FRIDAY SERMON: Fitnah, Corruption and Bid’ah
An Islamic Study in the Light of the Qur’an and Sunnah
Mohammad Younis Bhat (Zahid)
Human society is built upon love, trust, justice, mutual respect, good character, and responsible conduct. When these qualities are replaced by suspicion, lies, accusations, hatred, prejudice, injustice, and disorder, the peace of society begins to suffer.
For this reason, Islam does not merely warn us against major crimes. It also warns us against the small actions, words, and attitudes that can eventually lead to major fitnah and corruption.
This subject has become even more important in the modern age. In the past, a person’s statement might reach only a limited number of people. Today, through mobile phones, social media, and other means of communication, a statement can reach thousands or even millions of people within a few moments.
Therefore, every Muslim needs to understand:
What is fitnah?
How does fitnah begin?
How does it spread?
And how can a Muslim become a means of reform rather than a means of spreading fitnah?
The Linguistic Meaning of Fitnah
The word fitnah is an Arabic word and is used in the Qur’an in different contexts and with different meanings. Among its meanings are trial, test, affliction, temptation, and circumstances in which a person is tested.
Therefore, it is not correct to interpret the Qur’anic word fitnah as meaning only “corruption” or “conflict” in every verse.
This is particularly important when studying the Qur’an and Sunnah. The meaning of a word should be understood according to its context.
What Is Social Fitnah?
In a general social sense, fitnah can refer to a matter or behavior that becomes a cause of disagreement, hostility, mistrust, division, disorder, or misguidance among people.
For example:
A person hears an unverified statement about someone. Without investigating it, he passes it on to another person. That person exaggerates it and tells someone else. Eventually, a misunderstanding develops between two families.
A seemingly small statement has now become the cause of a major dispute.
Therefore, we should remember:
Not every fitnah begins with a major event; sometimes a single sentence can become the beginning of a major conflict.
Where Does Fitnah Begin?
Fitnah often begins with a person’s heart, tongue, and behavior.
- Suspicion in the Heart
When a person develops an unfounded negative opinion about someone, he may begin to interpret everything that person does negatively. - Words Coming From the Tongue
When suspicion moves from the heart to the tongue, other people may also become affected. - Spreading Unverified Information
When an unverified report is passed from one person to another, its potential harm increases. - Adding to the Story
Some people add their own assumptions or exaggerations to an original statement. A simple incident can then take on an entirely different meaning. - Turning People Against One Another
When a person deliberately attempts to create hatred between two individuals or groups, the matter becomes even more dangerous.
The Qur’anic Principle: Verify the News
The Qur’an gives us a remarkable principle concerning information and reports one that is extremely relevant in our time.
Allah says:
“O believers! If an evildoer brings you any news, verify it, so you do not harm people unknowingly, becoming regretful for what you have done.”
(Qur’an 49:6)
Notice the wisdom of this verse.
The Qur’an does not merely tell us not to spread false information. It teaches us to take an important step before that:
Verify the information.
This principle is especially important in the age of social media.
A WhatsApp message, Facebook post, YouTube video, audio recording, or someone’s statement should not automatically be considered true simply because it has reached our phone.
The fact that something appears on our phone is not proof that it is true.
One Message, One Click, and a Major Consequence
Today, one person may forward information without checking it.
Then:
One person → ten people → one hundred people → one thousand people
Within minutes, the information may spread throughout a community.
Later, it may become clear that the information was false.
But by then, someone’s reputation may have been damaged, a family may have become divided, an accusation may have been made against an innocent person, or hatred may have developed in people’s hearts.
Therefore, a Muslim should ask three questions before forwarding information:
Is this information true?
What is its reliable source?
If I forward it, will it produce benefit or harm?
Fitnah and Corruption An Important Difference
We must also understand the difference between fitnah and fasad (corruption/disorder).
The two concepts are related, but they are not identical in every context.
