The Prohibition against Two People Conversing to the Exclusion of a Third without His Permission

Secret counsels (held for other reasons) are only (a provocation) from Satan. (al-Mujadilah 58:10)

768. Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “When there are three together, two should not speak privately to the exclusion of the third.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Isti’zan, 45; Sahih Muslim, Salam, 36).

769. Ibn Mas’ud, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “When you are three together, two should not speak together privately apart from the other one until you come together with other people because that might upset him.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Isti’zan, 47; Sahih Muslim, Salam, 37).

 

Nawawi, Imam. Riyad As-Salihin; The Gardens of the Righteous: A collection of authentic hadiths. Tughra Books Press, Inc. 2014