Riyad as-Salihin, 1598

Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) said:

the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "In the presence of three people, two should not hold secret counsel, to the exclusion of the third." [Al- Bukhari and Muslim]. In Abu Dawud, Abu Salih related: I asked Ibn 'Umar: "What if there are four people." He said, "There is no harm in that." Malik reported in Al-Muwatta that 'Abdullah bin Dinar related: Ibn 'Umar and I were together in Khalid bin 'Uqbah's house which was situated in the market place. A man came to consult Ibn 'Umar. None besides me was present. Ibn 'Umar called another man in and we became four and said to me and the man he had called: Move away a bit because I have heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying, "The two people should not hold secret counsel together excluding the third."

وعن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال‏:‏ ‏"‏إذا كانوا ثلاثة فلا يتناجى اثنان دون الثالث‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏ ‏(‏‏(‏ورواه أبو دواد وزاد‏:‏ قال أبو صالح‏:‏ قلت لابن عمر‏:‏ فأربعة‏؟‏ قال‏:‏ لا يضرك‏.‏ ورواه مالك في الموطأ‏:‏ عن عبد الله بن دينار قال‏:‏ كنت أنا وابن عمر عند دار خالد بن عقبة التي في السوق، فجاء رجل يريد أن يناجيه، وليس مع ابن عمر أحد غيري، فدعا ابن عمر رجلا آخر حتى كنا أربعة فقال لي وللرجل الثالث الذي دعا‏:‏ استأخرا شيئًا، فإني سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول‏:‏ ‏"‏لا يتناجى اثنان دون واحد‏"‏‏.‏

References1 variant

In-Book Reference: Book 17, Hadith 88

Sharh · explanationclick to expand

Guidance from the Hadiths: 1) It is forbidden for two persons to engage in private conversation while excluding the third because this harms the believers. The same applies when three persons do that to the exclusion of the fourth, or four to the exclusion of the fifth and so on, if the left out person is saddened by this. 2) It is permissible to engage in private conversation when there is an assembly of people. The Hadith manifests the comprehensiveness of Islam as it addresses all the aspects of life with its directives, instructions, and etiquettes. There is nothing, big or small, in the life of mankind except that Islam has explained and clarified it. So, we Muslims should rejoice in complying with the laws of our great religion.