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I believe one of the main exceptions of gheebah is when you have been wronged by someone else or oppressed. I used to be under the impression that if you are wronged or oppressed you are able to mention it to anyone you wish without restriction, but perhaps not to the extent of doing it to defame someone. However, I have recently learnt that our maraja limit this exception (ehtiyat e wajib) of gheebah to those who are able to help (I believe). Moreover, the kinds of people who are able to help are specified and limited. I believe these are limited to: 1. To a judge [or a lawyer]. 2. In an employment context to an employer 3. In the context of mental well-being or distress, to a formal counsellor. Not just anyone who may informally act as a counsellor to help the oppressed person come to terms with the gheebah or look at it, or understand it, from a different perspective, eg, a wife [or friend]. I believe this is according to Sayyid Sistani and perhaps Sayyid Khamenei is a little less restrictive with regards to the formal counsellor. Does this mean, for example if a woman is being abused by her husband, she is not allowed to mention it to her father or another member of her family who may be able to help. If someone is wronged and distressed by someone else's actions does this mean they are not allowed to 'vent' to someone they trust for their mental health like a friend, spouse or elder they trust and respect for advice? Please could someone elaborate on the exceptions of gheebah generally and specifically in the case of being wronged and whether it is only if when seeking help. This could be according to any well recognised marja you are aware of. I am aware that if there is serious oppression occurring then it is almost obligatory to publicise it to try and prevent it happening, whether it was to you or others, such as in certain countries in the world today. Jazakallah

I don't really understand what exactly counts as back biting somebody. Does just talking ill about them really account or is it if you lie about them and gossip about them? Secondly, there is a hadith that said Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) won't forgive them until they apologize to the victim of the backbiting, what if (for whatever reason) it is improbable or if there is something in your way which prevents you from apologizing to them?

Salam. What exactly constitutes as back-biting ?