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. ------ 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) ----- Kaniz Fatma is a classic Islamic scholar and a regular columnist for New Age Islam. 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