Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah

Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Arabs used to serve one another during journeys. There was a man with Sayyiduna Abu Bakr and Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) who used to serve them. (One day) both of them woke up and the servant had not prepared their food. One of them said to his companion: "This servant is imitating the sleep of your Prophet." And in another narration: "He is imitating the sleep of your household." Both of them woke him up and said: "Go to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and say to him that Abu Bakr and Umar send you greetings of peace and they are asking you for some curry (side dish)." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Convey my greetings to both of them and inform them that you both have already eaten curry." Abu Bakr and Umar became anxious upon hearing this and went to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "O Messenger of Allah! We sent (so-and-so) to you to get curry, and you said that we have already eaten curry. (By Allah), what curry have we eaten?" He said: "The flesh of your brother. By Him in Whose hand is my soul, I can see his flesh between your teeth." Sayyiduna Abu Bakr and Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: "Pray for forgiveness for us." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "It is your servant who should pray for forgiveness for you."

Amr bin Shu’aib narrates from his father, who narrates from his grandfather, and he from Sayyiduna Mu’adh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him), who says that the companions mentioned a man to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), saying: “He does not eat until he is fed, and he does not ride until he is made to ride.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “You have backbitten him.” The companions said: “O Messenger of Allah! We have only mentioned that (fault) which is in him.” He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “It is enough for you (to be guilty of backbiting) that you mention about your brother that (fault) which is in him.”