Spreading Rumours is
a Great Sin

In Islam, repeating evil things without proper investigation is a great sin. On hearing negative things immediately ask for proof. Without proof the news should be disregarded.

Chapter 24 of the Quran gives some special social guidance. The background was that in Madinah there were some irresponsible Muslims who heard something absurd about the Prophet’s wife Ayesha and immediately began to spread rumours about it. This act has been defined in the Quran as ‘spreading evil’. There is another piece of necessary guidance given in the Quran against this background: “When you heard it, why did you not say, ‘It is not right for us to speak of this. God forbid! This is a monstrous slander.’ God warns you never to repeat the like of it again, if you are true believers.” (24:16-17)

This verse relates originally to false slander about Ayesha. But the Quran, being an eternal book, this verse has a general and broader sense and that is that everyone should scrupulously refrain from such ill-advised rumour mongering as which took place in early phase of Islam in Madinan society.

In social life it often happens that something takes place which is quite innocent, but it has a negative meaning ascribed to it by some who are either foolish or wicked and then this wrong impression is spread everywhere.

According to the Islam this course of action is the worst of transgression. The right thing to do is that when someone hears negative things he should immediately ask for proof of them. If proof is not forthcoming, they should be disregarded. People’s minds should be so well-instructed that they should never accept anything without proof.

In Islam repeating evil things without proper investigation is a great sin.