124. No spreading rumors.
Verse (4:83) prohibits unconfirmed messages being spread and should be taken to the attention of those concerned.
Some follow the practice of spreading fear in the garb of doing good. This is a kind of warning to the Muslim community not to follow the media in spreading sensational information.
When there is a tense situation in a particular area, it should be brought to the attention of the concerned authorities and not spread among the people.
When rumors like ‘ten people are killed, and 100 houses are burnt’ etc., are spread, riots that could be avoided are bound to happen immediately, and the community remains to be frozen with fear and loses its peace. At the same time, concealing insecurity to the people, and underestimating an impending threat to them is also wrong. Moreover, alerting concerned leaders handling such issues is a prudent step than self-handling them is what is stressed in this verse.
