Can you confirm the source of this Hadith?
لما عرج بي مررت بقوم لهم أظفار من نحاس يخمشون بها وجوههم وصدورهم، فقلت: من هؤلاء يا جبريل قال هؤلاء الذين يأكلون لحوم الناس ويقعون في أعراضهم
Answer
Imams Abu Dawud and Ahmad (rahimahumallah) have recorded this Hadith on the authority of Sayyiduna Anas ibn Malik (radiyallahu ‘anhu).
(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 4844 and Musnad Ahmad, vol. 3 pg. 224)
Translation
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“When I was taken on Mi’raj, I passed by a group of people who had nails of copper with which they were scratching their faces and chests. I said, ‘Who are these people O Jibril?’ He replied, ‘They are those who eat the flesh of people [i.e. they would backbite] and asperse the honour of people.”
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar