"Meetings are Confidential"

There is this Hadith (Saying of our Holy Prophet PBUH) that I want to discuss with you all. As I think we really need to learn this thing because I have seen many such people who don't know the etiquette of meeting. They will join a meeting and then go on telling others about the things discussed in that meeting. Whereas one is not supposed to do this. Even if you are not in a meeting, it is against etiquette to go telling others about anyone's private issues. One must keep the secrets of others as one wants to keep his own secrets hidden. If you do good to others only then you can have good. It is a simple rule of give and take.

The hadith is:

"Meetings are confidential”

Explanation:

This hadith describes the etiquettes of a meeting. First of all, it must be clear that a meeting or an assembly is made up of two or more people. It states that what is said in a meeting should remain among those who form the meeting. It implies that meetings should be secretive and the things discussed must not be disclosed to others.

Nothing should be spread without the permission of those present in that meeting. If someone’s fault or shortcoming is mentioned during a discussion, it should not be reported to an outsider as no one is perfect and every person has imperfections. Just as we do not want our secrets to be revealed, similarly care must be taken for others as well in this context.

There are certain exceptions though. The matter discussed about someone in a meeting can be communicated to others for the sake of one’s good. For example, if a person is involved in bad deeds, then, in that case, his parents or those who are loyal to him, must be informed. This act is done for the sake of his own good and not for maligning him.

However, it is permissible to disclose the details of three meetings:

• The meeting in which the unjust assassination of someone is planned should be disclosed.

• A meeting in which people plan to rob a woman of her dignity must be disclosed.

• The matter of that meeting should also be disclosed in which a plan is being made to snatch someone’s property unjustly.

According to Sheikh Abdul Haq Muhaddis Dehlvi, the matter of that particular meeting should also be disclosed in which a plan to harm the religion or nation is being made.