الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ نَحْمَدُهُ وَنَسْتَعِينُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ، وَنَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شُرُورِ أَنْفُسِنَا، وَمِنْ سَيِّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا، مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللَّهُ فَلَا مُضِلَّ لَهُ، وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ.
وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ.
All praise belongs to Allah—we praise Him, seek His assistance, and ask for His forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evil of our souls and our misdeeds. Whoever Allah guides, no one can mislead him, and whoever Allah allows to go astray, none can guide him. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, alone without any partners, and that Muhammad ﷺ is His servant and messenger.
A Tragedy, A Lie, and a Lesson
Just last year, a horrific tragedy occurred in a small British town. Young girls attending a dance class were brutally murdered. Almost instantly, rumors spread like wildfire—a whisper that the perpetrator was an asylum seeker with an Arabic-sounding name was enough to inflame the nation.
Before the facts were known, a storm had already been unleashed: violent protests erupted, masjids were vandalized, police vehicles torched, and even a library was set ablaze.
When the truth finally emerged, it turned out that the attacker wasn’t an immigrant at all, but a UK-born citizen with no Arab heritage. But by then, the damage was irreversible—hearts were poisoned, properties destroyed, and communities further divided.
This is not an isolated case. The consequences of unverified news today are amplified by the platforms we use and the speed at which we consume.
The Qur’anic Command: Confirm Before You Conclude
Allah ﷻ warns us clearly in the Qur’an:
“يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنْ جَاءَكُمْ فَاسِقٌ بِنَبَإٍ فَتَبَيَّنُوا أَنْ تُصِيبُوا قَوْمًا بِجَهَالَةٍ فَتُصْبِحُوا عَلَىٰ مَا فَعَلْتُمْ نَادِمِينَ”
“O you who believe! If a wrongdoer brings you news, then verify it, lest you harm people in ignorance and later regret what you have done.”
— [Surah Al-Hujurat 49:6]
This divine principle doesn’t just apply to breaking news or global events. Even casual gossip, WhatsApp forwards, and viral tweets fall under its scope. We must verify before we amplify.
Real-Life Example: Social Media Trial and Error
Consider a recent example where a Muslim influencer accused a restaurant of Islamophobia. Outrage ensued. Thousands, without fact-checking, left negative reviews, plunging the restaurant’s Google rating from 4.9 to 3.5 overnight.
Later, it was revealed through CCTV footage and eyewitnesses that the claims were false. In fact, the influencer’s party had acted disrespectfully, not the staff. But by the time the truth came out, the business had already suffered significant reputational harm.
This is a modern form of shahādat az-zūr (false testimony), a grave sin that the Prophet ﷺ strongly condemned.
Prophetic Warning Against False Witness
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ once said:
“Shall I not inform you of the greatest of the major sins?”
The companions said, “Yes, O Messenger of Allah.”
He said:
“To associate partners with Allah, to be undutiful to one’s parents…”
Then he sat up from his resting position and said:
“…and beware of false testimony. Beware of false testimony.”
— [Sahih al-Bukhari]
He repeated the warning against false testimony so many times that the companions feared he would not stop.
The Breaking News Trap
In today’s age of constant notifications and 24/7 news, every alert is labeled “breaking.” This fuels a culture of impulse sharing, where people forward news before reflection.
But the Qur’an gives us a better model:
“إِذَا جَاءَهُمْ أَمْرٌ مِّنَ الْأَمْنِ أَوِ الْخَوْفِ أَذَاعُوا بِهِ، وَلَوْ رَدُّوهُ إِلَى الرَّسُولِ وَإِلَى أُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْهُمْ، لَعَلِمَهُ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَنْبِطُونَهُ مِنْهُمْ”
“When there comes to them some matter of security or fear, they broadcast it. But if they had referred it to the Messenger or those in authority among them, those who can extract knowledge would have known it.”
— [Surah An-Nisa 4:83]
A Timeless Lesson from ‘Umar (RA)
During the Prophet’s time, a false rumor spread that he ﷺ had divorced his wives. This sparked distress among the believers.
But rather than reacting to hearsay, ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) went directly to the Prophet ﷺ to verify. This simple act shows how the companions prioritized truth over emotion—and how we should follow their example today.
Four Practical Steps for Every Muslim
How can we adopt this Qur’anic ethic in our daily lives?
1. Pause Before You Post
Not every piece of news deserves your time or your platform. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Part of the perfection of a person’s Islam is to leave what does not concern him.”
— [Sunan al-Tirmidhi]
2. Seek the Source
Don’t rely on third-hand retellings. Always check with the original source, or someone trustworthy and knowledgeable.
3. Cross-Verify
If a story seems too shocking or dramatic, it probably is. Confirm it using multiple reliable sources before reacting or sharing.
4. Be Patient
The truth often unfolds with time. In the rush to be first, don’t be the one who spreads falsehood. Be the one who upholds truth.
Be a Beacon of Clarity, Not a Source of Chaos
In this digital age, where misinformation spreads faster than ever, every believer has a responsibility. Let us be from those who calm the storm, not those who stir it. Let us be the ones who extinguish fitnah (discord), not fan its flames.
We ask Allah ﷻ to grant us wisdom in our words, sincerity in our intentions, and steadfastness upon the truth.
اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنَا مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ، وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا عَلَى الْحَقِّ، وَاجْعَلْ أَلْسِنَتَنَا طَاهِرَةً مِنَ الزُّورِ وَالْبُهْتَانِ.
Ameen.
