Page 44 - Commonly Disregarded Qur'anic Rulings

42 COMMONLY DISREGARDED QURANIC RULINGS

NOT DIVULGING INFORMATION OF
A DISQUIETING OR REASSURING
NATURE

In a society which the morals of the Qur’an are experi-
enced, Allah instructs the conveyance of all kinds of informa-
tion concerning Muslims directly or indirectly about a possi-
ble harm or benefit to the authority who is in the best posi-
tion to interpret it:
When news of any matter reaches them they spread
it about, whether it is of a reassuring or disquieting
nature. If they had only referred it to the messenger
and those in command among them, those among
them able to discern the truth about it would have
had proper knowledge of it. If it were not for Allah’s
favor to you and His mercy, all but a very few of you
would have followed satan. (Surat an-Nisa’; 83)

There are many drawbacks to spreading information
among people. First, the information in question may not
reach the proper authority, or if it does, after passing through
several channels, it will most probably become corrupted and
may delay a matter that needs urgent attention. Second, the
spread of information better kept confidential allows unbeliev-
ers and hypocrites to become aware of it. Using this informa-
tion, they can cause harm or render a precaution ineffective.
Therefore, it is obligatory to immediately inform those in
authority who are most capable of making the best interpre-
tations, formulating pertinent decisions and ensuring the nec-
essary precautions.