ANSWER:

You should politely tell her it’s haram or change the topic when she’s about to backbite. 

You must not be part of it at any cost as you cannot please anyone at the cost of displeasing Allah. However, be as diplomatic and respectful as you can. 

For a while now I have really tried to stop backbiting and Alhumdulillah, I think I am doing well. I have a problem though as my mum backbites a lot and I don’t get involved but she gets annoyed when I ask her to leave it. I try to say it in a nice way and not be rude, but I know she’s getting and I think she thinks I am being high and mighty. Can you kindly advise as I’m starting to feel distant.

Backbiting | December 27, 2017 2:18 am
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If I have backbited about someone, is it sufficient to ask for forgiveness via text message or do I have to physically call the person and say I’m sorry for anything wrong said or done?
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Sheikh, sometimes we see a group of people (muslim/non-muslim) openly doing bid’ah or evil. Can we talk (which they may not like) about them with our family members to remind ourselves of the gravity of these sins? Is this backbiting? We may refer to them by pronouns, such as “them, that group, those people”, but not with individual names.