if the backbiter did not hide from backbiting except from someone whose power he feared he would be more excused. but the vileness that has taken hold of him leads him to backbite his slave or his female slave let alone his equal or his peer.
ولو كان المغتاب لا يستتر من الغيبة إلا ممن يخاف سطوته، كان أعذر. ولكن اللؤم المتمكن منه يحمله على اغتياب عبده وأمته، فضلا عن كفئه ونظيره.