Chapter 262: About the Forbiddance of private Speech between Two Persons out of Three Except for rational Cause

Translation: [ Man, apart from those who have unshakable belief that what befalls them, good or otherwise is from Allah, is created with inclination to think ill of others.

Translation: A means to this is the private conversation of two persons of three. Such an act saddens the third person. For this reason the Messenger of Allah ﷺ .forbade us to do such an act

Ibn Omar may Allah be pleased with them explains this practically as compiled in Imam Malek Compilation of Hadith. The Imam compiled:

Translation: Narrated Abdullah ibn Dinar; ' Abdullah ibn Omar and I were at the house of Khalid ibn Oqba near the market place. A man came and wanted to have some confidential speech with Abdullah ibn Omar. There was no other person besides me. Abdullah ibn Omar called out another man. Thus, we became four men. Abdullah ibn Omar said to that man and me; ' Kindly, leave me and that person to have a confidential speech for I have heard the Messenger of Allah saying: " Let not two men have private conversation in the presence of a third one. "

This shows us how Islam is keen that the Muslims should shun whatever would sow dissension among them or cast suspicion in their hearts.

So, consider this etiquette and ask yourself; ' How an Arab like Muhammad who lived in such a harsh environment brings forth such sublime behavior! It is the Divine Revelation that guided him to do so.

Now, let us read what Imam Al-Nawawi compiled in the same concern.]

Allah said:

Translation: " Secret counsels are only from Satan, in order that he may cause grief to the believers. But he cannot harm them in the least, except as Allah permits, and in Allah let the believers put their trust ** S: 58-10.

Translation: The Messenger of Allah said:

Translation: 894. Narrated Abdullah; ' The Prophet said: “ When you are three persons sitting together, let not two of them hold secret counsel excluding the third person until you are with some other people too, for that would grieve him. " (Bukhari)

Translation: 895. Narrrated Abdullah ibn Mas'oud; ' The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “ If there are three people, let not two people commune with each other apart from their colleague. "

The other version of the Hadith says: " Let not two people commune with each other apart from their third for, this saddens him. "

The third version says: " Let not two persons commune with each other apart from the third for, this saddens the third and Allah dislikes hurting the believer. "