Fatwa ID: 08124

Answered by: Maulana Abdoullah Limvoonheek

Question:

Assalamoalikum.

Is exposing sins/backbiting to a therapist for the purpose of treatment permissible?

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

The teaching of Islam is that a person should always hide the sin of others. In the hadith it is mentioned: “Whoever covers (the faults of) a Muslim, Allah will cover (his faults) for him in the world and the Hereafter.”

Thus, it is of utmost importance that we do not reveal the fault of oneself or the fault of others. Allah’s kindness has concealed it, and we shouldn’t expose it.

However, if there is a valid reason, then one is allowed to expose it to the extent of necessity. As such, if a person is undergoing therapy for medical reasons, one will be allowed to reveal the sin committed, and it will not be classified as backbiting if it concerns the sin of others.

Hope this answers the question.

Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.

Written by Maulana Abdoullah Limvoonheek
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham

References:

الضرورات تبيح المحظورات
الضرورات تقدر بقدرها
الحاجة تنزل منزلة الضرورة، عامة كانت أو خاصة في اباحة المحظور

قواعد الفقهية ٤

وَمَنْ سَتَرَ عَلَى مُسْلِمٍ سَتَرَهُ اللَّهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ
Sunan Tirmidhi hadith 1425