Lifestyle Desk: English misinformation, fake news is a communication process through which erroneous, misleading information is spread in the society. Reacting to information as soon as you know it without verifying it is satirized by the proverb 'chile eavesdropping':

hadith

'This is taken by those who took it! Chile took the ear,

We are all together, dying behind the chill.

I am running in the field in search of ears, swimming in the pool,

I will drop the chill from the sky today.

Alas, the ear flew away in the afternoon,

If I don't get an ear, I will die in four walls digging my head...'.
(Pandashram: Shamsur Rahman)

Allah Almighty warns us about the importance of information in Islam and says, 'O believers! If a disbeliever brings news to you, check it carefully, so that you do not harm any community out of ignorance! As a result you have to repent because of your deeds.' (Surah: Huzrat, verse: 06)

False assumptions are contrary to faith and harmful, Almighty Allah commands, 'O believers! You avoid over-guessing. Surely some assumption is a great sin….' (Surah: Huzrat, verse: 12)

In this regard, the scholars said, 'It is illegal to have bad ideas about good people. Again, it is permissible to think evil of evil and sinners. (Qurtubi)

Regarding the importance of considering the truth, the beloved Prophet (PBUH) said, 'Be free from preconceived notions about any object or person. Because thoughtlessness is Akzabul Hadith or the biggest lie... Do not harbor hatred and enmity between each other. And do not go after one another in indirect cynicism; Rather, you are all servants of Allah; Brothers will be brothers.' (Bukhari)

A believer may have other faults and weaknesses, but the tendency to lie and betray does not suit the character of the believer. The beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'The character of a believer can have room for everything, but not deceit and lies.' (Musnad Ahmad)

The beloved Prophet (PBUH) also said, 'He who investigates the faults of Muslims, Allah investigates his faults. Whoever Allah investigates, humiliates him even in his own home.' (Abu Dawud)

It is in the hadith, 'Rely on the truth. Because truthfulness leads to good deeds. And good deeds lead to heaven. A person who tells the truth and seeks truthfulness, at some point he is written down as a truthful person with Allah….' (Muslim)

There is also in the hadith—'It is sufficient for one to be a liar that he preaches what he hears (without any judgement).' (Muslim)

Information evaluation is essential in building a just society.

Data collection, data verification, data evaluation, data based decision making

The process is usually called investigation. Right information helps solve big problems, while wrong information causes many problems. Harmful aspects of wrong information are: 1. People can be deceived, influenced, 2. Panic may be created, 3. Disbelief, human and emotional disaster, violence, conflict may arise. In such a process, misinformation spreads easily in the society. Attempts are made to defame or defame individuals and institutions through false information. Such amateur journalism is called Yellwo journalism.

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In fact lies bring destruction. Gaining tawfiq to arrive at the truth through knowledge, research, inter-examination depends on the mercy of Almighty Allah. Herein lies the clarity of the Holy Qur'an—'They have no knowledge of this, they only follow conjecture. And guesswork is worthless in the face of truth. So ignore him who is averse to my remembrance and who desires only worldly life. Their race of knowledge is so far. Surely your Lord knows best who strays from His path and He knows best who is guided.' (Surah: Anam, verse: 28-30)
Md. Ali Ershad Hossain Azad