A spiritual guide backbiting his disciples

Question

A certain respected spiritual guide habitually speaks ill of his disciples in front of people. Is this backbiting (ghiba) or not?

Answer

Backbiting any Muslim when no benefit for the religion is connected with it is forbidden: [ar]وَلَا يَغْتَب بَّعْضُكُم بَعْضًا[/ar] “And let not some of you backbite others” (the Noble Qur’an; Surah al-Hujurat, 49:12).

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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