Denying That Backbiting Is Backbiting

Question

A barber was backbiting; he was told to stop, and he said: “This is not backbiting, for these things really are in him.” It was explained to him: if they are in him, it is backbiting, and if they were not, it would be slander. Must this man repent and re-contract marriage with his wife, or is there no need?

Answer

In Radd al-Muhtar ‘Allamah Shami recorded a very severe ruling concerning such a person, which requires that he be ordered to renew his iman and renew his marriage. The best course is to direct this barber to some pious scholar, that he may attend upon him: from his company and counsel there is hope of reform.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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