How do we reconcile the prohibition of backbiting and insulting the dead with his statement (it became obligatory) and his statement (peace and blessings be upon him): (You are the witnesses of Allah on earth)?
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The questioner : O Shaykh, may Allah forgive you, how do you reconcile the prohibition of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding backbiting and his prohibition of insulting the dead with his statement: and his statement: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1058Sahih (Darussalam)?
The Shaykh : Yes, the reconciliation is that what the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) said when they spoke ill of one of the two funerals and well of the other was merely a report that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) verified, and the intention behind it was warning. Backbiting, which is mentioning a person with what he dislikes, is not forbidden in every situation; in some cases it is forbidden, in some cases it is permissible, and in some cases it is required. Did not Fatimah bint Qays come to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) to seek his advice regarding Abu Jahm, Abu Sufyan, and Usamah ibn Zayd, all of whom had proposed to her? He said to her:.
It is well known that describing Abu Sufyan in his absence as a stingy man is backbiting, and likewise describing Abu Jahm as a man who beats women or does not lay down his stick from his shoulder is also backbiting, but there is a benefit in it. Backbiting in some cases is required, in some cases it is permissible. It may be intended merely for identification, such as al-A'raj (the Lame) and al-A'mash (the Blind) and the like of the scholars and hadith narrators whom you hear frequently in the chains of narration; this is permissible because the intention is what? Identification. And if the intention is advice, it becomes obligatory. This is what the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) mentioned; they intended thereby to report what happened, to warn against it if it was evil, and to encourage it if it was good. Yes.
It became obligatory
وجبتYou are Allah's witnesses on the earth.
أنتم شهداء الله في الأرضThe Shaykh : Yes, the reconciliation is that what the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) said when they spoke ill of one of the two funerals and well of the other was merely a report that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) verified, and the intention behind it was warning. Backbiting, which is mentioning a person with what he dislikes, is not forbidden in every situation; in some cases it is forbidden, in some cases it is permissible, and in some cases it is required. Did not Fatimah bint Qays come to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) to seek his advice regarding Abu Jahm, Abu Sufyan, and Usamah ibn Zayd, all of whom had proposed to her? He said to her:
As for Abu Sufyan, he is a stingy man, and as for Abu Jahm, he is a man who beats women. Marry Usamah.
أما أبو سفيان فرجل شحيح وأما أبو جهم فضرّاب للنساء أنكحي أسامةIt is well known that describing Abu Sufyan in his absence as a stingy man is backbiting, and likewise describing Abu Jahm as a man who beats women or does not lay down his stick from his shoulder is also backbiting, but there is a benefit in it. Backbiting in some cases is required, in some cases it is permissible. It may be intended merely for identification, such as al-A'raj (the Lame) and al-A'mash (the Blind) and the like of the scholars and hadith narrators whom you hear frequently in the chains of narration; this is permissible because the intention is what? Identification. And if the intention is advice, it becomes obligatory. This is what the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) mentioned; they intended thereby to report what happened, to warn against it if it was evil, and to encourage it if it was good. Yes.