The Shaykh’s remarks on the first instance in which backbiting is permissible, namely seeking redress for a wrong.

The Shaykh : The first is the one who has been wronged, meaning the victim of injustice. The victim has the right to say, "So-and-so is an oppressor." Why? Because he has exhausted all possible means to obtain his right from that oppressor, but he has not succeeded, and nothing remains but to expose him to the people, hoping that he will be somewhat moved and will grant this victim his right. For this reason, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) explicitly stated this ruling... He said: The "layy" refers to delay, as in another hadith: And the "wajid" is the wealthy person. "Layy al-wajid" means the delay of the wealthy person who has the means... The one who has the right considers this oppression in the sight of the wise Lawgiver. So he (peace and blessings be upon him) said in the aforementioned hadith: It is permissible to speak ill of him. The intended meaning is that it is permissible to criticize him and attack his character, but one should not say, for example, "So-and-so is a liar" if he is known to be truthful. One should only speak in a way that attacks his character specifically regarding what... was done to this victim. This is the meaning of And his punishment? Who punishes him? The Muslim ruler. The Muslim ruler has the right to summon the oppressor who refuses to fulfill the right owed to this victim and punish him himself, flogging him five, ten, or as many lashes as he sees fit for his discipline, so that he does not return to encroaching on the rights of people. This hadith is explicit in permitting the backbiting of the oppressor meaning criticizing him, and his punishment by the ruler. So the first characteristic among those excepted from forbidden backbiting is the victim of injustice, the one who has been wronged, meaning he complains of his oppression to the people, saying, "So-and-so wronged me." This ruling is not only in the hadith but also in the Noble Qur'an, where Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) said: One who has been wronged is permitted to speak openly of the evil regarding the one who wronged him. This is the first type excepted from forbidden backbiting: the one who has been wronged.