Is it considered a private conversation for two people to speak in a language or with a gesture that a third person sitting with them does not understand? And what the manager did—when he took an employee outside the room to speak with him privately, away from the third employee who was sitting there—is it permissible or forbidden, and does it conform to Islamic law, or should he have sought permission from the third person?

Among what falls under the prohibited private conversation (tanaji) is two people speaking in a language the third person does not understand, whether by gesture or speech. This is what Al-Nawawi defined as speaking secretly so that others do not hear them, or in a language they do not understand. Al-Alusi opines that this includes instances where it causes sadness to the third person.

However, if one of two people takes another and leaves the gathering to speak away from the third person, this is not included in the prohibition of private conversation, as the third person can be addressed privately afterwards when they are alone. This is particularly confirmed when there is a need to keep a work secret, as Al-Nawawi mentioned its permissibility for such a need.