Fitnah can refer to trial, temptation, misguidance, persecution, or circumstances that create serious division or disturbance, depending on the context.
Fasad, on the other hand, refers to corruption, deterioration, disorder, or the creation of harm and wrongdoing.
Allah says:
“Do not spread corruption in the land after it has been set right.”
(Qur’an 7:56)
This teaches us that a Muslim should not create disorder where there is peace and reform.
The Relationship Between Fitnah and Fasad
We can understand their relationship through a simple example:
False information → Suspicion → Anger → Disagreement → Hostility → Conflict → Social harm
In this chain, the initial false information may become a cause of fitnah, while the resulting practical damage may develop into fasad.
Therefore, a wise Muslim does not merely try to stop major corruption after it has occurred. He also tries to prevent the early causes that can lead to it.
Is Every Disagreement Fitnah?
This is another very important question.
No.
It is not correct to call every disagreement fitnah.
People may have different opinions on permissible matters. Scholarly and legal differences of opinion can exist without being corruption or disorder.
Disagreement becomes dangerous when it is accompanied by:
●prejudice,
●insulting others,
●false accusations,
●incitement,
●deliberate concealment or distortion of facts,
●hatred,
or turning a disagreement into a means of causing harm.
Therefore, we must understand the difference between legitimate disagreement and destructive division.
The Issue of Bid‘ah
The subject of bid‘ah (religious innovation) is also relevant, but it must be approached with great care.
Bid‘ah specifically concerns matters of religion and religious practice. It is not correct to call every new worldly invention a bid‘ah.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
“Whoever introduces into this matter of ours that which is not from it, it is rejected.”
(Sahih Muslim 1718a)
This establishes an important principle: something cannot simply be made part of the religion in the name of Islam when it has no legitimate basis in the religion.
However, determining whether a particular practice constitutes bid‘ah is a matter requiring knowledge and careful examination. The Qur’an, Sunnah, principles of Islamic jurisprudence, and explanations of qualified scholars should be considered.
The Greatest Fitnah of Our Time: Forwarding Without Verification
Today we should ask ourselves a very important question:
“Am I responsible for the information I forward?”
The answer is:
Yes.
Sometimes a person spreads incorrect information and says:
“Someone else sent it to me.”
But this is not sufficient justification for a Muslim.
We must ask ourselves:
Why did I forward it?
The First Lesson of Reform
Our first responsibility in dealing with fitnah is not to accuse other people. It is to control ourselves.
If we:
do not forward information without verification,
■avoid backbiting,
■avoid tale-bearing,
■avoid unfounded suspicion,
■do not turn disagreement into hostility,
■and try to reconcile people whenever possible,
then we can protect ourselves from fitnah and also contribute to protecting society.
A successful Muslim is not the person who wins every argument. True success is to live in such a way that no one’s rights are unjustly taken, no one’s honor is unnecessarily damaged, and no unnecessary corruption is created because of us.
A Message for the Reader
Before accusing others of spreading fitnah, we should examine ourselves.
Is my tongue creating fitnah against someone?
Is something I post causing harm to another person?
Am I forwarding information without verification?
Am I turning a disagreement into hostility?
Or am I becoming a source of reconciliation, goodness, love, and reform?
This is the question every one of us should ask.
Spreading fitnah may be easy; bringing about reform may be difficult. But the path of a believer is the path of reform.
May Allah protect us from fitnah and corruption, grant us correct understanding of His religion, and enable us to convey goodness to others with wisdom, kindness, and sincerity. Ameen.
Fitnah in the Qur’an Its Different Meanings and Forms
The Qur’an gives great importance to the subject of fitnah. However, one important point must be understood from the beginning: the word fitnah does not have only one meaning throughout the Qur’an.
Depending on the context, it may refer to trial, test, persecution, temptation, misguidance, or circumstances that create serious religious and social disturbance.
