Sayyiduna Mu'adh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: I was with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The people mentioned a man in his presence and said: "How incapable he is!" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "You have backbitten your brother." The people submitted: "O Messenger of Allah! We only said what is in him." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If you said what is not in him, then you would have slandered him."
This narration was recorded by Imam al-Tabarani. Its chain contains a narrator, Ali bin Asim, who is da'if (weak).
Hadith Referenceمجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد / كتاب الأدب / 13146
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:إسنادہ ضعیف
Hadith Takhrij«اخرجه الطبراني فى المعجم الكبير (39/20) ، أخرجه المطالب العالية بزوائد المسانيد الثمانية برقم: 2667، وأخرجه إتحاف الخيرة المهرة بزوائد المسانيد العشرة برقم: 5367»