Assalamualaikum. I was stressed and felt helpless these past 3 days. My close friend offered to listen to my problems. I told her and she asked if I had problems with my parent. I said it was my father. She knew I had anxiety issue so it was a little relief after telling her. But what's bothering me now is, have I sinned because I said bad things about my father? I do complain about him to my friend… I felt guilty.
Alaikumassalam wa rahmatullah
There are exceptions in Islam to the no-backbiting rule. It is permitted to complain about someone who has wronged you, or to tell a friend or psychologist about issues you have been having to seek help, advice and support. So if you do it with the sincere intention to get help and support, and not out of a desire to harm the person’s reputation or to get pleasure from gossiping about them, then it is permitted.
So inshaAllah there is no sin on you.
References:
- Fatwa from the Qatari Fatwa Authority (Arabic PDF)
Is it backbiting if you describe a story which puts someone in a negative light? Or,
Is it backbiting to express negative opinion about someone….can we not have our own preference?