Are these people guilty of backbiting also?

 

السلام عليكم و رحمة الله وبركاته

I’ve read the booklet on backbiting by Mufti Waseem d.b.

شكرا و جزاكم الله خيرا

However I would like to know that if in between two lectures, when the students are waiting for the next teacher, a student does backbiting in a loud voice such that everybody can hear. Are the rest of the students who kept quiet, guilty also & if so, what is their kaffara? What should they have done instead?

Also, if two very close friends are strolling together and one does backbiting and continues in spite of being asked to desist by the other. Is the other friend, who tried to stop it and even doesn’t like it in the heart yet thinks it would be too rude to just walk away from such a close friend and continues to walk together, also guilty? If so, what is the kaffara? What should this friend have done instead?

I shall eagerly wait for your answers.

 

Wa Alaikum Assalaam,

In the first case, the rest of the students who remained quiet would not be guilty of listening to backbiting, and hence not sinful, since they had no intention of listening to what the person said nor did they sit for that purpose. They should however, make Istighfaar since they heard it and did not do anything to stop it. This is what they were supposed to have done. They should have asked the person to stop backbiting, and if he continued, they should have left the class until the other teacher arrives.

In the second case, the person who tried to stop his friend from backbiting and continued to listen to it when his friend did not stop, must make Tawbah and Istighfaar to Allah. In the situation which you have described, the person should have walked away from his friend, in order to avoid the sin of listening to backbiting. Though walking away may not look good, listening to backbiting is worst than that.

And Allah Knows Best.

Mufti Waseem Khan.

28/03/16.