Rabi al-Awwal 15, 1448 (August 28, 2026)
Assalaamun Alaykum Warahmatullah Taallah Wabarakatuhu
Before You Judge: The Islam Demand Verification of Both Sides to a Dispute
Alhamdulillahi Rabbil ‘Alamin. All praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. We praise Him, seek His guidance and forgiveness, and place our trust in Him. We bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and we bear witness that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is His servant and Messenger.
Dear brothers and sisters in Islam,
One of the greatest tests of our character is not how we behave when everything is peaceful, but how we behave when people disagree.
When two people quarrel, when two families fall out, when two communities accuse one another, when two institutions disagree, or when two public figures exchange allegations, there is often a temptation to choose a side immediately.
Someone tells us his story, and before the other person has spoken, we have already reached a verdict.
We hear an accusation, and we repeat it.
We receive a message on social media, and because it agrees with what we already believe, we forward it without asking whether it is true.
Islam teaches us something profoundly different:
Do not allow your emotions to make your judgment before the truth has had an opportunity to speak.
Allah says in the Qur’an:
“O you who believe! If a wicked person comes to you with news, verify it, lest you harm people out of ignorance and then become regretful for what you have done.”
(Qur’an 49:6)
This verse is not merely about checking information. It is about protecting human dignity, justice and social harmony.
The Danger of Hearing Only One Side
Beloved brothers and sisters, every dispute has a story.
And very often, the first story we hear becomes the story we believe.
But hearing first does not mean hearing the truth.
A person who feels injured will naturally describe the matter from his own perspective. A person who is angry may emphasize what the other party did while minimizing his own contribution. A person who is afraid may remember certain events differently. And sometimes, unfortunately, people deliberately conceal important facts.
That is why Islam does not teach us to judge disputes merely on the basis of who speaks first, who speaks louder, who is more popular, or who has more followers.
Allah commands justice:
“O you who believe! Stand firmly for justice, as witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves, your parents, or your relatives.”
(Qur’an 4:135)
Notice the seriousness of this command.
Justice is not supposed to depend on friendship.
Justice is not supposed to depend on family.
Justice is not supposed to depend on tribe.
Justice is not supposed to depend on political affiliation.
And justice certainly should not depend on which person we personally like.
The Prophet and Fair Hearing
The life of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) provides powerful lessons about fairness and verification.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) taught his Companions that a judge should not decide between two people merely after hearing one party. Both sides must have the opportunity to present their evidence and explanation.
This principle is enormously important for our lives today.
If somebody tells you, “This person wronged me,” do not immediately respond, “That person is terrible.”
Instead, ask: What happened? What evidence is there? Has the other person been heard?
This does not mean that we should become suspicious of everybody.
It means that we should become responsible with the truth.
Social Media and the Modern Fitnah
Today, this teaching is more relevant than ever.
A rumour can travel across Nigeria in minutes.
A short video can be removed from its original context.
A headline can create anger before anyone reads the full story.
A voice note can destroy someone’s reputation even when nobody knows who originally recorded it.
A photograph can be presented as evidence of something that happened years earlier—or somewhere completely different.
And sometimes we become part of the problem simply because we press “forward.”
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) warned against spreading everything one hears.
A Muslim must learn to say:
“I have heard this, but I have not verified it.”
There is great wisdom in those words.
Not every story deserves to be repeated.
Not every accusation deserves to be believed.
Not every argument requires us to choose a side.
And not every disagreement is our invitation to become a judge.
What if Both Sides are Wrong?
There is another important lesson.
Sometimes we assume that because there are two sides, one must automatically be completely right and the other completely wrong.
But human beings are more complicated than that.
In some disputes, both parties may have made mistakes.
One person may have started the conflict, while the other may have responded unjustly.
One may have spoken harshly, while the other may have retaliated excessively.
One may have misunderstood the situation, while the other failed to clarify it.
Islamic justice requires us to examine the matter carefully rather than turning every disagreement into a battle between “good people” and “bad people.”