Therefore, a proper understanding of the Qur’anic concept of fitnah requires us to examine its context rather than giving the word one fixed meaning everywhere.
- Life Itself Is a Test
Allah tells us that human beings will be tested in this world.
“We test you with evil and with good as a trial.”
(Qur’an 21:35)
This teaches us that trials are a part of human life.
A person may be tested through:
wealth,
poverty,
health,
illness,
success,
failure,
family circumstances,
relationships,
fear,
responsibility,
and difficult decisions.
Therefore, not every fitnah mentioned in Islamic texts means social disorder. Sometimes it means a test or trial from which a person must emerge with faith, patience, and obedience to Allah.
- Wealth and Children Can Also Be a Test
Allah says:
“Your wealth and your children are only a trial, while Allah has with Him a great reward.”
(Qur’an 64:15)
This verse gives us a very important lesson.
Wealth itself is not necessarily evil, and children are certainly not evil. Rather, they can become a test of how a person behaves.
If wealth makes a person arrogant, dishonest, or neglectful of his religious duties, the wealth has become a difficult test for him.
Similarly, if family responsibilities cause a person to abandon justice or religious obligations, that too can become a trial.
Thus, the real issue is not always the thing itself. The real issue is how a person responds to it.
- Fitnah as Persecution and Religious Oppression
The Qur’an also uses the concept of fitnah in the context of persecution and oppression.
Allah says:
“And persecution is worse than killing.”
(Qur’an 2:217)
The context of this verse is important. It concerns persecution connected with religion and the severe harm caused when people are prevented from practicing their faith.
This teaches us that oppression and persecution can create circumstances far more destructive than an ordinary disagreement.
Therefore, we should not use the word fitnah casually. Its Qur’anic meaning must always be understood in its proper context.
- Fitnah Can Test a Person’s Faith
Difficult circumstances can reveal what is actually present in a person’s heart.
A person may speak about patience when everything is comfortable. But when he faces criticism, financial difficulty, disagreement, or injustice, his real character becomes visible.
This is why trials can become an opportunity for spiritual growth.
A believer should ask:
“What is Allah teaching me through this situation?”
Instead of immediately reacting with anger, hatred, or revenge, he should pause, think, pray, and choose the response that is most pleasing to Allah.
Fitnah and Misguidance
The Qur’an also discusses situations in which people are tested through matters that can lead them away from the truth.
This is why knowledge is extremely important.
A person who does not have sufficient knowledge may hear an attractive argument and immediately accept it.
Another person may see an emotional social-media video and believe everything that is said.
A third person may hear a religious claim from someone without checking whether it has any authentic basis.
The solution is not merely emotion.
The solution is:
Knowledge + Verification + Wisdom + Consultation with Qualified Scholars
The Fitnah of False Information
Although modern social media did not exist in the time of the Prophet ﷺ, the Qur’anic principle concerning information is directly relevant to our modern circumstances.
Allah says:
“If an evildoer brings you any news, verify it.”
(Qur’an 49:6)
This principle should become part of every Muslim’s daily life.
Before forwarding a message, ask:
Is it authentic?
Who is the source?
Has it been verified?
Could someone be harmed by it?
Will forwarding it create benefit or confusion?
If we cannot answer these questions, we should not rush to forward the information.
The Fitnah of the Tongue
The tongue is small, but its consequences can be enormous.
One sentence can:
break a friendship,
destroy a marriage,
create conflict between relatives,
damage someone’s reputation,
create suspicion,
or turn a peaceful gathering into an argument.
The Prophet ﷺ repeatedly warned Muslims about the dangers of speech.
Therefore, before speaking about another person, we should ask:
Is what I am saying true?
Then:
Is it necessary to say it?
And finally:
Will saying it produce benefit or harm?
These three questions can prevent many problems.
Fitnah Through Backbiting and Tale-Bearing
Backbiting and tale-bearing are particularly dangerous because they often operate behind people’s backs.
