108 if someone hears someone saying something bad about his friends wife he should not tell him about it at all especially if the speaker is a slanderer and a backbiter among people sharptongued or someone who defends his own shame and wants to increase the number of people like him and this is common. in short a person should only tell the truth and the statement of this speaker is not known whether it is true or false but it is great in religion. if he hears the statement widely circulated by a group and knows that the origin of that statement is widespread and not due to the statement of one person or he has learned the truth but he is not able to inform his friend of what he has learned then he should inform him of it between him and him gently and say to him women are many or fortify your home and educate your family and avoid such and such a matter and be careful from such and such a matter. if he accepts the advice and is careful then his luck is good. but if he sees that he is not careful and does not care he should hold back and not say a word to him again and he continues to be his friend to him. there is nothing in not believing what he says that necessitates severing ties with him. if he finds out and is able to inform his friend of the same truth as he found out then he is obligated to inform him of that and inform him of the obvious. otherwise if he sees that he does not change then he should avoid his company for he is despicable.
١٠٨ من سمع قائلا يقول في امرأة صديقه قول سوء فلا يخبره بذلك أصلا، لا سيما إن كان القائل عيابة وقاعا في الناس، سليط اللسان أو دافع معرة عن نفسه يريد أن يكثر أمثاله في الناس، وهذا كثير موجود؛ وبالجملة فلا يحدث الانسان إلا بالحق، وقول هذا القائل لا يدري أحق هو أم باطل، إلا أنه في الديانة عظيم، فإن سمع القول مستفيضا من جماعة وعلم أن أصل ذلك القول شائع وليس راجعا إلى قول إنسان واحد، أو اطلع على حقيقة، إلا انه لا يقدر أن يوقف صديقه على ما وقف هو عليه، فليخبره بذلك بينه وبينه في رفق، وليقل له النساء كثير، أو حصن منزلك وثقف أهلك واجتنب أمر كذا وتحفظ من وجه كذا، فإن قبل المنصوح وتحرز، فحظ نفسه أصاب، وإن رآه لا يتحفظ ولا يبالي أمسك ولم يعاوده بكلمة، وتمادى على صداقته إياه، فليس في أن لا يصدقه في قوله ما يوجب قطيعته؛ فإن اطلع على وقدر أن يوقف صديقه على مثل ما وقف هو عليه من الحقيقة، ففرض عليه أن يخبره بذلك وأن يوقفه على الجلية، فإن غير ذلك، وإن رآه لا يغير فليتجنب صحبته، فإنه رذل