Making False Allegations Is Strictly Forbidden in Islam, Yet Muslims Pay No Attention to It
Islam Abhors And Discourages Making False
Allegations
Main Points:
1.
The Quran prohibits a
person from making any false allegation and relating any news that is uncertain
and unverified.
2.
Questions will be
asked on the Day of Judgment about the ear, the eye and the heart. This is what
we have been told in verse 17:36.
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By Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam
26 December 2022
Our culture has changed to the point where people
spread slander and allegations with lightning speed. Satan encourages people to
carry out this work and lures them into saying and doing things that are bad,
so they take greater pleasure in it. In Islam, this behaviour is abhorrent,
undesirable, and demeaning.
The directive of Islam in this regard is
unambiguous and clear: if an evil person informs you of something, research it
before acting ignorantly and regretting it afterwards.
Allah Almighty says, “And do not pursue that of
which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight and the heart -
about all those [one] will be questioned.” (17:36)
This verse covers all of those things that bring
people shame and dishonour. The verse prohibits a person from relating any news
that is uncertain and unverified. By adhering to this advice, people will not
be slandered. Speculation should not be reported to others, since these things
cause hatred and enmity between people. In Surah Hujurat, Allah declares that
"Some Assumptions Are Sins."
Questions will be asked on the Day of Judgment
about the ear, the eye and the heart. This is what we have been told in verse
17:36. It implies that the ear would be questioned about what it heard
continuously throughout its life. The eye will be questioned about what it
continued to view throughout its lifetime. The heart will be questioned about
what it kept simmering inside its chambers and what it held dear during its
lifetime.
If an act that was forbidden in Islam—such as
insulting someone behind their back or hearing another unlawful act—were heard
via the ear, punishment would be administered.
If something was seen via eyes that were forbidden
to be seen, such as giving a non-Mahram woman or man the evil eye, then the
punishment would follow the incident.
If anything contrary to the Quran, the Sunnah, or
anything else was ingrained in your heart, or if you harboured unjustified
grudges against someone, punishment will follow the act.
The truth is that virtually every blessing Allah
Almighty has bestowed will be questioned on the Day of Judgment. The ear,
sight, and heart were given particular consideration here because they are the
most important and substantial blessings.
Slander refers to the act of spreading untrue
information about another individual. Unfortunately, this disease has reached
epidemic proportions in our communities and works to tear apart the fundamental
foundation of our society. The Quran and other hadiths both prohibit the
serious sin of accusing one another of something. For instance:
The Prophet (peace be upon him) stated, “Whosoever
mentions a shortcoming of a Muslim which is not found in him, Allah Almighty
will place him in Radghat al-Khabāl [The area in Hell where the blood and pus
of its inhabitants are gathered] until the punishment of his sin is complete.”
(Sunan Abu Dawud, hadith 3597)
“Whosoever makes an accusation against a Muslim to
disgrace him, Allah Almighty will stop him on the Bridge of Hell until he is
punished in accordance with what he uttered.” (Sunan Abu Dawud, hadith
4883)
“Even before the feet of a false witness move,
Allah Almighty makes the Fire necessary for him.” [Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 273]
The Prophet said, “Accusing a chaste woman of
adultery ruins a hundred years’ worth of good deeds.” (Al-Mujam al-Kabir,
hadith 3023)
The beloved Prophet once asked the Companions, “Do
you know who the impoverished person is?” The noble Companions replied, “The
impoverished one from among us is the one who neither has dirham nor wealth.”
The beloved Prophet responded:
“The impoverished person from my nation is the one
who will come forth on the Day of Judgement with Salah, fasts, and zakat
but he will have cursed someone, made an accusation against another, stolen the
wealth of someone else, spilt the blood of another person, and struck someone.
So, they will all be given a part of his deeds. If his deeds finish before the
rights over him are fulfilled, their sins will be transferred to him. Then he
will be cast into the Fire. (Sahih Muslim, Hadith 6579]
It is now known that Islam discourages making false
allegations. Islam has also strongly warned those who still engage in these
practices. So that the people, fearing these warnings, will refrain from this
heinous deed and the honour and sanctity of all will be maintained. As he passed
a tomb, the Prophet (peace be upon him) reportedly said, "The person
buried there is being punished for a major transgression." He went on to
clarify that the reason the person was punished was that they had made false
and defamatory accusations and converted friends into adversaries. (Sahih
al-Bukhari, 218)
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Kaniz Fatma is a
classic Islamic scholar and a regular columnist for New Age Islam.
URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/false-allegations-forbidden-muslims/d/128712
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