The Harm Of Spreading Inauthentic Hadiyths, False Stories, etc.
Assalamu 'alaykum Brothers and Sisters in Islaam,
We take this opportunity to fulfill the orders of Allaah (Subhaana wa Ta'ala) and His Prophet (Swalla Allahu 'alayhi wa aalihi wa sallam) as per the following Aayah and Hadiyth:
((وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاء بَعْضٍ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلاَةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ اللّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ أُوْلَئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ اللّهُ إِنَّ اللّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ))
((The believers, men and women, are Auliya (helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another, they enjoin (on the people) Al-Maroof (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do), and forbid (people) from Al-Munkar (i.e. polytheism and disbelief of all kinds, and all that Islam has forbidden)) [At-Tawbah 9:71]
النَّبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قالَ:((الدِّينُ النَّصِيحَةُ)). قُلْنَا: لِمَنْ ؟ قالَ: ((للهِ، ولِكِتَابِهِ، ولِرَسُولِهِ، ولِلأَئِمةِ المُسْلِمِينَ، وعامَّتِهِمْ)) رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ
The Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) said, ))Religion [dîn] is sincerity [nasiha])) [corrective advice, good counsel and sincere conduct]. They asked, "To whom, Messenger of Allah?" He said, ((To Allah and His Book and His Messenger and the Imams (leaders) of the Muslims and the common people)) [Muslim]
Thus by giving each other Nasiha (Advice) we indicate love between each other. No doubt that this Nasiha regarding the dangers of spreading false Hadiyth is more important because we have been warned by the Prophet (Swalla Allahu 'alayhi wa aalihi wa sallam) from the hadith above.
This nasiha (advice) follows the articles and false Hadiyth or messages sent in different ways, such as through mobile phones, or e-mails. Examples of such false information are; 'Statement about 10 Punishments to the one who disdains the prayer', or statement regarding "Best ten days of the 3rd month' or 'The letter from Shaykh Ahmad of Madiynah and his dream about the Prophet' and many more sent in different languages.
It is the duty of each and every Muslim, once he/she receives a Hadiyth stating it is from the Prophet (Swalla Allahu 'alayhi wa aalihi wa sallam), to verify it first and ensure its authenticity. If it is authentic then he/she should forward it to others so as to get their reward accordingly. If it however turns out to be a false Hadiyth then it should NOT be forwarded to anyone for fear of acquiring sins and the sins of those who will follow and practice the falsehood if spread.
The following Hadiyths indicate the benefits and the harm of passing on knowledge which is false:
First Hadiyth:
عن أبي مسعود الأنصاري رضي الله عنه يقول النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم : (( من دل على خير فله مثل أجر فاعله)) خرجهما مسلم في صحيحه .
((Whoever guides [another] to a good deed will get a reward similar to the one who performs it)) [Sahih Muslim].
Second Hadiyth:
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه قال : ( من دعا إلى هدى كان له من الأجر من أجور من تبعه لا ينقص من أجورهم شيئاً ومن دعا إلى ضلالة كان عليه من الإثم مثل آثام من تبعه لا ينقص ذلك من آثامهم شيئاً) رواه مسلم
Narrated by Abu Hurayrah (Radhiya Allahu 'anhu) that the Prophet (Swalla Allahu 'alayhi wa aalihi wa sallam) said ((Whoever calls unto a guidance shall have rewards equal to that of each of those who follow him deducting nothing from their rewards. And whoever calls unto error shall have sin equal to that of each of those who follow him deducting nothing of their sins))[Muslim]
Third Hadiyth:
((من سن في الإسلام سنة حسنة كان له أجرها وأجر من عمل بها من بعده لا ينقص ذلك من أجورهم شيئاً ومن سن في الإسلام سنة سيئة كان عليه وزرها ووزر من عمل بها من بعده لا ينقص من أوزارهم شيئاً)) خرجه مسلم في صحيحه
((Whoever starts in Islam a good practice (sunnah hasanah) and is emulated by others in doing so will get the reward of it and the reward of all those who act upon it without their rewards being diminished in any respect. And whosoever starts in Islam an evil practice (sunnah sayyi’ah) and is emulated by others will bear the sin of it and the sin of all those who act on it without their burden being diminished in the least)) [Sahîh Muslim (1017)]
Spreading Hadiyth without ensuring that it is authentic will lead to the following:
1- Preparation Of Your Residence In The Hell-Fire
This is to the one who tells a lie about the Prophet (Swalla Allahu 'alayhi wa aalihi wa sallam)
((من كذب علي متعمدا فليتبوأ مقعده من النار)) متفق عليه
((Whoever tells a lie against me deliberately let him take his place in the hell-fire )) [Al-Bukhaariy and Muslim]
We note from the above, that the harm is preparing one's residence in hellfire. Therefore by passing on the false knowledge, you will also be leading others into hellfire. This shall continue on as the false information is passed on. The first person to propagate the false knowledge will be the one carrying the heaviest portion of the sin including the sins of the others as well. And the portion of the sins lessens as we proceed down the chain of those who pass on the false knowledge.
