1. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims
  2. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

18 Questions

My mom backbites about my dad, his relatives, my siblings and their in laws. When I try to stop her she scolds me and says she won't survive unless she talks about it as she was hurt. How can I stop her from this sin?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

You should never support nor accept backbiting because it is a major sin, but on the same time you must keep the respect of your mother and avoid hurting her feelings. Keeping these two duties needs your wisdom. Stopping her from backbiting can come from making her realize that by backbiting those whom she's not like, she will loose her good deeds which will go  to them, and might also get the burden of their bad deeds. You should be very polite in talking to your mother and never look like trying to teach her. You can tell her stories and narrations from the Prophet (SAWA) and Ahlul Bayt (AS). 

Wassalam.
I often talk about unprofessional behavior of my boss and his lack of interest in his job to my colleague who is also an employee of my boss. Is that backbiting about my boss?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

If you boss is a Mo'min, you must avoid criticising him unless he is doing obvious injustice on you and you will be then not allowed to talk about anything away from your suffering from his injustice. You should not mention any other thing about him which not part of your suffering.

Wassalam. 
I have heard that although Gheebat of a believer is not allowed, it is not a sin if you talk bad about a non-Muslim or non-Shia. Is this true?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

Gheebat (Backbiting) of a believer is a major sin. 
Regarding talking bad about non believers, we should not waste our valuable time in talking bad about others except the enemies of Allah who were been cursed by Allah and His Messenger.

Wassalam.
As a volunteer in a Muslim association, I sometimes proofread articles written by other individuals. Is it correct for me to say about a specific work that it was of poor quality? Is it not backbiting?
Amina Inloes

If it is necessary for your work, it is not backbiting. Writing for publication is a public activity, and anything written and presented publicly can be discussed in an honest and sincere way. 

It is better to say that it is poor quality in the beginning than to publish poor quality material and be an embarrassment to Islam and Muslims.

However it is good to be tactful and choose nice ways to phrase your criticisms since writing is a very sensitive subject. Perhaps some tips on how it could be improved might also be useful.