Not a day goes by without Islam and Muslims being at the centre of discussions and debates in the community. In every newspaper, on every day, you will almost certainly find an article or two concerning Muslims. Unfortunately, however, such articles or comments have led to Muslims accusing or doubting one another, despite being fully aware that the media are known, to Muslims and non-Muslims, to report lies and fabricate stories.
There is a famous principle in Islam, known to all learned scholars and students of Shariah, which states: ‘Verification is part of the Deen (religion).’ Verifying information is, hence, extremely important in Islam; in fact, it is an obligation.
Allah (SWT) says in the Qur’an, in al-Hujurat, 49:6:
“Oh you who believe! If a fasiq (sinner, liar or evil person) comes to you with any news, verify it, lest you should harm people in ignorance, and afterwards you become regretful for what you have done.”
Allah (SWT) commands all those who believe (Muslims) to verify any news or information they hear from someone who is a fasiq (sinner). If this is the case for a corrupt Muslim fasiq, for greater reason we should verify any news we hear from a Kafir. In fact, it is known in Islam by necessity that it is a sin to doubt a trustworthy, upright Muslim, but, on the contrary, an obligation to doubt the Kuffar (disbelievers), especially journalists.
Therefore, if you hear any news from the Kuffar (or so-called Muslims who aspire to be like them) it is an obligation (wajib) upon you to verify it with the person in question – not anyone else – no matter how ‘plausible’ the report may seem.