Hadith 17:236
'Affan narrated to us, he said: 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Ibrahim narrated to us, he said: al-'Ala' narrated to us, from his father, from Abu Hurayrah, from the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), that it was said to him: "What is backbiting (ghibah), O Messenger of Allah?" He said: "Your mentioning your brother with what he dislikes." He said: "Have you seen if what I say is in my brother, O Messenger of Allah?" He said: "If what you say is in your brother, then you have backbitten him, and if what you say is not in him, then you have slandered him."
حدثنا عفان قال حدثنا عبد الرحمن بن إبراهيم قال حدثنا العلاء عن أبيه عن أبي هريرة عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه قال له ما الغيبة يا رسول الله قال ذكرك أخاك بما يكره قال أفرأيت إن كان في أخي ما أقول يا رسول الله قال إن كان في أخيك ما تقول فقد اغتبته وإن لم يكن فيه ما تقول فقد بهته