Answer: The rulings of the sharee'ah do not hinge around individuals, rather they hinge around actions. Backbiting a Muslim is despicable just as it is despicable as it applies to the Christian. Thus, backbiting a Muslim is much worse due to the additional rights that he has upon you, but nonetheless, backbiting a Christian is Haraam. For example, it is haraam to steal from the Muslim and from the Christian, so just as it is impermissible to steal from a Christian, likewise it is impermissible to backbite him. Because as we previously mentioned, the rulings of the sharee'ah hinge around actions and not persons.

Imaam Maalik's student, Ibn Wahb, asked him about backbiting a Christian, so he replied, "Aren't they people?" He said, "Of course." He then said, Allaah ta'alaa says, "And say that which is good to the people." (Al-Baqarah: 82) He did not say, 'Say to the Muslims…' and people includes the Muslims, the kuffaar, and the people of the Book, from amongst them.

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