idle talk (laghw)—that is, any speech from which no benefit is derived. Concerning the servants of the All-Merciful, Allah says, “and when they pass by idle talk, they pass by with dignity,” meaning they come through it unscathed: nothing of it clings to them, they neither listen to it nor incline their ears toward it.

Imām an-Nawawī then brings the ḥadīth of ʿItbān ibn Mālik dealing with Mālik ibn al-Dukhshum, in which a man spoke ill of him in the Prophet’s presence, and the Prophet ﷺ forbade it, saying, “Do you not see that he performs the prayer seeking thereby the Face of Allah?” This shows that a person who lacks such sincerity enjoys no protection against backbiting. A disbeliever, for instance, is not to be shown deference in this matter—you may backbite him—unless he has Muslim relatives who would be harmed by it; in that case, do not backbite him. Otherwise, there is no backbiting with respect to him. As for an open sinner (fāsiq), we have already noted that, in principle, he is to be treated with respect, except where benefit requires exposing his sin; then it is permissible to mention his wrongdoing, for that comes under sincere counsel.

Allah alone grants success.

1530 — Kaʿb ibn Mālik — may Allah be pleased with him — reported in his lengthy account of his repentance, cited earlier in the Chapter of Repentance: While the Prophet ﷺ was sitting with the people at Tabūk he asked, “What has happened to Kaʿb ibn Mālik?” A man from Banū Salamah replied, “Messenger of Allah, his two cloaks and his admiring glance at his shoulders have detained him.” Muʿādh ibn Jabal — may Allah be pleased with him — said to him, “What a foul thing you have said! By Allah, O Messenger of Allah, we know nothing about him but good.” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ remained silent. Agreed upon.

“His shoulders” refers to his two sides, alluding to his self-admiration.