281 – Chapter on the prohibition of two people conferring privately to the exclusion of a third without his permission, except when there is a need—that is, when they speak so softly that he cannot hear them; the same ruling applies if they converse in a language he does not understand.

Allah the Exalted says: “Private counsel is only from Satan.” ⦗Qur’an 58:10⦘

1606 – Ibn ʿUmar (may Allah be pleased with them both) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “When three are together, two of them must not hold a private conversation to the exclusion of the third.” ⦗Agreed upon⦘

Abu Dāwūd also transmitted it and added: Abū Ṣāliḥ said, “I asked Ibn ʿUmar, ‘What if there are four of us?’ He replied, ‘Then it will not harm you.’”

Mālik narrated in al-Muwaṭṭaʾ—from ʿAbdullāh ibn Dīnār—who said: “I was with Ibn ʿUmar at the house of Khālid ibn ʿUqbah in the marketplace. A man came wishing to speak with him privately, and no one was with Ibn ʿUmar but me. Ibn ʿUmar therefore summoned another man so that we became four, then said to me and to the third man he had called, ‘Step back a little, for I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: “Two must not confer privately to the exclusion of one.”’”

1607 – Ibn Masʿūd (may Allah be pleased with him) related that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “When you are three, let not two of you confer privately to the exclusion of the third until you mingle with other people, for that would distress him.” ⦗Agreed upon⦘

282 – Chapter on the prohibition of tormenting a slave, an animal, a woman, or a child without lawful cause, or by exceeding the limits of proper discipline.

Allah the Exalted says: “Show kindness to parents, to relatives, to orphans, to the needy, to the neighbour who is close, to the neighbour who is distant, to the companion beside you, and to the …” ⦗Qur’an 4:36⦘