fatwaa ID: 1511
Question:
Asalaamu alaykum wrwb
Is Gheebat applicable to non Muslims? For example if someone is saying trash about Donald Trump or a colleague at work and you listen /make comments about them, does that constitute Gheebat?
If it does, how can one politely not engage in it without offending the one making the comments?
Jazakallahu khairan
Answer:
In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salaamu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullaahi wa-barakaatuh.
The Ahaadith pertaining to the prohibition of backbiting are general and thus include non-Muslims. It is not permissible to backbite or speak ill of non-Muslims. The harms of backbiting are found when backbiting them as well. Furthermore, a person is accountable for every word he utters. Whatever he says is documented by the angels and he will be questioned about it on the Day of Judgment. Hence, he should be very careful and cognizant with his words. He should only say that which is beneficial.
And Allaah Ta’aala knows best.
Mufti Muajul I. Chowdhury
Darul Iftaa New York
https://askthemufti.us/
01/02/1445 AH – 07/20/2023 CE | AML1-8090
وصل اللهم وسلم وبارك على سيدنا محمد وعلى ءاله وصحبه أجمعين
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