.
Showing posts with label Chapter 4 Surah An Nisa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chapter 4 Surah An Nisa. Show all posts

Saturday 20 February 2021

Beware of Rumour Mongers


Spreading of false news and rumours has always been an important tool in the hands of miscreants and rumour mongers to create unrest in a society or country in difficult times. Recently the onset of the 5th generation warfare has further institutionalize the rumor mongering with a view to create dissention among people of the target countries and demoralizing the people with a view to lower their morale and thus winning the war even before the unleashing of the military means.

Such rumours produce very dangerous results even in general circumstance even in the olden days. In order to forewarn the Muslims when they were just a few and were still struggling to establish a secure foothold, the 83rd verse of Surah 4. an Nisa was revealed to warn the believers of the rumour mongers and advising them to get an news investigated by those competent to investigate it lest the evil designs start to effect the hearts and minds of newly converted Muslims. 

Today, the following commandment of Allah is equally applicable when the use of social media and tipping of the journalists extensively by enemy forces is gaining momentum. Even politicians are using the social media and services of bribed journalists to fail governments and systems.

وَاِذَا جَآءَهُمۡ اَمۡرٌ مِّنَ الۡاَمۡنِ اَوِ الۡخَـوۡفِ اَذَاعُوۡا بِهٖ​ ۚ وَلَوۡ رَدُّوۡهُ اِلَى الرَّسُوۡلِ وَاِلٰٓى اُولِى الۡاَمۡرِ مِنۡهُمۡ لَعَلِمَهُ الَّذِيۡنَ يَسۡتَنۡۢبِطُوۡنَهٗ مِنۡهُمۡ​ؕ وَلَوۡلَا فَضۡلُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَرَحۡمَتُهٗ لَاتَّبَعۡتُمُ الشَّيۡطٰنَ اِلَّا قَلِيۡلًا
(4:83) Whenever they come upon any news bearing upon either security or causing consternation they go about spreading it, whereas if they were to convey it to either the Messenger or to those from among them who are entrusted with authority, it would come to the knowledge of those who are competent to investigate it. But for Allah's bounty and mercy upon you, (weak as you were) all but a few of you would surely have followed Satan.

This verse was revealed in a period of turbulence and upheaval when rumour was rife. Occasionally, baseless and exaggerated reports circulated and seized the whole of Madina and its outlying areas with alarm and consternation. At other times some cunning enemy tried to conceal the dangers threatening the Muslims by spreading soothing reports. A specially keen interest in rumours was taken by those who simply relished anything out of the ordinary, and who did not consider this life-and-death struggle between Islam and Ignorance to be a matter of crucial importance, and who were not aware of the far-reaching consequences of rumour-mongering. As soon as they heard something, they ran about spreading it everywhere. This rebuke is addressed to such people. They are warned against spreading rumours and are directed to convey every report they receive to responsible quarters.

Yusuf Ali Explanation
In times of war or public panic, thoughtless repetition of gossip is rightly restrained by all effective States. If false, such news may cause needless alarm: if true, it may frighten the timid and cause some misgiving even to the bravest, because the counterpart of it-the preparations made to meet the danger-is not known. Thoughtless news, true or false, may also encourage the enemy. The proper course is quietly to hand all news direct to those who are in a position to investigate it. They can then sift it and take suitable measures to checkmate the enemy. Not to do so, but to deal with news either thoughtlessly or maliciously is to fall directly into the snares of evil.

Muhammad Asad Explanation:
I.e., the half-hearted followers of Islam spoken of in the preceding verses (Zamakhshari). The above reference to peace or war - lit., "security or danger (khawf)" - is connected, firstly with the basic principles of statecraft mentioned in verse {59} of this surah and, secondly, with the discourse on fighting in God's cause beginning with verse {71}.
(4:59) Believers! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger, and those from among you who are invested with authority; and then if you were to dispute among yourselves about anything refer it to Allah and the Messenger if you indeed believe in Allah and the Last Day; that is better and more commendable in the end.
"Those from among them who elicit [the truth]", i.e., the special organs of the state entrusted with gathering and evaluating political and military intelligence.
Verse By Verse Quran Study Circle Explanation: Spreading Rumors without Verification
According to ibn Abbas, Dahhak, and Abu Mu’adh radhiAllahu anhum, the ayah was revealed about the hypocrites; and according to Hasan and many others, this ayah was revealed about weak Muslims. [Rul al-Ma’ani]

After having reported events relating to this ayah, the famous commentator ibn Katheer has stressed on the importance of referring to the hadeeth of Umar ibn al-Khattab radhiAllahu anhu while considering the background in which this ayah was revealed.
According to this, when Umar heard that the Prophet sallAllahu aalyhi wa sallam has divorced his wives, he left his house heading for the Masjid. While still at its door steps, he heard that people inside there were also talking about the matter. Seeing this, he said that this was something which must first be investigated. So, he went to the Prophet sallAllahu aalyhi wa sallam and asked him if he had divorced his wives. He said, “No.” Umar says, “After having found out the truth of the matter, I returned to the Masjid and standing on the door, I made an announcement that the Prophet sallAllahu aalyhi wa sallam has not divorced his wives. Whatever you are saying is wrong.”
Thereupon, the ayah was revealed: “And when there comes to them a matter of security or fear, they spread it….”

This ayah tells us that hearsay should not be repeated without prior investigation into its credibility. Thus, in a hadeeth, the Prophet sallAllahu aalyhi wa sallam said, “For a man to be a liar, it is enough that he repeats everything he hears without first verifying its truth.” In another hadeeth, he said, “Whoever relates something he thinks is a lie, then, he too is one of the two liars.”  
“….. But if they had referred it to the Messenger and to those having authority among them, surely those who can draw correct conclusion from it would have know about it….”
Literally, the latter word, ‘istinbat’ here refers to the act of drawing out water from the depth of a well. When a well is dug, the water that oozes out first is called mustambat water. But, the usage in this context means to get to the bottom of something and find out the truth of the matter. [Qurtubi]

As for the correct signification of the expression: أُوْلِى الاٌّمْرِ  meaning “those in authority”, positions taken by scholars vary. Hasan, Qatadah and ibn Abi Laila say that this refers to the Muslim scholars and jurists. Al-Suddi says that it means rulers and officials. After reporting both these statements, Abu Bakr al-Jassas takes a general view and maintains that the expression means both. However, some scholars doubt the possibility that this phrase could refer to Muslim jurists because أُوْلِى الاٌّمْرِ in its literal sense, means people whose orders are carried out administratively.
“…And if not for the Bounty of Allah upon you and His Mercy, surely you would have followed Shaytan except for a few.”
May Allah help us understand Qur'ān and help us to act upon the commandments of Allah contained therein. Aameen.

For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'anYou may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
Photo | Reference: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully.

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs of the Qur'ān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that:
  • The plain translation has been taken from the Qur'ān officially published by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. [1]
  • The exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi. [2]  
In order to augment and add more explanation as already provided by [2], additional input has been interjected from following sources: 
  • Towards Understanding the Quran
  • Tafsir Ibn Khatir
  • Muhammad Asad Translation
  • Al-Quran, Yusuf Ali Translation
  • Javed Ahmad Ghamidi / Al Mawrid
  • Verse by Verse Qur'an Study Circle
In addition the references of  other sources which have been explored have also been given above. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on Social Media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Twitter Delicious Facebook Digg Stumbleupon Favorites More