LessonsPeople's Rights, Comprehensive Counsel, Backbiting, and the Nature of Worldly Life (Accounts 28–32)Quiz

إِنْ كَانَ فِيهِ مَا تَقُولُ فَقَدِ اغْتَبْتَهُ، وَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِيهِ مَا تَقُولُ فَقَدْ بَهَتَّهُ
“If what you say is in him, you have backbitten him; if it is not, you have slandered him.”

SituationDescription
An unwelcome true fault is mentioned without a legitimate needBackbiting
A false accusation is attributed to someoneSlander or false accusation
A true issue is disclosed proportionately for a valid needA distinct, carefully limited situation

Forwarding an unverified story about someone's reputation is dangerous. Truth and genuine necessity both matter, since careless speech can violate another person's rights.

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False accusation versus backbiting

People's Rights, Comprehensive Counsel, Backbiting, and the Nature of Worldly Life (Accounts 28–32)

إِنْ كَانَ فِيهِ مَا تَقُولُ فَقَدِ اغْتَبْتَهُ، وَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِيهِ مَا تَقُولُ فَقَدْ بَهَتَّهُ
“If what you say is in him, you have backbitten him; if it is not, you have slandered him.”

SituationDescription
An unwelcome true fault is mentioned without a legitimate needBackbiting
A false accusation is attributed to someoneSlander or false accusation
A true issue is disclosed proportionately for a valid needA distinct, carefully limited situation

Forwarding an unverified story about someone's reputation is dangerous. Truth and genuine necessity both matter, since careless speech can violate another person's rights.