Lies, Trials, and Misguidance: The Reality of Modern Media and Social MediaWritten by: Qari Usama bin Abdussalam (Hafizahullah)
❖ Media and Social Media – Instruments of Lies and Fitnah
In today’s world, mainstream and social media have become powerful tools for spreading lies, rumors, and trials (fitnah). Things far removed from truth are presented as undeniable facts. News is fabricated, information is misleading, and propaganda is increasingly venomous.
❖ The Bitter Truth About Media and Social Media
This is the same media and social media that:
◈ Presents falsehood as truth and truth as falsehood.
◈ Spreads disorder, trials (fitan), and chaos in society.
◈ Promotes immorality, falsehood, and vulgarity.
◈ Suppresses the voices of those who speak the truth.
❖ Condemnation of Lies and Fitnah in the Qur’an
① Curse Upon Liars
لَعْنَتُ اللَّهِ عَلَى الْكَاذِبِينَ
"The curse of Allah is upon the liars."
(Surah Aal ʿImrān: 61)
Modern media and social media are the biggest platforms for spreading lies—whether about politics, religion, or societal issues.
② Punishment for Those Who Spread Immorality
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُحِبُّونَ أَنْ تَشِيعَ الْفَاحِشَةُ فِي الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ
"Indeed, those who love that immorality should spread among the believers will have a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter."
(Surah an-Nūr: 19)
Through media and social platforms, vulgarity, indecency, and anti-Islamic ideologies are being normalized. Songs, dramas, and corrupt cultural practices are misleading the youth into misguidance.
③ Warning Against Spreading Unverified News
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِن جَاءَكُمْ فَاسِقٌ بِنَبَإٍ فَتَبَيَّنُوا...
"O you who believe, if a sinner comes to you with news, verify it, lest you harm a people out of ignorance and become regretful of what you have done."
(Surah al-Ḥujurāt: 6)
The uncontrolled spread of fake news, rumors, and misinformation on social media is a fitnah that is destroying society.
❖ Condemnation in Hadith of False Media and Fitnah-Mongers
① A Sign of the Hour – The Rise of Lies
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"Before the Hour, lying will become widespread; truth will be treated as lies and lies will be presented as truth."
(Musnad Aḥmad: 8440)
② A Deceitful Journalist Is a Companion of Shayṭān
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Whoever narrates a statement not knowing whether it is true or false, he is counted among the liars."
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 5)
❖ The Bitter Reality – The Poison of Media and Social Platforms
◈ Truth-speakers are silenced while false propaganda goes viral.
◈ Islamic values are mocked, while vulgarity is branded as progress.
◈ Political lies and hypocrisy are presented as facts.
◈ Fake news, false trends, and rumors are spread 24/7.
◈ Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube are pushing youth towards un-Islamic ideologies.
❖ What Should Be Done?
◈ Search for the truth: Verify every piece of news; do not share without confirmation.
◈ Boycott indecent and deceitful media: Unfollow channels and accounts that promote lies and vulgarity.
◈ Support Islamic media and truthful voices: Promote reliable platforms and share content based on truth.
◈ Protect the next generation: Safeguard children from misuse of social media and teach them right from wrong.
◈ Pray to Allah: Ask Allah to grant us the ability to speak and hear the truth and protect us from the deception and fitnah of media.
❖ A Message to the Nation
This is a time to awaken!
If we do not stop the lies and corruption of media and social media today, our coming generations will be lost in the darkness of misguidance.
We must learn to recognize truth and falsehood—or this poison will destroy our faith, our values, and our entire civilization.
May Allah guide us and protect us from lies, fitnah, and the misguidance of the media. Āmīn!
