Investigate Before You Act

Bismi Llāhi r-Raḥmāni r-Raḥīm

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِن جَاءَكُمْ فَاسِقٌ بِنَبَإٍ فَتَبَيَّنُوا أَن تُصِيبُوا قَوْمًا بِجَهَالَةٍ فَتُصْبِحُوا عَلَىٰ مَا فَعَلْتُمْ نَادِمِينَ

(Qur’ān 49:06)

‘Yā ayyuhā lladhīna āmanū in jā’akum fāsiqun binabain fatabayyanū an tuṣībū qawman bijahālatin fatuṣbiḥū ‘alā mā fa‘altum nādimīn’

‘O you who have believed, if there comes to you a disobedient one with information, investigate, lest you harm a people out of ignorance and become, over what you have done, regretful.’ Ṣadaqa Llāhu l-‘Aẓīm.

Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla tells the believers: If someone, a fāsiq is someone whose words are unreliable, brings you news, investigate it thoroughly, whether what he said is true or false, what it is, and where it’s from.

If your attitude towards them is bad and the news you were told is false, you will regret it. So don’t jump to conclusions.

You can’t judge based on what you see. You can’t judge based on what you hear. You must investigate. You might misinterpret what you see. And what you hear might be lies.

Therefore, we must be careful, for sometimes people do take a stand against certain people, or go and argue with them, or fight with them because of what they’ve heard.

Then they realize that the news is false, and the person who told it is a liar. Then they’re left feeling regretful; both regretful and guilty.

This person is already unreliable. His words are untrustworthy. Don’t judge others based on his words, and don’t take a stand against him. Investigate thoroughly.

After that, if it turns out to be true and you need to take a stand, then do so. If not, and it is not necessary, then act accordingly.

This is so that people don’t find themselves in a difficult situation and have to apologize later, you won’t harbor suspicions (su’ zann) from the outset and won’t find yourself in a situation where you feel ashamed. You won’t be embarrassed in front of anyone, man or woman.

The blessed words of Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla describe all that is beautiful for Muslims. Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla told these ayāt so that you won’t fall into difficult situations.

May Allāh ﷻ show us the truth. Because there are many people in this time with beautiful faces but evil inside. For some reason, there are people who want to harm others. And there are the righteous.

But may we not treat those who do good like them, in shā’a Llāh. May He ﷻ not make us fall into that situation. May Allāh ﷻ protect us, in shā’a Llāh.

Wa min Allah at-Tawfiq.

Al-Fatiha.

•⁠ ⁠Mawlana Sheikh Muhammad Adil ar-Rabbaniق

08 December 2025/ 17 Jumada Al-Thani 1447

Fajr Prayer – Akbaba Dergah, Istanbul

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