Mishkat al-Masabih #3552
The Offices of Commander and Qadi
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
وَعَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «إِنَّكَ إِذَا اتَّبَعْتَ عَوْرَاتِ النَّاسِ أَفْسَدْتَهُمْ» . رَوَاهُ الْبَيْهَقِيُّ فِي «شُعَبِ الْإِيمَان»
Mu'awiya told that he heard God’s Messenger say,” When you look into people’s secrets you corrupt them.”*
Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman.
* This is a prohibition of delving into other people’s affairs and disclosing things which should not be disclosed, as this makes life difficult for them. It is the same idea as in the previous tradition.
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About Mishkat al-Masabih
This hadith is #3552 from Mishkat al-Masabih, in the Book of The Offices of Commander and Qadi.