Bulugh al-Maram, Book 16, Hadith 1495 (In-Book) ⓘ
Abu Hurairah (RAA) narrated, ‘The Messenger of Allah asked, “Do you know what backbiting is?” They replied, `Allah and His Messenger know best.’ He said, “It is saying something about your brother which he dislikes.” Someone asked, ‘Supposing that what I said about my brother was true?’ and the Messenger of Allah said: “If what you say about him is true you have backbitten him and if it is not true you have slandered him.” Related by Muslim.
وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ - رضى الله عنه - أَنَّ رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ - صلى الله عليه وسلم -قَالَ: { أَتَدْرُونَ مَا اَلْغِيبَةُ?
also referenced under: Book 16, Hadith 1538 (English)
قَالُوا: اَللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ.
قَالَ: ذِكْرُكَ أَخَاكَ بِمَا يَكْرَهُ.
قِيلَ: أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ كَانَ فِي أَخِي مَا أَقُولُ?
قَالَ: إِنْ كَانَ فِيهِ مَا تَقُولُ فَقَدْ اِغْتَبْتَهُ, وَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فَقَدْ بَهَتَّهُ } أَخْرَجَهُ مُسْلِمٌ. (1958). 5 - صحيح. رواه مسلم (2589).