Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith 4770 ⓘ
Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin: When the Prophet was informed of anything of a certain man, he would not say: What is the matter with so and so that he says? But he would say: What is the matter with the people that they say such and such?
حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْحَمِيدِ، - يَعْنِي الْحِمَّانِيَّ - حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، عَنْ مُسْلِمٍ، عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، رضى الله عنها قَالَتْ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا بَلَغَهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ الشَّىْءُ لَمْ يَقُلْ مَا بَالُ فُلاَنٍ يَقُولُ وَلَكِنْ يَقُولُ " مَا بَالُ أَقْوَامٍ يَقُولُونَ كَذَا وَكَذَا " .
also referenced under: Hadith 4788 (DarusSalam) & Book 41, Hadith 4770 (USC-MSA)