The forbiddance of secret counsels between two in presence of the third without his pleasure
Ibn Umar radyAllahu anhu narrates that the Messenger sallAllahu alaihi wasallam said “If there are three, then the two among them shouldn‟t speak in secret without the
third.”(Sahih Bukhari)
Imam Nawawi has stated that “the word „Munajah‟ means secret counsel.” Based on these Ahadeeth it is forbidden for two to speak in secret in the presence of the third, even if the group comprises of more than three, until the odd one permits the others to do so. And the opinion of Ibn Umar, Imam Malik, our scholars and the majority of scholars is that it is forbidden unrestrictedly whether in travel or
other than that. Some of the scholars have said that the impermissibilit

y is when on a travel since traveling is expected therein to have fear. Some others have claimed that this Hadeeth has been abrogated, that the ruling was confined to the early period of Islam, so when Islam became wide spread and the people felt safe the prohibition was dropped, since the hypocrites used to hold secret meetings to depress the believers. And there is consensus that it is not haram for two to speak in secret in a group of four when the other two are left alone.”(Sharh Sahih Muslim)