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Q&A · Character

What does Islam say about forwarding news and rumours before verifying them?

Allah commands: "O you who believe, if a disobedient person comes to you with news, verify it, lest you harm a people out of ignorance and become regretful over what you have done" (Quran 49:6), and He warns, "And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge; indeed the hearing, the sight and the heart — about all of these one will be questioned" (Quran 17:36). The Prophet (ﷺ) said that whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak good or remain silent (Sahih Muslim 47), and every word a person utters is recorded: "He utters no word except that with him is an observer ready" (Quran 50:18). This applies directly to forwarded messages, screenshots and clips: passing on an unverified claim about a Muslim can amount to slander (buhtān), and the one who spreads it carries a share of the sin even though he did not originate it — the Qur'an rebuked those who circulated the slander against ʿĀʾishah (may Allah be pleased with her) merely by repeating it with their tongues. The safe path is to verify from the source, and if it cannot be verified, to delete it rather than share it.

Evidence — the daleel
Quran 49:6Quran 17:36Quran 50:18Sahih Muslim 47 Ṣaḥīḥ
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Informational, not a personal fatwa. Consult a qualified scholar for rulings on your situation.

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