In this age of extensive social media engagement, everyone is a publisher; we publish our views, opinions, feelings, and emotions across various platforms on all sorts of topics, ranging from politics and sports to selfies and wardrobes. While this social media culture has transformed the way we interact and enabled us to stay in constant contact with others, it has also made us somewhat insensitive and judgemental. Unfortunately, it is more of a norm today than ever before in human history to spread unverified news, share defamatory content, and make hurtful remarks.
We, as Muslims, are obligated to enjoin right and forbid wrong, which means we must not hesitate to speak for the cause of truth and justice on social media. However, we should be extremely cautious when intending to criticize someone or question their integrity. Before posting a comment of such nature, it is important to ask oneself if the comment is needed at all or if it could be phrased in a more objective and respectful manner. Even a casual remark can contribute to character assassination, which must be avoided at all costs, not just because of the harm it causes the person being targeted, but also due to the prohibition placed by Islam on making such comments.
The Quran encourages Muslims to think well of their own people and dismiss unfounded allegations against them. It views damaging the reputation of another person, especially a female believer, as a very serious matter. The Quran prescribes the following punishment for accusing a woman of immorality without evidence: “And those who accuse chaste women and then do not produce four witnesses – lash them with eighty lashes and do not accept from them testimony ever after. And those are the defiantly disobedient.” (Al-Nur 24:4) These ayaat were revealed after aspersions were cast against none other than Ayesha (RA) in Madinah; as a consequence, several individuals – including both men and women – were punished with eighty lashes each.
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It is thus unfortunate that slandering, in our present-day world, is accepted as a norm rather than being condemned as a vice. “Slander” is generally defined as a false statement damaging someone’s reputation or violating their honor; however, Islam considers any damaging statement that is not backed by four eyewitnesses or other overwhelming evidence as slander. The Quran states the following regarding the slanderers: “And when they do not produce the witnesses, then it is they, in the sight of Allah, who are the liars.” (Al-Nur 24:13) Hence, accusing someone of immorality without evidence is in itself a sinful act, even if the accusation is true. An exception to this rule, however, is when the victim of a crime such as violent oppression or rape speaks out against the perpetrator without having any witnesses, as evidenced by a reliable hadith of Abu Dawud.
Today, it is typical to come across gossip about alleged scandals and transgressions of others on social media which we habitually pass on without much thought. However, such an action has severe consequences in the sight of Allah, based on the previously quoted ayah of the Quran. Even if we generally consider someone as a very sinful or non-practicing Muslim, discrediting them for an alleged wrong without evidence is still a grave sin. It is even more blameworthy to declare about someone that he or she will not be forgiven by Allah. Consider the following startling narration from the Hadith in this regard.
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There was once an Israelite man who often sinned. One day, while he was sinning, another man who frequently engaged in worship told him to refrain, at which the sinner burst out, “Leave me alone with my Lord. Have you been sent as a watcher over me?” The worshipper proclaimed, “I swear by Allah: Allah will not forgive you, nor will He admit you to Paradise!” After they both died, Allah said to the worshipper, “Had you knowledge about me or had you power over what I had in My Hand?” Allah then declared to the angels to admit the sinner into Paradise out of His mercy and ordered for the worshipper to be taken to Hell. (Abu Dawud 4,901 – Sahih)
This hadith conveys how outrageously sinful it is to judge someone by declaring that Allah will not forgive them. Regarding the worshipper who was taken to Hell, Abu Hurayra (RA) opined: “By Him in Whose Hand is my soul, he spoke a word by which this world and the next world of his were destroyed.” A carelessly uttered sentence – or a casually drafted comment, for that matter – can have serious consequences, especially in the context of other people’s relationship with Allah and His divine attributes.
The above hadith makes it clear that it is for Allah to decide whom He wishes to forgive and whom He might punish. It is possible that we are unaware of the situation encountered by someone, and we are merely judging them based on our limited knowledge or understanding of the matter. It is also possible that someone repents to Allah with such sincerity that all their previous sins are forgiven by Him. There are many such instances in the Seerah and Hadith, including the story of a prostitute whose sins were forgiven for merely taking the trouble to fetch water for a thirsty dog and saving its life.
Therefore, while it is important to condemn what is wrong, it is equally vital to avoid judging others or gossiping about their characters or alleged scandals. How do we achieve this? One approach is to ask ourselves whenever we encounter slanderous news: is this information going to impact my duniya or akhira? If the answer is in the negative, then we are better off not discussing and sharing it or becoming part of it in any way. As the Prophet ﷺ declared, “Verily, among excellence in Islam is for a person to leave what does not concern them.” (Tirmidhi 2,318 – Sahih according to Al-Albani)
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