Etiquettes Upon Which A True Muslim Society Is Built (ayat 6 - 5)
Channel: Doha Islamic Events
Date: 2018-10-26

A model muslim society or community or family should be built upon the instructions and guidance provided in this Surah.  In it are many etiquettes that an Islamic society should be built upon.

In this ayat, the believer is given a command: if a fasikh comes to you with news then verify the authenticity of that news. 

You need to know what a fasikh is, or who a fasikh is.  A fasikh is a person who has strayed from aspects of the religion, someone who leaves off of an obligation  – someone who doesn’t pray, for example, or someone who engages in major sin – or somebody that goes away or strays from normal accepted social and cultural norms.  Someone who goes against what is culturally expected and accepted. Manner of dress, and hair styles are included in this. 

If you do not verify the news of a fasikh then you will harm people out of ignorance. People have been severely harmed physically, emotionally, psychologically, financially, reputationally by false news. Even if a person is proven innocent later the damage has been done and the damage to their reputation lingers. The taint of the accusation lingers but the correction often gets ignored. 

Avoid vigilante justice. Vigilante justice can cause innocent people to get killed through accusation only. Do not engage in vigilante justice. Do not attempt to administer justice on the basis of statements made by fasikh without verifying their statements.

This is especially true of social media where people rarely pause to verify news.  Do not believe what you read in social media. Verify news before acting upon it.  

Do not believe tale bearers or mischief makers. Do not be among them.  Allah does not like those who sew discord or mischief. People who spread tale to create discord will never enter Jannah. 

Some people will say that Takwah is in the heart. However, what is in the heart will be exhibited in what is in the limbs, in your manner and behaviour. 

This does not extend to languages or accents. Having an accent, or speaking a language other than Arabic does not make a person a fasikh. 

If a person who has imaan brings news then we accept it as long as they are not accusing somebody else. For example, accusations of zina or theft must be supported by witnesses. 

If a person prays in congregation and does not exhibit the signs of a hypocrite then they should be accepted as a person who has imaan. 
 
People will not take hadith from a fasikh.  People should not accept fatwā based on heresay. Instead, people should verify.  Find out the context that the question was posed in.  Some people ask vague decontextualized questions of a Sheikh in order to bias the answer to the one that they want.  

Social norms are part of the shariah.  Obey the messenger of Allah, and those in authority amongst you.