After firmly forbidding backbiting, Imam an-Nawawi notes the narrow exceptions where naming a fault is allowed because a real and lawful need requires it. Warning, seeking counsel, exposing open wrongdoing, and giving sincere advice can make plain speech necessary, not sinful.
These hadith illustrate such needs: protecting people from harm, guiding someone seeking marriage advice, and exposing a hypocrite's plotting. The principle, which is a matter for scholars to apply with care, is that the fault is mentioned only to the measure the genuine need demands, never for mockery or to wound.
Hadith 1531
'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) said:
عن عائشة رضي الله عنها أن رجلا استأذن على النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال: “ائذنوا له، بئس أخو العشيرة؟ " ((متفق عليه)). احتج به البخاري في جواز غيبة أهل الفساد وأهل الريب.
A man sought permission for audience with the Prophet (ﷺ). He said, "Give him permission but he is a bad member of his tribe." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
He let a man in yet privately noted his bad conduct, showing that an honest warning about someone can be needed, not idle gossip. A real need can make plain speech necessary.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1531 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 21
Hadith 1532
'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) said:
وعنها قالت: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "ما أظن فلانًا وفلانًا يعرفان من ديننا شيئًا" ((رواه البخاري)). قال الليث بن سعد أحد رواة هذا الحديث: هذان الرجلان كانا من المنافقين.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "I do not think that so-and-so understands anything of our Faith." [Al-Bukhari] Al-Bukhari said: Al- Laith bin Sa'd, who is one of the narrators of this Hadith, said: The two men mentioned by the Prophet (ﷺ) in this Hadith were hypocrites (i.e., they revealed Faith and concealed disbelief).
In plain words
He doubted that a certain man understood the faith, the man being a hypocrite who hid his disbelief. Exposing such danger is allowed when there is genuine cause.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1532 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 22
Hadith 1533
Fatimah bint Qais (May Allah be pleased with her) said:
وعن فاطمة بنت قيس رضي الله عنها قالت: أتيت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، فقلت: إن أبا الجهم ومعاوية خطباني؟ فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم:"أما معاوية، فصعلوك لا مال له ، وأما أبوالجهم، فلا يضع العصا عن عاتقه" ((متفق عليه)) . وفي رواية لمسلم : "وأما أبو الجهم فضراب للنساء" وهو تفسير لرواية: " لا يضع العصا عن عاتقه" وقيل: معناه: كثير الأسفار.
I came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said to him: "Muawiyah and Abul-Jahm sent me a proposal of marriage." The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Muawiyah is destitute and he has no property, and Abul-Jahm is very hard on women." [Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
Asked for marriage advice, he frankly named each suitor's serious drawback to guide her choice. Honest counsel to someone seeking advice can require naming real faults.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1533 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 23
Hadith 1534
Zaid bin Al-Arqam (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
وعن زيد بن أرقم رضي الله عنه قال: خرجنا مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم في سفر أصاب الناس فيه شدة، فقال عبد الله بن أبي: لا تنفقوا على من عند رسول الله حتى ينفضوا وقال: لئن رجعنا إلى المدينة ليخرجن الأعز منها الأذل فأتيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، فأخبرته بذلك، فأرسل إلى عبد الله بن أبي ، فاجتهد يمينه: ما فعل، فقالوا: كذب زيد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فوقع في نفسي مما قالوا شدة حتى أنزل الله تعالى تصديقي {إذا جاءك المنافقون} ثم دعاهم النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، ليستغفر لهم فلووا رءوسهم. ((متفق عليه)) .
We set out on a journey along with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and we faced many hardships. 'Abdullah bin Ubaiy (the chief of the hypocrites at Al- Madinah) said to his friends: "Do not spend on those who are with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) until they desert him." He also said: "If we return to Al-Madinah, the more honourable (meaning himself, i.e., Abdullah bin Ubaiy) will drive out therefrom the meaner (meaning Messenger of Allah (ﷺ))." I went to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and informed him about that and he sent someone to 'Abdullah bin Ubaiy. He asked him whether he had said that or not. Abdullah took an oath that he had not done anything of that sort and said that it was Zaid who carried a false tale to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). Zaid said: I was so much perturbed because of this until this Verse was revealed verifying my statement: "When the hypocrites come to you (O Muhammad (ﷺ)), they say: 'We bear witness that you are indeed the Messenger of Allah.' Allah knows that you are indeed His Messenger, and Allah bears witness that the hypocrites are liars indeed." (:) Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) called the hypocrites in order to seek forgiveness for them from Allah, but they turned away their heads. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
Zaid reported a hypocrite leader's plot against the Muslims, and revelation confirmed his truthfulness. Warning of real harm and plotting is a valid reason to speak.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1534 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 24
Hadith 1535
'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) said:
وعن عائشة رضي الله عنها قالت: قالت هند امرأة أبي سفيان للنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم : إن أبا سفيان رجل شحيح وليس يعطيني ما يكفيني وولدي إلا ما أخذت منه، وهو لا يعلم؟ قال: "خذي ما يكفيك وولدك بالمعروف" ((متفق عليه)) .
Hind, the wife of Abu Sufyan, said to the Prophet (ﷺ): Abu Sufyan is a niggardly man and does not give me and my children adequate provisions for maintenance unless I take something from his possession without his knowledge. The Prophet (ﷺ) said to her, "Take from his possessions on a reasonable basis that much which may suffice for you and your children." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
When Hind said her husband withheld enough support, he allowed her to take a reasonable amount for herself and her children. Stating a genuine complaint to seek a remedy is permitted.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1535 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 25