A person may say:
“I am only telling you what I heard.”
But the important question is:
Why are you telling me?
If the purpose is to create hatred between two people, the matter becomes extremely serious.
Islam therefore teaches believers to protect one another’s honor and dignity.
A society in which people constantly carry statements from one person to another cannot maintain trust for long.
Fitnah Within Families
Fitnah does not always begin in politics or public life.
Sometimes it begins inside the home.
For example:
A relative makes a careless statement.
Someone interprets it negatively.
Another person repeats it.
A third person adds his own interpretation.
Soon, brothers stop speaking to one another, sisters become angry, parents become distressed, and family relationships begin to break down.
This is why family members should learn the principles of:
patience, clarification, forgiveness, consultation, and reconciliation.
Before believing something negative about a relative, speak to that person directly and respectfully whenever appropriate.
Fitnah in the Age of Social Media
The modern world has created a new environment in which fitnah can spread at extraordinary speed.
A person may share:
an edited video,
an old photograph presented as a new event,
an incomplete quotation,
an unverified religious statement,
a false accusation,
or an emotional message.
Thousands of people may then see it.
The original sender may forget about it, but the consequences can continue for a long time.
Therefore:
Think before you click “Share.
A Muslim should treat the Share button as a responsibility, not merely as a convenience.
When Does a Disagreement Become Fitnah?
Disagreement itself is not necessarily fitnah.
People naturally have different opinions.
The problem begins when disagreement produces:
hatred,
insults,
false accusations,
humiliation,
personal attacks,
deliberate misinformation,
or attempts to turn people against one another.
A mature Muslim learns to say:
“We disagree on this matter, but we can still respect one another.”
This attitude protects society from unnecessary conflict.
- The Qur’anic Path: Verification and Justice
Two principles are particularly important when dealing with potential fitnah:
Verification
Do not believe everything you hear.
Justice
Do not judge someone unfairly.
Allah commands:
“Be steadfast in justice, as witnesses for Allah, even if it is against yourselves or your parents and relatives.”
(Qur’an 4:135)
This is a powerful standard.
Justice means that our judgment should not change simply because we like or dislike someone.
What Should We Do When We Discover That We Were Wrong?
Sometimes we forward something that later turns out to be false.
What should we do?
We should not hide our mistake.
We should:
- Stop spreading it.
- Inform those to whom we sent it that the information was incorrect.
- Correct the misunderstanding.
- Apologize where necessary.
- Ask Allah for forgiveness.
- Learn from the mistake.
7.A person’s greatness is not measured by never making a mistake.
It is also measured by how honestly he corrects his mistakes.
The Muslim’s Responsibility
Every Muslim has a role in protecting society from fitnah.
We should become:
a source of truth, not rumor;
a source of reconciliation, not hatred;
a source of knowledge, not confusion;
a source of mercy, not humiliation;
a source of reform, not corruption.
This is the spirit of Islamic social responsibility.
Conclusion
The Qur’anic concept of fitnah is broad and cannot be reduced to a single meaning.
Sometimes it refers to a test.
Sometimes to persecution.
Sometimes to temptation or circumstances that challenge faith.
And in social contexts, situations involving division, misinformation, hostility, and disorder can become serious forms of fitnah.
The important lesson for us is that we must not become instruments through which harm spreads.
Before speaking, think.
Before believing, verify.
Before forwarding, check.
Before judging, be just.
Before fighting, seek reconciliation.
And whenever possible, choose the path of reform and goodness.
“The believers are but brothers, so make peace between your brothers.”
(Qur’an 49:10)
This is the spirit with which we should approach the subject of fitnah: not to create more division, but to understand the problem and become part of the solution.
A simple visual flowchart showing Fitnah → Suspicion → Rumor → Conflict → Fasad → Reform, which could be useful in the article.
(STRAIGHT TALK COMMUNICATIONS EXCLUSIVE)
