Safar 3, 1448 (July 17, 2026)
Assalaamun Alaykum Warahmatullah Taallah Wabarakatuhu
Islam and the Danger of Spreading False Information
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful
All praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. We praise Him, we seek His help, and we seek His forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evil within ourselves and from the consequences of our bad deeds.
Whomsoever Allah guides, none can misguide, and whomsoever He leaves astray, none can guide. Peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad, upon his family, his companions, and all those who follow his path until the Day of Judgment.
Dear brothers and sisters in Islam,
One of the greatest blessings Allah has given humanity is the blessing of the tongue and communication. With words, hearts are healed. With words, knowledge is spread. With words, nations are guided. But with the same tongue, societies can also be destroyed. A single false statement can create confusion, destroy reputations, divide communities, and mislead millions.
Today, we live in a world where information travels faster than wisdom. A message written in one corner of the earth reaches another corner within seconds. Social media has become both a blessing and a trial.
Unfortunately, many people now forward messages without verifying their authenticity.
Recently, many Muslims received messages claiming that an American scientist named Edward Miggle from an “American University of Helmond” discovered a scientific miracle concerning the Maghrib prayer. The message claimed that after sunset, special rays remain on earth for fifteen minutes, and when a Muslim places his forehead on the ground during Maghrib prayer, those rays destroy cancer cells in the brain.
Years before that, another story spread across the world claiming that astronaut Sunita Williams accepted Islam after allegedly seeing mysterious stars over Makkah and Madinah while in space. Later, she denied the story completely.
My dear brothers and sisters,
Whether these reports were created intentionally or spread carelessly, they teach us an important Islamic lesson: a Muslim must never spread information without verification.
Allah SWT says in the Noble Qur’an:
“O you who believe! If a sinful person comes to you with news, verify it, lest you harm people in ignorance and afterward become regretful for what you have done.”
(Surah al-Hujurat 49:6)
This verse alone should make every Muslim pause before pressing the “forward” button.
Islam is not a religion built upon rumors, exaggerations, and fabricated miracles. Islam is a religion of truth. Allah does not need lies to defend His religion. The Qur’an conquered hearts with honesty, wisdom, justice, and evidence.
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) warned us strongly when he said:
“It is enough falsehood for a person to speak of everything he hears.”
(Sahih Muslim)
Reflect upon this Hadith carefully. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not say a person becomes a liar only when he invents stories. Rather, simply repeating everything one hears without verification is enough to make a person sinful.
Today, many people forward messages emotionally. Once they see words like “scientific miracle,” “NASA discovered,” or “scientists confirmed Islam,” they immediately become excited and share the message everywhere without asking questions.
But a believer is intelligent and responsible.
A Muslim asks:
Is this information authentic?
Is the source trustworthy?
Does this institution even exist?
Did the scientist truly say this?
Can this claim be verified?
This is part of Islamic character.
Dear Muslims,
One of the dangers of spreading false religious stories is that people begin to doubt genuine truths. When fabricated stories are exposed, some people start mocking religion itself. They begin to think Muslims rely on fake stories rather than authentic evidence.
Falsehood damages the credibility of Islam and the trustworthiness of Muslims.
Another danger is that innocent people become victims.
Imagine how uncomfortable a person may feel when the whole world falsely announces that he accepted another religion. In the case of Sunita Williams, millions celebrated a conversion that never happened. This can embarrass individuals and damage relationships between communities.
My brothers and sisters,
The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was known as Al-Amin — the truthful and trustworthy one — even before revelation came to him. Truthfulness was the foundation of his character.
Allah says:
“And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight, and the heart — all of those will be questioned.”
(Surah al-Isra 17:36)
Every message we type, every rumor we spread, every falsehood we share will be questioned by Allah on the Day of Judgment.
Some people think, “But I shared it for a good cause.” Yet Islam teaches us that good intentions do not make falsehood permissible.
A lie does not become halal because it sounds religious.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) gave a terrifying warning:
“Whoever deliberately lies about me, let him prepare his seat in the Hellfire.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)
If lying in religious matters is so dangerous, then how careful should we be before spreading stories connected to Islam?
Dear believers,
Islam encourages science, reflection, and knowledge. The Qur’an repeatedly invites mankind to observe creation and reflect deeply. There are indeed many authentic signs of Allah in the universe.
But Muslims must separate real knowledge from emotional sensationalism.
Our faith does not depend on viral WhatsApp messages. Islam existed before Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and X. The truth of Islam stands firmly upon revelation, not fabricated internet stories.
Young people especially must fear Allah regarding social media.
Today, some people invent dreams, miracles, and stories just to gain likes, followers, and attention. But popularity built upon falsehood becomes a burden on the Day of Judgment.
A true Muslim should become a source of peace, truth, and wisdom online and offline.
Before sharing anything, ask yourself:
Will this please Allah?
Is it true?
Can I defend this information before Allah on the Day of Judgment?
If the answer is uncertain, then silence is safer.
Dear brothers and sisters,
We must also avoid mocking those who unknowingly shared false information. Many people forward such messages with sincere intentions. Instead of humiliating them, educate them gently. If you discover that something you shared was false, delete it, correct it if possible, and seek forgiveness from Allah.
The best among people are not those who never make mistakes, but those who return to the truth when they discover it.
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May Allah make us among the truthful.
May Allah purify our tongues from lies, our hearts from deception, and our hands from spreading falsehood.
May Allah make us followers of truth, lovers of honesty, and protectors of trust.
May Allah bless our speech, our actions, and our intentions.
Indeed, Allah commands justice, excellence, and righteousness, and He forbids immorality, wrongdoing, and oppression.
Remember Allah, and He will remember you.
Thank Him for His blessings, and He will increase you. And the remembrance of Allah is greater, and Allah knows what you do.
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Endeavour to recite Surah Al-Kahf (Chapter 18: Verses 1-110).
Juma’ah Mabrouq
