Is saying that so-and-so is Indian or Saudi in order to criticize him considered backbiting?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you. This is close to the question of the brother Fawwad. Of course, people sometimes speak and say, for example, "There was an Indian, or a Saudi, or an Egyptian," and they criticize him. Is this considered general backbiting?
The Shaykh : If it is for the sake of advice, or for the sake of informing, and his intention is not backbiting or contempt, there is no problem.
The questioner : It may be in the category of joking.
The Shaykh : It appears that there is nothing wrong with it if they are known for this thing, because some tribes are currently known to be highway robbers, for example. So one says, "Beware of this; you will find him from such-and-such people."
The questioner : He does not specify a particular individual, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Ah?
The questioner : For example, someone came and spoke and said, "This is... or this is Indian, or this is Egyptian..." and he does this.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : There is nothing wrong with it. I do not think there is any harm in it, as long as they are known for this thing.
The questioner : No, O Shaykh, but if he names one person from this tribe, even if he does not specify him.
The Shaykh : If they are deserving of this description, he said:Sahih al-Bukhari 4366 Does that mean it includes every individual? Some of them may follow the Dajjal. There is a difference between generalization and specification.
The questioner : Does not something like this breed resentment in the hearts toward...?
The Shaykh : This is if something specific happens. If something specific results from this action, you know the rule that the permissible may become forbidden due to the harm that results from it.
The Shaykh : If it is for the sake of advice, or for the sake of informing, and his intention is not backbiting or contempt, there is no problem.
The questioner : It may be in the category of joking.
The Shaykh : It appears that there is nothing wrong with it if they are known for this thing, because some tribes are currently known to be highway robbers, for example. So one says, "Beware of this; you will find him from such-and-such people."
The questioner : He does not specify a particular individual, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Ah?
The questioner : For example, someone came and spoke and said, "This is... or this is Indian, or this is Egyptian..." and he does this.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : There is nothing wrong with it. I do not think there is any harm in it, as long as they are known for this thing.
The questioner : No, O Shaykh, but if he names one person from this tribe, even if he does not specify him.
The Shaykh : If they are deserving of this description, he said:
They, out of all my followers, will be the strongest opponent of Ad-Dajjal
أشد أمتي على الدجال بني تميمThe questioner : Does not something like this breed resentment in the hearts toward...?
The Shaykh : This is if something specific happens. If something specific results from this action, you know the rule that the permissible may become forbidden due to the harm that results from it.