"When
there comes to them some matter touching (public) safety or fear, they
make it known (among the people), if only they had referred it to the
Messenger or to those charged with authority among them, the proper
investigators would have understood it from them (directly). Had it not
been for the Grace and Mercy of Allah upon you, you would have followed
Shaitaan, save a few of you." [4:83]
Imaam Ibn Katheer
said: ”In this Ayah (there) is a rebuke against the one who rushes
towards affairs and then gives news about it before verifying it –
circulates and spreads it – and perhaps there is no credibility in it."
Therefore,
this Ayah obligates verification and clarification when (news) is
heard, as Ibn katheer mentioned. It rebukes the one who hastens in
transmitting and spreading (news) before verifying its credibility.
Ibn Katheer then mentioned a number of narrations about being careful about hastiness and lack of verifying news – and from them is a narration by Abu Hurairah that the Prophet (saws) said: "It is enough for a man to prove himself a liar when he goes on narrating whatever he hears."
And
Mugheerah bin Shubah said, "The Messenger of Allah (saws) forbade Qeel
Wal Qaal (i.e. so and so said)." Ibn Katheer said, "It is the one who
narrates a great deal of that which the people say without verification,
contemplation and clarification."
Then Ibn Katheer stated: The hadith of Umar collected by Bukhari and Muslim should be mentioned here; when Umar
was told that the Messenger of Allah (saws) divorced his wives, he left
his house and entered the mosque, where he found the people talking
about it; so he could not endure waiting and ask for the permission of
the Prophet (saws) to speak to him; then Umar asked the Prophet (saws),
saying, "Have you divorced your women?" The Prophet (saws) said, ‘No.’
So Umar said, I said ‘Allahu Akbar……’
And in the narration collected by Imaam Muslim,
Umar said, I asked, ‘Have you divorced them?’ The Prophet (saws) said,
‘No.’ So I stood by the door of the mosque and shouted with a loud
voice, saying, ‘The Messenger of Allah did not divorce his wives.’ Then
the Ayah (i.e. Ayah 83, Surah Nisaa) was revealed. Umar said, ‘I
investigated this affair properly’ (i.e. whether the Prophet (saws) did
divorce his wives).
Imaam
As-Sadi said about this Ayah [i.e. An-Nisaa 83]: This is a moral
conduct (commanded by Allah) to His slaves – that they do not do this
(i.e. hasten to spread news). And it is obligated on them that when
there comes to them an affair from the important affairs – matters
related to a universal benefit for the people, public safety and those
affairs on which depends the sorrow or happiness of the believers, or an
affair of public fear which may bring about calamity upon them –
that they should verify the (news of that affair) and not to be hasty
in spreading it; rather they should refer it back to the Messenger
(saws) and to those in authority –
the people of sound opinions, the people of knowledge; those who can
give sound advice, the people of intelligence and those who approach
affairs with calmness, and they are those who know what is of overriding
benefit and that which is in opposition to it (i.e. the scholars). So,
if they see that disseminating such news will bring about an overriding
benefit for the Muslims, strengthen them, bring about happiness and make
them vigilant over their enemies, then they would disseminate such
news; but if they see that there is no overriding benefit in
disseminating such news, or that there is benefit in it, but there is
more harm in doing so; then they would not circulate such news. That is
why Allah stated: "If only they had referred it to the Messenger
or to those charged with authority among them, the proper investigators
would have understood it from them (directly)" – Meaning: They
would have derived from it (the proper cause of action) through
contemplation and through their correct opinions and rightly guided
sciences.
"Had it not been for the Grace and Mercy of Allah upon you"
– Meaning: by way granting you the ability to act upon righteousness,
instructed you with moral conducts and taught you that which you never
knew, then "you would have followed Shaitaan, save a few of you."
Allah said: "O
you who believe! If a rebellious evil person comes to you with a news,
verify it, lest you harm people in ignorance, and afterwards you become
regretful to what you have done." [49:6]
Imaam As-Sadi
said: This is also one of the moral etiquettes that are obligated on the
people of (sound) understanding to adorn themselves with and put into
practice. And that is if a rebellious sinful person informs them of some
news, they should verify his news and not to merely accept it, because
indeed there is great danger (in doing so) and (possibility) of falling
into sin. That is because if his news is placed at the same level with
the news given by truthful reliable person, one might pass a judgement
based on that news and what it necessitates, so loss of life and wealth
occurs without right due to that news and thus brings about regret;
rather, what is obligated with regards to the news given by a rebellious
sinful person is that it is verified and clarified. So, if the proofs
and clear indications demonstrates his truthfulness, then it (i.e. the
news) is acted upon and declared to be true; but if they demonstrate
that he is lying, then it is declared to be lies and not acted upon.
Therefore, in this (Ayah) there is a proof that news (given) by a
truthful person is accepted, the news (given) by a liar is rejected and
the news (given) by a rebellious sinful person is suspended as we have
stated. [Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fi Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan]
Suhail
Ibn Abi Saalih narrated from his father, who narrated from Abu Hurairah
that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: Verily Allah loves three
things for you and He hates three things for you. He loves that you
worship Him alone and that you do not join anyone else in your worship
of him and that you do not worship other than him; He loves that you
hold tight altogether to the rope of Allah and that you do not be
divided; and that you advice the one placed in charge over your affairs.
And Allah hates for you Qeel Wa Qaal (i.e. he said and she said –
spreading rumours); He hates for you the wasting of wealth and He hates
for you excessive questioning (i.e. questioning devoid of benefit). [Sahih Muslim]
The Messenger of Allah (saws) said, “Haste is from shaytaan.” [At-Tirmidhi - Silsilah As-Saheehah 1795]
[a] There should be no haste without a good reason.
[b] When one hastens to do something, he should be calm and composed lest he ends up not acquiring what he seeks to accomplish.
[c]
Don’t hasten when pursuing affairs – either when passing judgements on
things or statements – before contemplating, i.e. contemplation based on
knowledge and not assumptions, guessing etc, because it maybe that you
are the one who is mistaken.
[d] A person should not hasten to
pass judgements, especially judgements related to the Shari’ah –
declaring something lawful or unlawful before contemplating or before
passing judgements against the people and thus oppress them – this is
wrong. Therefore, it is obligatory to take due care when pursuing
affairs. Gentleness is not found in anything except that it beautifies
it; so, do not hasten in pursuit of something, i.e. without a need and
without contemplating.
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