2- Waste Of Time Practicing Deeds Which Are Not In the Prescribed Sheria
Such Hadiyth will continue to spread and many may not able to distinguish between authentic and inauthentic Hadiyth. They would believe that they are beneficial thus wasting their time on performing acts of worship that are not prescribed by the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (may the peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). Instead, they could have used their precious time performing acts that have been deemed authentic thus bringing them true blessing. Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'ala) Says:
((وَقَدِمْنَا إِلَى مَا عَمِلُوا مِنْ عَمَلٍ فَجَعَلْنَاهُ هَبَاء مَّنثُورًا))
((And We shall turn to whatever deeds they (disbelievers, polytheists, sinners, etc.) did, and We shall make such deeds as scattered floating particles of dust)) [Al-Furqaan:23]
The Prophet (Swalla Allahu 'alayhi wa aalihi wa sallam) also said:
(( من عمل عملاً ليس عليه أمرنا فهو رد)) البخاري
((Whoever commits an act which is not a part of our matter (religion), will have it (his act) rejected)) [Al-Bukhaariy]
Important matter to observe
All ibada (worship) MUST meet the following two conditions in order to be accepted:
- Ikhlaas (Sincerity): Meaning that the deed is devoted to Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'ala) Alone. Not to be done because of showing off or for the purpose of attaining worldly matters.
- The deed has to based on the teaching from the Qur-aan and Sunnah.
Consequences:
3) Loss Of Authentic Teachings And Increase Of Innovation
Such inauthentic Hadiyths keep on spreading, such that the ultimate consequence would be the loss of true knowledge and the spreading of Bi'dah (innovated matters) and falsehood.
The Prophet (Swalla Allahu 'alayhi wa aalihi wa sallam) said:
((... وأياكم ومحدثات الأمور فإن كل محدثة بدعة وكل بدعة ضلالة))
((…And beware of newly-invented matters [in religion], for every newly-invented matter is an innovation and every innovation is a going-astray)) [Narrated by Abu Dawood, al-Sunnah, 3991; classed as sahiyh by Shaykh Al-Albaaniy in Sahiyh Abu Daawuud no. 3851]
4) Lack Of Love For the Prophet (Swalla Allahu 'alayhi wa aalihi wa sallam).
We should realize that by ensuring that only the authentic Hadiyth of the Prophet (Swalla Allahu 'alayhi wa aalihi wa sallam) linger is an indication of love for the Prophet Muhammad (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) for verily no one prefers to belie someone he/she loves and vice versa. And insha Allah the inauthentic will be eradicated.
So who among us really loves the Prophet Swalla Allahu 'alayhi wa aalihi wa sallam? Is it the one who spreads the inauthentic Hadiyth and innovations without fear or the one who fears to do so and doesn’t?
O Allaah, show us the truth as truth and enable us to follow it; show us the false as false and enable us to avoid it.
Jazaakumu Allahu Khayra
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