FRIDAY SERMON: Rumours, Lies, Backbiting and Tale-Bearing
“The Doors Through Which Fitnah Enters Society”
Mohammad Younis Bhat (Zahid)
Fitnah does not always begin with a major event. Very often, it begins with a small statement, an unverified report, a lie, backbiting, or tale-bearing.
The tongue may be a small part of the human body, but through it a person can bring about great reform or cause enormous damage.
One word can comfort a grieving person, while another can plant hatred in someone’s heart.
That is why Islam gives us clear guidance regarding the responsible use of our speech.
What Is a Rumor?
A rumor is information or a statement that is being circulated among people without its truth or accuracy being established.
The most dangerous thing about a rumor is that the person spreading it often does not consider the consequences.
For example, someone says:
“I heard that this person did something wrong.”
If another person repeats it without verification, and others continue spreading it, the statement may eventually be treated as established fact.
The journey of a Rumor:
Something heard → Believed without verification → Repeated → Added to → People react → Fitnah develops
Therefore, a responsible Muslim should never become part of spreading unverified information.
We Should Not Repeat Everything We Hear
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ warned that it is sufficient for a person to fall into falsehood when he narrates everything he hears.
This is a very important principle for us.
It is even more important today because a person can send a message to thousands of people within seconds.
Therefore:
Do not immediately pass on everything you hear.
First ask:
Is it true?
What is its original source?
Has it been verified?
Is it necessary to share?
Could it harm someone’s honor, life, or property?
A Lie Can Become the Foundation of Fitnah
A lie is not merely an incorrect statement. Sometimes one lie can affect an entire family, institution, or community.
For example, a false accusation may be made against someone.
People may accept it without investigation.
They may then repeat it to others.
Eventually, the reputation of an innocent person may be damaged.
Therefore, avoiding lies is not merely a matter of personal morality; it is also a way of protecting the rights and honor of others.
The Difference Between Lying and Exaggeration
Sometimes a person does not tell a complete lie, but exaggerates an event so much that the original reality becomes distorted.
For example, one person says:
“He spoke to me rather harshly.”
Another person says:
“He completely humiliated him!”
Then a third person says:
“He always insults people!”
In this way, a small incident becomes a major accusation.
Therefore, when reporting something, we must maintain honesty, accuracy, and fairness.
What Is Backbiting?
Allah says in the Qur’an:
“And do not backbite one another.”
— Qur’an 49:12
Backbiting means speaking about a person in his absence in a way that he would dislike if he knew about it.
An important point must be understood:
If the statement is false, it can become slander or false accusation. If the statement is true but is mentioned about a person in his absence in a manner he would dislike, it may be backbiting.
Therefore, it is not enough to say:
“But I am only telling the truth.”
The fact that something is true does not automatically make speaking about it permissible.
Why Is Backbiting Dangerous?
Backbiting may appear to be nothing more than conversation, but it can have serious consequences.
It can:
Damage someone’s reputation.
Create hatred.
Cause family disputes.
Destroy friendships.
Create mistrust.
Increase social tension.
Become a doorway to greater fitnah.
Therefore, we should be especially careful when discussing someone who is not present.
What Is Tale-Bearing?
Namimah, or tale-bearing, means carrying someone’s words to another person in a manner that can create conflict, hatred, or hostility between them.
For example:
Zaid says something about Arif.
A person goes to Arif and says:
“Do you know what Zaid said about you?”
The person may even add something to the statement or present it in a way that makes Arif extremely angry.
The result may be:
Two people become enemies even though there was previously no serious conflict between them.
This is one of the dangerous consequences of tale-bearing.
The Difference Between Backbiting and Tale-Bearing
Both are serious matters, but they are not exactly the same.
BACKBITING:
Speaking about a person in his absence in a manner that he would dislike.
TALE-BEARING:
Carrying statements from one person to another in a manner that can create disagreement, hatred, or conflict.
Sometimes both can occur in the same conversation.
A person may first backbite someone and then carry that person’s words to another individual, creating hostility between them.
“I Am Only Telling the Truth”
Sometimes a person says:
“I am only telling the truth.”
But we should ask ourselves:
Does every truth need to be told to everyone?
Whether something is true is one question.
Whether sharing it with others is beneficial or necessary is another question.
If spreading a particular piece of information will only create hatred, embarrassment, mistrust, or conflict, a Muslim should think carefully before speaking.
Backbiting and Tale-Bearing on Social Media
Today, backbiting and tale-bearing are not limited to face-to-face conversations.
They can also occur through social media in many forms:
Posting against another person.
Sharing someone’s private information.
Forwarding private-message screenshots.
Mocking someone in a video.
Spreading an unverified accusation.
Presenting only part of someone’s statement to create a false impression.
Encouraging people to attack one another in comments.
All these matters require great caution.
Remember:
Words written online are also our responsibility.
The screen of a mobile phone does not place us outside the knowledge and accountability of Allah.
How Many People Can One Rumor Affect?
Imagine that one person sends an unverified message to ten people.
Each of those ten people sends it to ten more people.
Within a few stages, the same unverified information may reach hundreds or thousands of people.
Therefore, in today’s world, even one person’s Forward can have a significant social impact.
We should regard our mobile phones not merely as communication devices, but also as a trust and responsibility.
Who Is a Person Who Stops Fitnah?
A person who stops fitnah is not someone who remains silent in every situation.
Rather, he is someone who communicates the truth wisely and to the appropriate people.
If reporting the truth is necessary to help a victim, that is a different matter.
If informing a responsible authority is necessary to resolve a serious problem, that is also a different situation.
The fundamental principle is:
The purpose should be reform, not entertainment.
The purpose should be protecting the truth, not humiliating someone.
Protecting the Tongue During Times of Fitnah
When disagreements are increasing in a community, protecting one’s tongue becomes even more important.
At such times:
Speak less, speak carefully, speak after verification, and speak with the intention of goodness.
The Prophet ﷺ taught that whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak good or remain silent.
If this principle were practiced in our homes, mosques, workplaces, marketplaces, and social media, many forms of fitnah could be greatly reduced.
Our Practical Commitment
Let us make a personal commitment:
I will not spread everything I hear.
I will not spread unverified information against anyone.
I will try to stay away from backbiting.
I will not create conflict by carrying tales between people.
I will protect my tongue and my writing on social media.
I will not turn every disagreement into hostility.
Wherever possible, I will work toward reconciliation and reform.
The major doors of fitnah are often opened by very small words.
A rumor,
a lie,
a piece of backbiting,
a tale,
an irresponsible forward,
or an accusation made without verification
all of these can contribute to a much greater conflict.
Therefore, we must decide whether our tongue and our mobile phone will become instruments for spreading fitnah or instruments for promoting reform.
(STRAIGHT TALK COMMUNICATIONS EXCLUSIVE)
