Little knowledge is always a dangerous thing and spreading half or unauthentic information is even fatal. The advent of modern technology has provided an unprecedented platform for individuals and groups to manufacture and spread false information and misconceptions about Islam at a large scale. This phenomenon is carried out by both, people who are members of the faith and others who are open adversaries of Islam. Whilst the latter group is less successful in its attempts to penetrate and circulate false teachings among Muslims, the first group for a long time, has had almost total success with very little opposition.
Though there is a small and growing circle of Muslims ever cautious and alert, aware of the dangers of false teachings and always demanding evidence and proof, the vast majority is completely oblivious to this predicament. Throughout the years, Imams of mosques, students at universities and the average Muslim at home or work, all inadvertently and naively involved in tampering with the pristine teachings of Islam. Commentaries are given of the Quran with the aid of strange and fictitious Israelite traditions, ahadith are quoted, unanimously agreed by the scholars as fabrications, irrational statements are dressed up and put into the mouth of early Muslim scholars to gain legitimacy, and ridiculous rumours are spread without anyone questioning its authenticity or asking for a reference. Emails in particular is used as a vehicle to spread false information from person to person with astonishing rapidity by encouraging recipients to forward messages, to everyone they know.
It is now quite normal to find our SMS’s or emails inundated with supposed miracles like the Shahadah in German trees, or new conversion stories like, Neil Armstrong hearing the Adhan on the moon and accepting Islam, the dream of Sheik of Madina or worst still fabricated ahadith on the merits of different actions.
Conscious of this problem, in the early centuries of Islam, a group of Muslims scholars took on the challenge and dedicated their lives to preserve the authentic statements of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and to purge out later additions. They travelled long arduous journeys, leaving their families and children and sacrificing the luxuries of food and comfort, deciphering hundreds of manuscripts, interrogating a multitude of men and writing volumes of books all with the aim of protecting this faith and eliminating any fabrications.
Yet, the task is not over. Even today, the circulation of fables and fictitious legends continues via the pulpit, books, television, mobiles and most recently the internet. If this trend continues unchecked it will lead to disastrous results.
It is only when we as Muslims work together, that we will be able to eradicate this problem. We must show a high level of caution and vigilance and avoid forwarding SMS’s or emails without verification. We must not quote or cite ahadith whose authenticity is unknown or doubtful. We should not feel inhibited or shy to ask someone for a reference or source.
The Seriousness of Telling Lies about the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) could be measured by reporting a hadith on the authority of ‘Ali (RA), the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Do not tell lies about me, for whoever tell lies about me will enter the Fire.” [Reported by Imam al-Bukhari and Muslim]. It was narrated that Anas bin Malik said: “What prevents me from narrating many ahadith to you is the fact that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever tells a lie about me deliberately, let him take his seat in the Fire.” [Reported by Imam al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Similarly, Islam prohibits us to pass any or every Information that reaches You Without Verification: It was narrated by Abu Hurayrah (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:”It is sufficient lying for a man to speak of everything that he hears.” [Reported by Imam Muslim in the Introduction to his Sahih]
Imam Malik said: “You should know that no man who speaks of everything that he hears will be free of faults, and he will never be an Imam who speaks of everything that he hears.”[Reported by Imam Muslim in the Introduction to his Sahih]. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) Warning Us of People Fabricating Stories & Ahadith: It was narrated by Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “At the end of my Ummah there will be imposters and liars who will narrate to you ahadith that neither you nor your forefathers ever heard. Beware of them and stay away from them, and do not let them mislead you or confuse you.” [Reported by Imam Muslim in the Introduction to his Sahih]. Imam ash-Shawkani describing the efforts of the early Hadith scholars writes: “The scholars went to great extents to inform the people of fabricated ahadith, and they exposed the fairytales of liars, and removed from the ahadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) the false attributions of the fabricators, the distortions of the transgressors, and the erroneous explanations of the ignorant…” [al-Fawa’id al-Majmu’ah: 3]