Be Careful with Your Tongue
Dear believers, our tongues can become instruments of injustice.
Allah says:
“And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight and the heart—about all those will be questioned.”
(Qur’an 17:36)
Think about this verse.
Allah will ask us about what we heard.
Allah will ask us about what we saw.
Allah will ask us about what we allowed our hearts to believe.
Therefore, before saying, “He did it,” ask whether you actually know.
Before saying, “She is guilty,” ask whether you have evidence.
Before saying, “They are liars,” ask whether you have heard their explanation.
And before destroying someone’s reputation, remember that words cannot always be retrieved once they have been released.
Be a Bridge, Not a Matchstick
Islam does not want believers to become people who pour fuel on disputes.
Allah says:
“And if two groups of believers fight, then make peace between them.”
(Qur’an 49:9)
The following verse reminds believers that Muslims are brothers and instructs them to reconcile between their brothers.
This is a beautiful responsibility.
When people are fighting, do not become the person carrying insults from one side to the other.
Be the person carrying peace.
When one person tells you something negative about another, do not immediately become a messenger of the allegation.
Become a messenger of reconciliation.
Say:
“Let us hear the other side.”
Say:
“Let us verify what happened.”
Say:
“Let us resolve this without injustice.”
That is strength.
Our Responsibility Before Allah
Brothers and sisters, there will come a day when popularity will not save us.
Our friends will not stand beside us.
Our social-media followers will not defend us.
Our wealth will not protect us.
On that Day, what will matter is the truth.
If we condemned an innocent person because we believed one side without verification, we will answer for it.
If we spread an allegation that we never investigated, we will answer for it.
If our prejudice caused us to support injustice, we will answer for it.
Therefore, whenever we encounter a dispute, let us remember three principles:
First: Listen before judging.
Second: Verify before believing.
Third: Be just even when justice is against the person we love.
We should teach these principles to our children.
We should practice them in our homes, workplaces, mosques, communities and organizations.
We should practice them in politics.
We should practice them in religious discussions.
And above all, we should practice them online, where one careless message can reach thousands of people.
Conclusion
My dear brothers and sisters,
A believer is not defined by how quickly he chooses a side.
A believer is defined by how faithfully he seeks the truth.
Do not let friendship blind you.
Do not let hatred blind you.
Do not let tribal loyalty blind you.
Do not let religious or political affiliation blind you.
And do not let anger become your evidence.
When a dispute comes before you, slow down.
Listen.
Verify.
Investigate.
Then speak with justice.
______Take this👇______
On the Prophet’s Mawlid: 10 Lessons to Renew Our Emulation of Him
Rather than delve into the debate over the legitimacy of celebrating the birth of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, the best way to commemorate this occasion is by renewing our emulation of him, peace be upon him, by extracting lessons from his life and words. Among these lessons are:
The Asceticism of the Prophet ﷺ
Striving for Human Freedom
On the anniversary of the Prophet’s birth, peace be upon him, we draw from the guiding light he led towards true human freedom. This freedom’s ultimate aim is to elevate human dignity and free oneself from the base animalistic desires.
It is the freedom that ensures no person enslaves another, nor prevents anyone from attaining truth or limits wisdom by personal desires. Like the words of Pharaoh, who arrogantly declared, as Allah says in the Qur’an: “I do not show you except what I see, and I do not guide you except to the right path.”
A Universal Declaration of Human Rights in the Farewell Sermon
On the anniversary of the Prophet’s birth, peace be upon him, we remember his powerful and concise words—each of his words was a marvel of brevity and meaning. In his Farewell Sermon, he proclaimed our common human origin: “O people, your Lord is one, and your father is one. There is no superiority of an Arab over a non-Arab, nor a non-Arab over an Arab, nor a white over a black, nor a black over a white, except by piety. Verily, the most honorable of you in the sight of Allah is the most pious. Have I conveyed the message?” They said, “Yes, O Messenger of Allah.” He said, “Then let those present inform those who are absent.”
