The Obligation of Verifying Information When Hearing Rumors
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It is obligatory for a person, when he hears something about someone, to first verify the accuracy of the report. The report may be incorrect, and this happens frequently. We often hear things attributed to scholars, princes, or other people, and when we verify them, we find that they are lies with no basis. Sometimes there is a basis, but things are added to it. This is a great trial. Therefore, one must first verify the accuracy of the report. If the report is authentic, and so-and-so said such-and-such, whether he is a prince, a scholar, a minister, or an ordinary man, we should reflect before speaking about him. We should consider whether his words have a perspective? Is it an independent legal reasoning (ijtihad) in which he may err or be correct, and perhaps we are the ones who are wrong and he is the one who is right?
We should reflect before daring to speak about him by denying what was attributed to him or the like. Often, a thing is reported and the report is authentic, and we know that this man said or did it. Then, when we reflect, we find that he has a justification and a valid reason. If he has a justification or a valid reason—even if many people are unaware of it—he is not deserving of blame or denial; because he said it based on independent legal reasoning (ijtihad). No person among us is one to whom revelation is sent such that what he says is truth or what he does is truth. Revelation ceased with the death of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). So, if we reflect on what was authentically reported from him and find that his words and actions have a valid reason and justification, we remain silent and do not speak about him.
If it becomes clear to us that there is no valid reason for his words and no justification for them, or no valid reason for his actions and no justification for them, then at that time we speak. But how do we speak? Is the way to speak by exposing this man to the people,And we say: saying, "This is so-and-so, and he has such-and-such"? No.
The obligation is to advise with wisdom by going to him and saying: You did such-and-such or you said such-and-such, and this is not correct; because it contradicts the saying of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), such-and-such, or the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), such-and-such, or the scholarly consensus on such-and-such. So how can you say that or do that?
We should reflect before daring to speak about him by denying what was attributed to him or the like. Often, a thing is reported and the report is authentic, and we know that this man said or did it. Then, when we reflect, we find that he has a justification and a valid reason. If he has a justification or a valid reason—even if many people are unaware of it—he is not deserving of blame or denial; because he said it based on independent legal reasoning (ijtihad). No person among us is one to whom revelation is sent such that what he says is truth or what he does is truth. Revelation ceased with the death of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). So, if we reflect on what was authentically reported from him and find that his words and actions have a valid reason and justification, we remain silent and do not speak about him.
If it becomes clear to us that there is no valid reason for his words and no justification for them, or no valid reason for his actions and no justification for them, then at that time we speak. But how do we speak? Is the way to speak by exposing this man to the people,And we say: saying, "This is so-and-so, and he has such-and-such"? No.
The obligation is to advise with wisdom by going to him and saying: You did such-and-such or you said such-and-such, and this is not correct; because it contradicts the saying of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), such-and-such, or the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), such-and-such, or the scholarly consensus on such-and-such. So how can you say that or do that?