{"_id":"676a0f3032bfcaa23a80b989","title":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"Is listening to a friend rant gheebah (backbiting)?\\n\"}]}","question":"{\"ops\":[{\"attributes\":{\"background\":\"transparent\",\"color\":\"#000000\"},\"insert\":\"Imagine you have a friend who feels they have been privately wronged by one of your other friends. Is it permissible for them to rant to you about what your other friend has done and how horrible of a person they are? Would it be considered gheebah (backbiting)?\"},{\"insert\":\"\\n\\n\"},{\"attributes\":{\"background\":\"transparent\",\"color\":\"#000000\"},\"insert\":\"I understand that some people need to rant as a form of letting out their emotional frustration. However, I also don’t want to engage in gheebah. What advice would you have in dealing with such a friend? When I bring it up, she says she is not backbiting, because dhulm (oppression) has been done to her and it is permissible to talk about someone in that situation. However, what this other friend has done is not a public danger and is an personal matter that I have no business getting involved in. Is it still permissible for her to tell me these things? Do I have an obligation to help remediate between the two?\"},{\"insert\":\"\\n\"}]}","answer":"{\"ops\":[{\"attributes\":{\"color\":\"#000000\",\"background\":\"transparent\"},\"insert\":\"There is a great opportunity for you to earn immense rewards by mediating between them. I strongly recommend seizing this chance. While it's understandable that people sometimes need to vent, it should not involve slandering others. If someone needs to share their feelings with a friend and seek advice, they should maintain the anonymity of the person involved to avoid backbiting or slander. Remind your friend that responding with negativity won't rectify the situation. If she believes she has been wronged, encourage her to focus on repairing the relationship rather than retaliating. How does slandering the other person contribute to a resolution? It only escalates animosity. If your friend was genuinely wronged, she should trust that Allah guarantees justice, and by handling the situation appropriately, she stands to receive immense rewards.\"},{\"insert\":\"\\n\\n\"},{\"attributes\":{\"color\":\"#000000\",\"background\":\"transparent\"},\"insert\":\"Once, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) endured verbal abuse from someone, while the Prophet (peace be upon him) observed with curiosity and a smile. Despite enduring the insults silently, Abu Bakr eventually responded to a few comments. In response, the Prophet expressed disapproval, stood up, and left. Abu Bakr caught up with the Prophet and inquired, \"},{\"attributes\":{\"color\":\"#000000\",\"background\":\"transparent\",\"italic\":true},\"insert\":\"'O Messenger of Allah, he was abusing me, and you remained seated. When I responded, you disapproved and left.' The Messenger of Allah explained, 'An angel was responding to him in your stead. When you engaged, Shaytan took his place.' \"},{\"attributes\":{\"color\":\"#000000\",\"background\":\"transparent\"},\"insert\":\"He then conveyed three fundamental truths: enduring wrongs for Allah's sake brings honor and divine support; fostering relationships through gift-giving leads to abundance from Allah; however, seeking charity solely to increase personal wealth results in Allah diminishing one's wealth. (Musnad Ahmad)\"},{\"insert\":\"\\n\\n\"},{\"attributes\":{\"color\":\"#000000\",\"background\":\"transparent\"},\"insert\":\"Here's a link with detailed guidelines on when it is permissible to speak about others:\"},{\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"attributes\":{\"link\":\"https://seekersguidance.org/answers/hanafi-fiqh/how-can-i-ask-my-friend-to-stop-backbiting-about-someone-who-wronged-her/\",\"color\":\"#1155cc\",\"background\":\"transparent\",\"underline\":true},\"insert\":\"https://seekersguidance.org/answers/hanafi-fiqh/how-can-i-ask-my-friend-to-stop-backbiting-about-someone-who-wronged-her/\"},{\"insert\":\"\\n\\n\"}]}","tags":[{"_id":"668da02b0b76658b4c232ff9","tag":"Relationships: Friend","count":52},{"_id":"66cd028b362bfeb5d620c8d6","tag":"Backbiting","count":12}],"createdOn":"2024-12-24T01:32:32.774Z"}