Fatwa ID: 08998
Answered by Maulana Abdurrahman Persaud
Question:
I play video games with a good friend of mine to relax and catch up. In these games, everyone has a username that’s different from their actual name in order to ensure anonymity while playing. When we play, we are given random teammates and opponents from all around the world. I keep good conduct and don’t let winning or losing affect me.
My friend, however, has always had an issue with controlling his emotions in a lot of situations even outside of games. When something bad happens in the games, he’s quick to say “This guy is playing bad.” or insult/criticize them in some other way without them being able to hear it. I try to tell him to stop and calm down and, if the situation calls for it, exit the conversation until he’s calmed down. However, sometimes this is not possible.
Would sometimes being forced to listen to him talk badly about the other players be considered backbiting or slander in this scenario? We do not know these people. They are assigned to our games randomly. Their real names are hidden behind fake usernames. We will likely never meet them again. We will not remember what their usernames are after the game. There is absolutely no chance at all of their reputation being affected in any scenario.
Would this still be considered backbiting or slander? If so, would I be able to avoid it by looking away so I don’t know who he’s talking about?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Sincere advice should be given to your friend on the virtues of safeguarding his tongue and the sad consequences that often follow anger.
In the above scenario, it would not fall under the banner of backbiting since the person is unknown to both parties. However, that being said, it does not give the right to be foul and indecent, as it is not a trait of a Muslim. The holy Prophet ﷺ said in a hadith
من كان يؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر، فليقل خيرًا أو ليصمت
“Whosoever believes in Allah ﷻ and the final day should speak good or keep silent.”
Only Allah ﷻ knows best.
Written by Maulana Abdurrahman Persaud
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
جاء في شرح مسلم للنووي – في كلامه على حديث أم زرع – : قال المازري: قال بعضهم: وفيه أن هؤلاء النسوة ذكر بعضهن أزواجهن بما يكره، ولم يكن ذلك غيبة؛ لكونهم لا يعرفون بأعيانهم أو أسمائهم، وإنما الغيبة المحرمة أن يذكر إنسانا بعينه، أو جماعة بأعيانهم.
وقال صاحب “البحر” (8/ 381) – من كتب الحنفية -: “رجل اغتاب أهل قرية لم تكن غيبة حتى يسمي قوماً بأعيانهم”.
جاء في “الفتاوى الهندية”: “من اغتاب أهل كورة أو قرية لم تكن غيبة حتى يسمي قوماً معروفين” انتهى.