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In the fast-paced digital age, where opinions spread at lightning speed and information overload blurs the lines between truth and falsehood, the Qur'an provides a timeless ethical standard:
 وَلَا تَقْفُ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ ۚ إِنَّ السَّمْعَ وَالْبَصَرَ وَالْفُؤَادَ كُلُّ أُولَٰئِكَ كَانَ عَنْهُ مَسْئُولًا 
"Do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight, and the heart—about all those [you] will be questioned." (Surah Al-Isra, 17:36)

This verse is a comprehensive command that regulates our speech, thoughts, and judgments. In a world where people speak, post, and share without knowledge, often following conjecture, emotions, or hearsay, Allah reminds us that every sensory perception and inner thought is under divine scrutiny.

Background and Tafsīr

The word "تَقْفُ" comes from القفو, meaning "to follow." It implies following something without verification or evidence, especially when it relates to claims, accusations, or judgments. Ibn ʿĀshūr explains that the verse prohibits pursuing any notion, claim, or action not grounded in certain knowledge or sound evidence. This includes baseless assumptions, gossip, and spreading information without verification — practices that were rampant in pre-Islamic societies and remain widespread today.

Among the common examples from Jahiliyyah (the age of ignorance) were people casting doubts on others' lineage, making accusations without evidence, and deducing false conclusions from mere physical appearances. The Prophet ﷺ corrected such thinking when a man doubted the paternity of his own child due to a difference in skin colour. The Prophet ﷺ likened genetic variation to colours in camels, saying, "Perhaps he inherited a trait from a distant ancestor." (Sahih al-Bukhari)

This powerful divine command “وَلَا تَقْفُ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ” “Do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge” was explained by the early scholars with remarkable clarity. Ibn Abbas said: “Do not accuse anyone without knowledge.” Mujahid echoed the same: “Do not slander or accuse.” Qatadah warned: “Do not say ‘I saw’ when you did not see, or ‘I heard’ when you did not hear.” This encompasses gossip, rumours, false accusations, and blind speculation. Following mere assumptions and suspicions leads to false testimony and misjudgement, all of which fall under this prohibition. It is a universal call to uphold truth, caution, and justice in our words and actions—especially in an age of easy accusations and viral misinformation.

Ibn ʿĀshūr notes that this verse is a moral and intellectual training, teaching people to differentiate between certainty, assumption, and delusion, and to avoid decisions or statements based on the latter.

A Warning Against Acting Without Knowledge

The command in ﴿ وَلَا تَقْفُ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ ﴾ — Do not pursue what you have no knowledge of — is beautifully reinforced through a powerful real-life incident from the time of the Prophet ﷺ, as revealed in Surah Al-Ḥujurāt (verses 6–8). These verses were revealed when the Prophet ﷺ sent al-Walīd ibn ‘Uqbah to collect zakat from al-Ḥārith ibn Ḍirār, the chief of Banū al-Muṣṭaliq. Due to fear and suspicion, al-Walīd returned with a false report, claiming that al-Ḥārith refused the zakat and even intended to kill him.

Without verifying the claim, the Prophet ﷺ initially prepared a military response. Meanwhile, al-Ḥārith himself, confused by the delay of the Prophet’s messenger, came forward with his people fearing that perhaps Allah and His Messenger ﷺ were displeased with him. This confrontation led to clarification and the revelation of Allah’s words:
﴿ يَا أَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ آمَنُوٓاْ إِن جَآءَكُمْ فَاسِقٌۭ بِنَبَإٍۢ فَتَبَيَّنُواْ أَن تُصِيبُواْ قَوْمًۭا بِجَهَـٰلَةٍۢ فَتُصْبِحُواْ عَلَىٰ مَا فَعَلْتُمْ نَـٰدِمِينَ ﴾
"O you who believe! If a fāsiq (sinful person) comes to you with news, verify it, lest you harm people in ignorance and then become regretful for what you have done." (Al-Ḥujurāt 49:6)

The Prophet ﷺ, by Allah’s mercy, was stopped from acting upon false information, saving innocent people from harm and establishing a foundational principle: Do not act upon hearsay, suspicion, or assumption. This ties directly into the command in Surah Al-Isra’ 17:36, warning believers that our senses, perceptions, and judgments will all be questioned.

Both verses lay the groundwork for ethical behaviour in speech and action. In today’s world — where rumours spread rapidly, and judgments are often made without knowledge — the command to verify information, to avoid assumption, and to guard our tongues remains not just relevant, but essential to personal integrity and social stability.

In our hyper-connected world, where information is shared at lightning speed, the prophetic warning rings louder than ever.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"كَفَى بالمرءِ كَذِبًا أن يُحَدِّثَ بكُلِّ ما سَمِعَ"
"It is enough of a lie for a person to narrate everything he hears." (Muslim)

This profound hadith warns against careless transmission of information—whether true or false. Imam al-Nawawi رحمه الله explains:
"One hears both truth and falsehood. If he conveys all he hears, without verifying, he inevitably ends up spreading lies, even unintentionally."

Now, pause and consider the messages, videos, rumours, and headlines we so quickly forward on WhatsApp, social media, or in conversations. Each time we hit 'forward' or 'share', we become accountable. The same fingertips we use to click and share will be questioned on the Day of Judgement, as Allah says:
إِنَّ السَّمْعَ وَالْبَصَرَ وَالْفُؤَادَ كُلُّ أُوْلَٰئِكَ كَانَ عَنْهُ مَسْئُولًا 
"Indeed, the hearing, the sight, and the heart — all of these will be questioned." (Al-Isrā’: 36)

In another narration, the Prophet ﷺ warned:
"بِئْسَ مَطِيَّةُ الرَّجُلِ زَعَمُوا"
"How wretched is it for a man to use 'They say' as his mount." (Abu Dawud)
Meaning: it is blameworthy to base one’s speech on hearsay, using it as a vehicle to spread unverified claims.

Our righteous predecessors feared this deeply. ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه said:
"Beware of fitnah (trials), for the slip of the tongue in it is like the strike of a sword."

In today’s context, the slip of the tongue can be a careless forward or tweet that causes misunderstanding, fear, or division. Every message we share has the potential to benefit or harm — and we bear its burden.

Let us be guardians of truth, not tools for spreading confusion. Think before you forward, for on that Day, not only our limbs, but our screens and scrolls may testify against us.

Guarding Our Ears, Eyes, Hearts—and Fingertips

The verse ﴿ وَلَا تَقْفُ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ ﴾ “Do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge” (Al-Isrā’: 36) is a foundational principle in Islamic ethics—calling for truthfulness, responsibility, and restraint.

In a time where rumours go viral, truth is distorted, and every forward may cause harm, this divine command becomes a lifeline to integrity.

Fasting in Ramadan is not just about abstaining from food and drink, but holding back—with tongues, ears, eyes, and fingertips. Just as we withhold from Muftirāt (nullifiers of fast), let us train ourselves to restrain from forwarding and sharing whatever we receive.

As the Prophet ﷺ warned:
“It is enough of a lie for a person to narrate everything he hears.”
And today, it is enough of a lie to forward without verifying.

Every message you share is your responsibility. Your fingers, like your tongue, will be questioned.
“Indeed, the hearing, the sight, and the heart — all of these will be questioned.” (Al-Isrā’: 36)

Let’s fast not just with our stomachs, but with our scrolls and shares.
Your scroll feeds the soul. Fill it with truth.