Surah Al-Mujaadila (58) — Ayah 9

(Ayah 9){ يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْۤا اِذَا تَنَاجَيْتُمْ … :} As mentioned in the benefits of verse (7), the word {’’نَجْوٰی‘‘} is generally used for whisperings with evil intentions, which are forbidden, but sometimes { ’’نَجْوٰي‘‘} (secret consultation) can also be for good purposes, its permission is granted, rather it is encouraged and it is a source of reward. (See Nisa: 114) In this verse, those who claim to have faith are forbidden from whisperings and secret gatherings involving sin, transgression, and disobedience to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), because this is contrary to the claim of faith, and permission is granted, rather advice is given, for whisperings involving righteousness and piety. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade every form of whispering that would cause distress to a Muslim. Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ إِذَا كُنْتُمْ ثَلاَثَةً فَلاَ يَتَنَاجٰی رَجُلاَنِ دُوْنَ الْآخَرِ حَتّٰی تَخْتَلِطُوْا بِالنَّاسِ، أَجْلَ أَنْ يُّحْزِنَهُ ] [بخاري، الاستئذان، باب إذا کانوا أکثر من ثلاثۃ فلا بأس بالمسارّۃ المناجاۃ : ۶۲۹۰۔ مسلم : ۲۱۸۴ ] "When you are three people, then two should not whisper to each other excluding the third, until you join other people, because this will make him sad." From this hadith, it is understood that if there are more than three people, then any two can whisper to each other. However, if four, five, or more people leave one person alone and whisper separately, then it is inevitable that the one left alone will be saddened and distressed, so according to this hadith, that is also impermissible. If two out of three people start speaking in a language that the third does not know, then according to this hadith, that is also not permissible. However, if two people take permission from the third and then whisper to each other, then this is permissible, as narrated from Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ إِذَا كُنْتُمْ ثَلاَثَةً فَلاَ يَتَنَاجَ اثْنَانِ دُوْنَ الثَّالِثِ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِهِ فَإِنَّ ذٰلِكَ يُحْزِنُهُ ] [مسند أحمد: 146/2، ح : ۶۳۳۸۔ مصنف عبد الرزاق، ح : ۱۹۸۰۶، وسندہ صحیح ] "When you are three people, then two should not whisper to each other excluding the third, except with his permission, because this will make him sad."

9. 1 Just as it is the habit of the Jews and the hypocrites, this is as if being said for the training and character building of the believers that if you are true in your claim of faith, then your secret conversations should not be about sin and transgression like those of the Jews and the hypocrites.

9. 2 That is, in which there is nothing but goodness and which is based on obedience to Allah and His Messenger ﷺ, because this alone is righteousness and piety.

9. O you who believe! When you confer in secret, do not confer about sin, transgression, and disobedience to the Messenger, but confer about righteousness [10] and piety. And fear Allah, to Whom you will be gathered.

[10]
The Three Types of Whispering and Their Status:

In this verse, the address is to the general Muslims, among whom the hypocrites are also included. Whispering, murmuring, and secret talk are all synonymous words. There can be three forms of this whispering. First, that this whispering is based on ill intention, evil motives, or some impure conspiracy, as the hypocrites used to whisper against the Muslims. This is an incitement from Satan, as is explicitly mentioned in the next verse, and it is unanimously forbidden. Second, that the whispering is based on goodness and virtue, for example, whispering to reconcile two people who are fighting, or as when Sayyiduna Yusufؑ, after detaining his brother Binyamin, the remaining brothers spoke among themselves away from others. Such whispering is not only permissible but commendable. In fact, sometimes it can even be obligatory. Third, such whispering that concerns only the two who are whispering and not others, as the Messenger of Allahﷺ did with Sayyida Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her) before his passing, which made her cry once and laugh the second time. [بخاری۔ کتاب الاستیذان۔ باب من ناجی بین الناس]
Such whispering is permissible and there is no harm in it. However, there are some etiquettes for whispering which are known from the following hadith. Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'udؓ narrates that the Prophetﷺ said: When you are three people together, two should not whisper to the exclusion of the third, for that will grieve him. But if there are more people present, then there is no harm. [بخاری۔ کتاب الاستیذان۔ باب اذا کانوا اکثر من ثلثۃ۔۔۔]
And the main purpose of these etiquettes is that no person should be hurt or fall into suspicion. That is:

1. If there are only three people, then two should not whisper to the exclusion of the third. However, if they take permission from the third, then they may whisper. In this way, the possibility of suspicion is eliminated.
2. If there are more than three people, then two may whisper. But it should not be that there are four people and three of them whisper to the exclusion of one. And so on.
3. If there are many people and two begin to whisper, then neither of them should point towards nor look at any particular person sitting in the gathering, which may unnecessarily create suspicion in the heart of the one indicated.

The Purpose of Whispering by the Hypocrites:

In short, all forms that cause suspicion or hurt are forbidden according to this verse, and the very work of the hypocrites was that whenever they gathered with the Muslims, they would start impure secret talk. For example, at the time of departure for jihad, they would start whispering, "It seems that none of these Muslims who are setting out for jihad will return safely. Who knows what golden dreams these people are seeing," and so on.