Circulation of Dubious Claims

Islam has placed great emphasis on authenticity and truthfulness. The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alaihi wa sallam is reported to have said: It is sufficient for a man to be branded a liar by narrating everything he hears. Hearsay is not valid proof in Islam. Likewise when reporting an important event, one must provide authentic references and sources for the information thus circulated.


TREND
There is a trend among Muslims in recent times to circulate unsubstantiated findings that ostensibly support Muslims and the teachings and practices of Islam but are not based on any reliable reference or proof. This is deplorable, because our Islam is so mighty and dominating that we do not need to promote it through lies and lame reports.

Why stoop to the level of having to fabricate wonders and miracles, or invent scientific benefits for the practices of Islam? Our beautiful Deen does not need these feeble or dubious arguments to rationalize well-established doctrines that Muslims have been benefiting from for centuries. Instead of enhancing the reputation of our Deen by such attempts, we are in fact damaging its image in the eyes of our adversaries, for they will be led to believe that Muslims are so desperate to promote their Deen that they have resorted to falsifications and fabrications. They will also start believing that Islamic teaching lacks conviction and charisma to attract followers, a belief that is very, very far from the truth. Let us not be our own worst enemies by distorting the image of a Deen that we want the whole world to follow.

CASE HISTORIES
A few years ago, just after the Danish cartoon saga, reports were being circulated that the artist who drew these cartoons burnt to death. Later on this proved to be false. Then we heard of a small child somewhere in Africa who people claimed was a born hafiz of Quran, and was able to recite Quran from memory and able to give lectures to people. This report also turned out to be a hoax.

The same can be said for another report many years ago of a Muslim woman who claimed that the baby in her stomach could read Quran. Upon investigation it was learnt that she had tied to her stomach a hidden recorder that played verses of the Quran Shareef.

Then there was the email with complete images supposedly of a girl who turned into a lizard-like creature because she disrespected the Holy Quran and disobeyed her mother. This story, too, was proven to be a well orchestrated fraud.

Another incident was that of a young man who died, and when his grave was opened only a few hours after death, his body was found to be burnt and scalded, his hair grey, and the face contorted and shrivelled like an old man. People attributed this to his neglect of salaah. However, no references were furnished to establish this event.

Of late, an email is being circulated to prove the benefits of sujood. Apparently, research was done on the Muslim form of prostration by some unnamed ‘German scientist’ proving the health benefits of sujood. Again, this research could not be traced back to its origin, nor could the name of this scientist be verified. While we have no doubt that every act of salaah has great health benefits, why do we have to clutch at straws and fabricate evidence for this. Allah Ta’ala says in Surah Israa: And do not follow that which you have no (reliable) knowledge of; verily the ears, eyes: all of these will be questioned (for what they perpetrated).