Chapter on the Prohibition of Spying and Eavesdropping on Speech Whose Speaker Dislikes It

Allah the Exalted says, “And do not spy” (Q 49:12); and He says, “Those who harm believing men and believing women for something they have not earned bear the burden of slander and manifest sin” (Q 33:58).

1570 – Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the most deceptive of speech. Do not probe for faults, do not spy, do not vie with one another in rivalry, do not envy one another, do not hate one another, and do not turn your backs on one another. Rather, be servants of Allah, brothers, as He has commanded you.

A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim: he does not wrong him, abandon him, or disdain him. Piety is here—piety is here,” and he pointed to his chest. “It is enough evil for a person to despise his Muslim brother. The whole of a Muslim is inviolable to another Muslim: his blood, his honour, and his property. Indeed, Allah does not look at your bodies or your appearances, but He looks at your hearts and your deeds.”

In one variant: “Do not envy, do not hate, do not spy, do not pry, do not inflate prices against one another; and be servants of Allah, brothers.”

In another variant: “Do not sever ties, do not turn your backs on one another, do not hate one another, and do not envy one another.”