11 October 2023 / 25 Rabi'ul Awal 1445H
Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
In the name of
Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. O Allah! I seek refuge in You from knowingly associating partners with You in any way, and I seek Your forgiveness for that which I do not know. Ameen.
DANGER OF DEFAMATION
Ibn Hajar said, "Truly, defamation is usually done to change (something) and
fabricate."
In Malay society the word defamation gives a more specific meaning. It refers to any accusation made up to discredit or discredit a person or a party that leads to chaos. Based on this definition, the law of defamation is clearly illegal and prohibited. This is because defamation was harshly condemned by the Prophet s.a.w. in the hadith narrated by Huzaifah r.a.:
It means: "He who spreads slander (complaining among sheep) will not enter heaven." [Narrated
by Bukhari (6056) and Muslim (105)]
Today, defamation is rampant in an easier way than in the past. This is because the rapid development of technology makes this practice of defamation more easily spread.
There is no denying that in today's era, with sophisticated facilities, any form of information is very easy to spread, especially through WhatsApp and the internet. However, conventional methods are seen as still contributing to the spread of slanderous news such as
through inaccurate newspaper and television reports, casual talks, casual chats in warung or coffee shops, conversations among office colleagues and so on. All of these mediums are seen to still be a choice for those concerned with defamation because it easily forms a perception without being evaluated or questioned by anyone.
Allah s.w.t. said: "Surely Satan only wants to create enmity and hatred between you." [Surah al-Maidah: 91]
Therefore, defamation is one of the
actions that the devil likes very much because it can divide Muslims until there is no more unity among them.
In the Qur'an, Allah s.w.t. has said in Surah al-Nur regarding the answer for those who like to slander:
"Verily those who like to publicize bad accusations among the believers, they will have an indescribable torment in this world and in the hereafter; and (remember) Allah knows (everything) while you do not know (such things)." [Surah al-Nur: 19]
Wallahu a'lam
