In Satan’s Footsteps
Al-Risala (English), October 1989, p. 7
By Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan is named as the default author of the periodical; a piece that carries another writer’s byline is credited to that writer.
In Satan’s Footsteps
1989 10 October 7-9 In Satan’s Footsteps (887) In the present day and age, the most effective vehicle for the transmission of information is the news media, of which the Muslims’ Urdu newspapers are perhaps the most strident. They give the impression of having taken it upon themselves to publish exactly those news items which the Quran warns us should be carefully looked into before being publicly aired and dissected. There are countless newspapers being brought out by Muslims in this country, but they all have one thing in common -- a tendency to exaggerate and sensationalize anything they hear regarding relations between the country’s two largest communities.
Umar Farooq once entered the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina to find a group of Companion muttering amongst themselves that the Prophet had divorced all his wives. In spite of the fact that it was Prophet’s own companions, and furthermore, this was being said in no less hallowed a place than the Prophet’s own mosque, Umar Farooq refused to believe in this rumour. He immediately made it clear that he could not accept this statement solely on the basis of hearsay, and pointed out that he would have to make enquiries of the Prophet himself before he could venture any opinion.
Umar went, therefore, to the Prophet’s dwelling, where he was reassured by the Prophet that he had done no such thing as divorce any of his wives. Umar returned forthwith to the Prophet’s mosque, where, from the gateway, he proclaimed in a voice that all could hear, “The Prophet has not divorced his wives.” It was on this occasion that the following verse of the Quran was revealed:
When they hear any news concerning security or fear, they at once make it known to all; whereas if they had reported it to the Prophet and those in authority, those who sought knowledge could learn it from them. But for Allah’s grace and mercy, all but a few of you would have followed the devil (3:83).
This is a piece of Quranic wisdom which urgently needs to be applied to the way news is handled in India on the communal situation, and intercommunal riots in particular. But, in fact, it is constantly ignored or defied. How many Muslims are there, if any, in this country who take the trouble to look fully into anti-Hindu news or news items aimed at intensifying inter-communal hatred. I have yet to find any substantial number of Muslims who are given to forming their opinions only after due consideration of all relevant aspects of the matter in hand. They only need to hear something against the majority community or government departments and they spread it all around as though it were an established fact.
In the present day and age, the most effective vehicle for the transmission of information is the news media, of which the Muslims’ Urdu newspapers are perhaps the most strident. They give the impression of having taken it upon themselves to publish exactly those news items which the Quran warns us should be carefully looked into before being publicly aired and dissected. There are countless newspapers being brought out by Muslims in this country, but they all have one thing in common – a tendency to exaggerate and sensationalize anything they hear regarding relations between the country’s two largest communities.
When the Prophet’s Companion committed an error of this nature, it was no more than a temporary aberration on their part, for as soon as they were reminded of what would have been right and proper on this occasion, they did everything they could to make amends. Muslims of the modern age, however, seem to have this erroneous approach thoroughly ingrained in them, because for the last half-century they have persistently indulged in mindless calumny. Such activity now goes by the name of ‘yellow journalism’, and, being a lucrative business, is regularly engaged in by a substantial group of Muslims. What they fail to realize (or perhaps choose to ignore) is that this highly remunerative profession of theirs has been labelled in the Quran as “following in Satan’s footsteps.”
In the above-quoted verse, it was mentioned that any matter of importance should be referred to the Prophet and others in authority. There are two points worth making here. One is that every such piece of information should be weighed up and scrutinized in the light of the Prophet’s teachings and the pattern which he set for us to follow. It is this Sunnah” of the Prophet which should determine the Muslims’ response in matters of controversy. This means that they should avoid being pulled in whatever direction their nationalistic sentiments may take them. The other point to be made is that controversial matters should be referred to those in authority. But this commandment can be carried out only if people of genuine authority exist among the Muslims. If such people are not easily accessible, the Muslims should take it upon themselves to find, or constitute a body of responsible people to whose decisions they will readily bow. Only then will the Muslims be able to offer a coherent and reasonable response in any given situation. Unless and until they see the folly of their ways, they will continue to follow the path of individual caprice which, according to the Quran will amount to following in the footsteps of the devil.
