Is it true that there is no backbiting of an open sinner?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The student: ...Some people speak about Muslims based on the principle that there is no backbiting of an open sinner... they speak even if it is the slightest open sin, such as shaving the beard or letting the garment hang below the ankles...?
The Shaykh : No, that is not correct. The open sinner whose sin does not extend to others is originally forbidden to be spoken about; it is not permissible to backbite a believer. As for the open sinner whose sin extends to others, we must explain his sin to people so that they may beware of him. As for the unknown person whose identity cannot be determined, such as saying "some people say so and so," this is not backbiting anyone. However, if the unknown person is identified by description, such as saying "some people wear such and such and do such and such," and there is no one who wears this except that known person, then he is unknown by name but known by description.
The Shaykh : No, that is not correct. The open sinner whose sin does not extend to others is originally forbidden to be spoken about; it is not permissible to backbite a believer. As for the open sinner whose sin extends to others, we must explain his sin to people so that they may beware of him. As for the unknown person whose identity cannot be determined, such as saying "some people say so and so," this is not backbiting anyone. However, if the unknown person is identified by description, such as saying "some people wear such and such and do such and such," and there is no one who wears this except that known person, then he is unknown by name but known by description.