Shyness in Denouncing Those Who Gossip

Q: I’m a girl and I hate gossip and trashtalk. Sometimes I’m with a group of people talking about others and they start gossiping and trashtalking them. I personally hate and despise this, but I am extremely shy, and I can’t stop them from doing it, and also theres nowhere I can go to get away from them. God knows I wish they would talk about something else. It there any sin upon me for sitting with them? What should I do? May God give you success in that which benefits Islam and Muslims.

A: It is a sin upon you unless you denounce that which is wrong, and if they accept [what you say] then praise God, otherwise stop hanging out with them. As God said, “If you see those who mock our revelations, you shall avoid them until they delve into another subject.” [Al-Ana3m 68]. And the Prophet (PBUH) said, “Whoever among you sees reprehensible acts should change it by his own hand, and if he can’t then by his tongue, and if he can’t then by his heart, and that is the weakest faith.” Taken from Muslim’s Sahih and there are many verses with this meaning. God is the Arbitrating Authority.

Sheikh Ibn Baz

Taken from Fataawa al-Maraa “Fatwas on Women” by Sheikh Ibn Baz, Sheikh Authimein, and Sheikh Jabreen. Riyadh, Dar al-Watan lil-Nashr, 1993/1414. Translated by Josh Berer