Before you share, verify.

Before you share that next news story before you post a status about the latest gossip before you even like someone’s post alleging a major incident. You need to do this one important thing, the step that most of us, unfortunately, seem to forget. Be sure to Verify your information, Check your sources, make sure what you’re sharing is actually true before you help spread such information. In this age of social media, and with the increase of “fake news” and celebrity gossip, this advice has never been more important. We must always learn to fact-check our news articles and sources, even if we feel there is a benefit in such posts, even if it’s something that is Islamic or virtuous, first make sure it’s true. Why is it in our quest to be the first to report the latest incident or to get the most likes or shares, we, unfortunately, forget that we could be responsible for sharing lies and in turn be gaining a whole lot of sins at the very same time.

Allah clearly warns us against such practices in the Quran, when He states: O you who have believed, if there comes to you a disobedient one with information, with news,  investigate, verify the news, so that you do not harm people unknowingly, and become, over what you have done, regretful. Quran 49:6 The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ also warned us: عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَفَى بِالْمَرْءِ كَذِبًا أَنْ يُحَدِّثَ بِكُلِّ مَا سَمِعَ “It is enough of a lie for someone to narrate all that he hears”. Sahih Muslim

The great companion, Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, also said, that a word in the time of Fitnah (tribulation) is as destructive as a sword. And lastly, if you do find yourself guilty of sharing false information, make sure to not only delete what you’ve posted but even try your best to rectify what you’ve done by letting people know of the error. The hallmark of a Muslim should be his honesty and trustworthiness, don’t ever let the madness of the world we live in today jeopardise that for you.