HUMAN beings have invented diverse ways of enjoying their brief sojourn in this world, ranging from physical games to intellectual pursuits and activities that do not strain the mind.

One of the oldest sources of entertainment is to engage in gossip and rumour-mongering.

There is little doubt about the satisfaction one gets when listening to or reading about juicy titbits of scandal related to celebrities, political figures or even about one’s colleagues, relatives or the people next door. If we analyse our daily routines, we might recognise the extent to which we delve in such activities.

Our television channels are full of ‘breaking news’ and stories presented in a sensational style, interspersed with innuendos about personal lives of people. Newspapers abound in headlines with tales of what people did and to whom. Many such narratives relate to women, recounted in a manner that highlights the personal attributes of the woman, rather than an act corroborated by evidence.

We are a people quick to lend our ears to falsehoods and rumours.

And of course, we have the social media that spreads jokes, scandals, rumours and satire rapidly, at the expense of people who are not present to defend themselves, regardless of whether the news has been authenticated or not. We are a people quick to lend our ears to falsehoods and use our tongues glibly to communicate these, as if they were truths that we knew about with certainty.

Perhaps we should pause and reflect on these verses of the Quran:

“O ye who believe! If a wicked person comes to you with any news, ascertain the truth, lest ye harm people unwittingly, and afterwards become full of repentance for what ye have done” (49:6).

When any vilifying statement about a third person is accepted without checking for its legitimacy, and passed on to others, the harm to individuals, families and society is immeasurable. Blind belief in hearsay and gossip has led to break-ups, fights and chaos, and fissures in relationships that may never be mended. True believers are warned to first validate the accuracy of what has been said before believing or taking any action at all.

In the case of a story that was spread by the hypocrites about Hazrat Ayesha travelling alone with Hazrat Safwan when she was left behind by her group while coming back to Madina, many Muslims believed the tale and passed it on between themselves. They were naïve and not yet strong enough in their ethical values. God revealed the followed verses then:

“Behold, ye received it on your tongues, and said out of your mouths things of which ye had no knowledge; and ye thought it to be a light matter, while it was most serious in the sight of Allah. And why did ye not, when ye heard it, say? — “It is not right of us to speak of this: Glory to Allah! This is a most serious slander!” Allah doth admonish you, that ye may never repeat such (conduct), if ye are (true) Believers” (24:15-17).

Not only this, we are also eager to tell others about who was talking against them. As if it was not enough to engage in and listen to gossip, we also adopt a self-righteous stance, a ‘holier-than-thou’ attitude, pretending that we are better than others and only have our friend’s best interests at heart.

It is common for us to talk about others in their absence, revelling in our ability to criticise, make fun of and ridicule the physical appearance of others, and/or their social or intellectual flaws, as we perceive them. We forget that we ourselves are possibly more at fault and that backbiting and speaking ill about others behind their backs is one of the major sins.

The Quran says: “O ye who believe! Avoid suspicion as much (as possible): for suspicion in some cases is a sin: And spy not on each other behind their backs. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Nay, ye would abhor it ... But fear Allah: For Allah is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful” (49:12).

How do we avoid listening to, believing and talking, reading ill about others, when these activities are so entwined with our lives?

To begin with, we can keep silent and not participate in any such talk; we can walk away from the place where people are engaged in gossip; we can switch off the television and stop either reading publications that promote yellow journalism or skip such sections altogether.

When we hear of libellous or scandalous news which is not verified, we should not share it. The only time we may criticise someone is face to face, and that too, in a positive manner.

Let us control our tongues lest we use them to harm others. This is a beginning towards purification of our souls.

The writer is a freelance contributor with an interest in religion.

nikhat_sattar@yahoo.com

Published in Dawn, May 20th, 2016