Essential Values for Dialogue and Manners
On the anniversary of the Prophet’s birth, peace be upon him, we are inspired by values that guide human action, organize communal life, and lead to sound decisions. From him, we learn the value of dialogue and truly listening to others. Through the revelation that descended upon him, peace be upon him, we learn how to engage even with those who disagree with us, building understanding through conversation and humility, even when it involves self-critique and addressing the other party with gentleness.
Arm Yourself with Renewed Hope: Matters Only Broaden When They Narrow
On the anniversary of the Prophet’s birth, peace be upon him, we are infused with the value of hope, a hope that can sometimes escape us in the face of life’s hardships and the onslaught of enemies and oppressors.
As in the hadith: “Among those before you, a man would be seized, a hole would be dug for him in the ground, and he would be placed in it. Then, a saw would be brought and placed on his head, and he would be split in two. This would not make him abandon his religion. And iron combs would be used to tear the flesh from his bones and nerves, but this would not turn him away from his faith. By Allah, this matter will certainly be completed, such that a rider will travel from Sana’a to Hadhramaut, fearing nothing but Allah and the wolf for his sheep. But you are hasty.”
Harmony Between Self-Duties and Social Obligations
On the anniversary of the Prophet’s birth, peace be upon him, we are reminded of the need for harmony and balance between personal duties and societal responsibilities, between individual goodness and communal benefit.
The Purpose of Benefiting Others
On the anniversary of the Prophet’s birth, peace be upon him, we are urged to break free from the prison of selfishness and elevate ourselves to serve both ourselves and others, becoming guides for all of humanity. As he said: “Whoever calls to guidance will have the same reward as those who follow him, without their rewards being diminished in the least. And whoever calls to misguidance will bear the burden of those who follow him, without their burdens being lessened in the least.”
And in spreading goodness: “If the Hour comes while one of you has a sapling in his hand, and he is able to plant it before the Hour comes, let him plant it.”
Honoring People’s Trusts
On the anniversary of the Prophet’s birth, peace be upon him, we learn the value of honoring the trusts people place in us. In the hadith: “I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, will you not appoint me [to a position]?’ He placed his hand on my shoulder and said, ‘O Abu Dharr, you are weak, and it is a trust. It will be a cause of disgrace and regret on the Day of Judgment, except for those who take it rightly and fulfill their duties regarding it.’” And he renounced those who betray this trust: “Whoever cheats us is not one of us.”
Revering the Companions and the Righteous Generations
On the anniversary of the Prophet’s birth, peace be upon him, we remember his noble Companions, the Followers, and those who follow them with righteousness until the Day of Judgment. We renew our reverence for them: “The best of generations is my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them.”
Ascending in Following Him Until Certainty Reaches Us
Because ascending the path of righteousness requires constant emulation of the Prophet, peace be upon him, the remembrance of his birth should be renewed at all times. Through it, our worship is corrected, our nearness to Allah is affirmed, and our bond with Him is strengthened. The path to Allah becomes one of striving, effort, and adherence to the authentic Sunnah, not one of laziness or wishful thinking without action: “Say, if you love Allah, follow me, and Allah will love you and forgive your sins. And Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.”
Do Not Undervalue Any Act of Good
On the anniversary of the Prophet’s birth, peace be upon him, we learn never to underestimate any act of goodness. Even writing these few lines in his memory is an act of good, and we ask Allah for sincerity and acceptance.
“O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Verily, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Verily, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious.”
– Sunna Files
________________
May Allah make us people of truth, fairness and reconciliation. May He protect our tongues from spreading rumours, our hearts from prejudice, and our judgments from injustice. May He reconcile those who are in conflict, restore broken relationships, expose falsehood without causing unnecessary harm, and guide us always to what is right.
Rabbana la tuzigh qulubana ba‘da idh hadaytana wa hab lana milladunka rahmah, innaka antal-Wahhab.
O Allah, do not let our hearts deviate after You have guided us, and grant us mercy from Yourself.
Ameen.
________________
Endeavour to recite Surah Al-Kahf (Chapter 18: Verses 1-110).
Juma’ah Mabrouq
