When Is Backbiting Allowed?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: Do you know what backbiting is? They replied: Allah and his Messenger know best. He said: It is to mention your brother what he dislikes. Someone asked, What if what I said is true? He replied: If what you said about him is true you have backbitten him, and if it is not true you have slandered him. [Muslim]

When Is Backbiting Allowed

When a person makes a complaint about an oppressor to a person who has the ability to stop the oppression.

When seeking help to stop an evil- by making that known to the person who has the ability to stop the evil.

When seeking for a fatwa.

When warning the Muslims so that they are not deceived.

When mentioning a person who commits his evil openly or one who calls to bidah.

When identifying someone with a physical defect, whilst not intending defamation.

Subul As-Salaam-  4/553-554