Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said: “O those who have accepted Islam with their tongues while imaan has not entered their hearts! Do not backbite the Muslims and do not search for their faults, for verily the one who searches for their faults, Allah Ta‘ala will take him to task for his faults and the one who Allah Ta‘ala takes to task, Allah Ta‘ala will disgrace him in his (own) home.” (Sunan Abi Dawood #4880)
This blessed hadeeth first of all teaches us that spying on people and delving into their affairs in order to find and publicize their faults is a quality of a munaafiq (hypocrite). A Muslim, on the other hand, is one who strives to conceal the faults of others and preserve their dignity.
Secondly, if we stoop so low so as to search for and advertise the faults of others, we are actually inviting our very own downfall. Allah Ta‘ala – the Being from whom no fault can be hidden – will publicize our own faults until we will even suffer disgrace and embarrassment for the sins we committed while hidden behind the four walls of our homes.