Is It Lashon Hara?
If someone relates lashon hara, regardless whether in the presence or in the absence of the other fellow, or if he tells things that would cause, once word gets around, damage to someone else, either to his person or to his property, or even if he only [intended] to annoy or to frighten him, that constitutes lashon hara [slander]. But if those things had already been told in the presence of three persons, it may be assumed that they have become known, and if one of the three persons tells them once more [to other people], it is not lashon hara, provided he did not [repeat it] with the intention to spread the rumor and give it added publicity. What procedure should a man follow to avoid falling in the trap of lashon hara? If he is a Torah scholar he should engross himself in the study of the Torah and if he is unlearned he should practice humility. (KSA 30:5)
