The Ruling on Backbiting Under the Claim of Critiquing and Vindicating Narrators

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. A questioner says: What is the ruling on backbiting in general, and specifically on backbiting scholars and Shaykhs? And what about one who considers it permissible because it is the required critique and vindication of narrators? Is this permissible?

Answer:
The critique and vindication of narrators in the science of chains of narration, as understood by the hadith scholars, is not what the backbiters do. This is a lie about the science of the Shari'ah. It is not backbiting where people are criticized and it is claimed that this is part of the vindication. The critique and vindication of narrators is among the forbidden backbiting. Perhaps you will be shown mercy. This is not permissible. This belongs to the science of chains of narration and the science of hadith. Yes.