What to do with Hearsay

[azc]

Faqih Abul Layth Samarqandi (rahimahullah) has offered the following beautiful suggestions:

“If anyone brings a bad report to you concerning somebody else, do the following 6 things:

1.Don’t believe him, for those who carry tales are usually liars.

2.Stop him from relaying such allegations. You are duty bound to stop the wrong. (Nahy ‘anil munkar)

3.Detest this act from the depth of your heart.

4.Don’t entertain evil thoughts about the third person (the one against whom the allegations were made)

5.Don’t probe in the matter.

6.Don’t share that information with others.

(Tambihul Ghafilin, pg.131)

[99sobi]

Quran 49:6

Believers, if an evil-doer brings you news, ascertain the correctness of the report fully, lest you unwittingly harm others, and then regret what you have done,

Tafsir

(O ye who believe! If an evil-liver) this was revealed about al-Walid Ibn 'Uqbah Ibn Ma'it who was sent by the Prophet (pbuh) to Banu'l-Mustaliq to collect their alms; instead he came back claiming that they wanted to kill him. The Prophet (pbuh) and his Companions were about to set forth to conquer them but Allah forbade them from doing so, saying: O you who believe in Muhammad (pbuh) and the Qur'an if a hypocrite, al-Walid Ibn 'Uqbah, (bring you tidings) brings you news about Banu'l-Mustaliq, (verify it) check whether the news are true or false, (lest ye smite some folk in ignorance and afterward repent of what ye did) regret killing them.