وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه
أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: «أتدرون ما الغيبة؟» قالوا: الله ورسوله أعلم قال: «ذكرك أخاك بما يكره«قيل: أفرأيت إن كان في أخي ما أقول؟ قال: «إن كان فيه ما تقول، فقد اغتبته، وإن لم يكن فيه ما تقول فقد بهته»
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Do you know what is backbiting?” The Companions said: “Allah and His Messenger know better.” Thereupon he said, “Backbiting is talking about your (Muslim) brother in a manner which he dislikes.” It was said to him: “What if my (Muslim) brother is as I say.” He said, “If he is actually as you say, then that is backbiting; but if that is not in him, that is slandering.”.
Riyad as-Salihin 1523, Book 18, The Book of the Prohibited actions, Hadith 13. 1 min read