every secret on earth is only news about a person or a secret about a person so he has the greatest share in backbiting and most of it is a burden not a necessity. its owner sees that he has neglected to hold himself accountable forgive his sins and eliminate his faults and intended to intend the intention of others so he was distracted from what concerns him with what does not concern him so he denied his words and actions abandoned his management marveled at his ugliness and exerted himself in examining his affairs. this is not out of concern for his goodness nor love for correcting and refining him nor that he is in control of him nor is he praised by him for what he cared about his affair but rather he is in his eyes the very thing blameworthy.
وكل سر في الأرض إنما هو خبر عن إنسان، أو طى عن إنسان، فله في الغيبة أكثر الحظ، وجلها كلفة لا ضرورة، يرى صاحبها أنه قد أهمل محاسبة نفسه، وغفر ذنوبها وألغى عيوبها، وقصد قصد غيره، فتشاغل عما يعنيه بما لا يعنيه، فأنكر أقواله وأفعاله، وهجر تدبيره، وتعجب من مقابحه، وجهد نفسه في تفقد أموره. ليس ذلك عن عناية بصلاحه، ولا محبة لتقويمه وتهذيبه، ولا أنه مسيطر عليه ولا محمود عنده على ما عنى به من شأنه، بل هو عنده عين المذموم.