Verify before spreading

This verse teaches us not to spread any information without verifying it.

وَإِذَا جَآءَهُمۡ أَمۡرٞ مِّنَ ٱلۡأَمۡنِ أَوِ ٱلۡخَوۡفِ أَذَاعُواْ بِهِۦۖ وَلَوۡ رَدُّوهُ إِلَى ٱلرَّسُولِ وَإِلَىٰٓ أُوْلِي ٱلۡأَمۡرِ مِنۡهُمۡ لَعَلِمَهُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَسۡتَنۢبِطُونَهُۥ مِنۡهُمۡۗ

And when there comes to them information about [public] security or fear, they spread it around. But if they had referred it back to the Messenger or to those of authority among them, then the ones who [can] draw correct conclusions from it would have known about it.

Quran, An-Nisa 4:83

The verse describes a blameworthy habit: immediately spreading any news, whether reassuring or alarming. It suggests a better way: referring the information to competent people who can analyze it and extract the truth.

In our daily lives, this means resisting the temptation to share news without checking its source. We can thus avoid causing confusion or anxiety around us.

Before sharing any information today, verify its source with a trusted person or a reliable reference.