[Pooya/Ali Commentary 49:12] Most kinds of suspicion are baseless, and some are crimes in themselves, therefore conjecture (qiyas) has been "outlawed" in Islam. Spying into other people's affairs means either idle curiosity or suspicion carried a stage further. Backbiting, being futile, is mischievous, and if poisoned with malice, it is a sin added to sin. It is like eating flesh of a dead brother, abomination plus abomination. The Holy Prophet said: "Backbiting is worse than adultery, because Allah may forgive an adulterer or adulteress if he or she turns repentant to Him, but pardon for backbiting is not available until the aggrieved person agrees to forgive." Imam Ali said: "Have a good opinion about your brother in faith unless proved otherwise." Once a few companions sent Salman to bring food from the kitchen of the Holy Prophet. After obtaining the Holy Prophet's permission he went to Usama bin Zayd who was in charge of the Holy Prophet's kitchen, but as there was nothing in the kitchen, he returned to the companions with empty hands. They laughed at Salman and Usama and branded them closefisted misers. Then they came to the Holy Prophet. He told them: "I see particles of flesh in your teeth. It is the flesh of Salman and Usama." Then this verse was revealed. Imam Musa bin Jafar al Kazim said: "Anything evil said about anyone, when he is not present, to the people who do not know it, is backbiting." It is mentioned in Tafsir Thalabi that some people reported to Umar that Abu Mahjan was drinking wine in his house. Umar at once raided his house but found no wine. Mahjan said: "O Umar, you have spied on me, although Allah says: 'Spy not on each other.'" Zayd bin Thabit and Abdullah bin Arqam were the witnesses to this event. Abdur Rahman bin Awf, a very close friend of Umar, is reported to have said: "While crossing a street in the night, we saw light in the house of Umayya bin Rabi-ah. We jumped over the outer wall and entered into his chamber. Along with his friends he was drinking wine. Umar admonished him for breaking the law of Allah. Umayya said: "O Umar, I have broken only one law, but you have done four forbidden acts-spying, not entering through the front door, not obtaining my permission to come into my house, and not greeting me with assalamu alaykum."