Reflecting on the Prophet Muhammad (SAW’s) warning: How our words – spoken and typed – can lead us to paradise or peril, and the importance of mindful, responsible communication in today’s interconnected world.
By Dr Fiaz Maqbool Fazili
The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: “Nothing throws people into the Hellfire on their faces except the harvest of their tongues.” (Tirmidhi)
The tongue is small, but its consequences are vast. With a single word, hearts can be healed—or shattered. In our time, the tongue has been replaced by keyboards, microphones, cameras, and digital screens. Every comment, every emoji, every forwarded clip, and even every casual “like” has become a form of speech. The same accountability that once applied to spoken words now extends into the boundless realm of the digital world. This piece on the accountability of the tongue in the digital age blends Qur’an, Hadith, classical concepts (ghaibah, nameemah (or namimah),tuhmah, buhtan) with modern online realities (posts, shares, likes).
A true Muslim knows that sins of speech—ghaibah (backbiting), tuhmah (groundless accusation), nameemah (or namimah), the forbidden act of tale-bearing or slandering, and buhtan (false fabrication)—remain as dangerous online as they are offline. If anything, their reach and weight have multiplied.
Ghaibah, Tuhmah, Nameemah and Buhtan; The Qur’an leaves no ambiguity: “Do not backbite one another. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would abhor it. So fear Allah.”(Surah al-Hujurat, 49:12)Ghaibah (Backbiting): Saying something about your brother that he would dislike—even if it is true.Nameemah: Tale-bearing: The primary characteristic of nameemah is carrying information from one person to another with the intent to cause harm or strife. Spreading secrets: It involves disclosing private information or faults that should not be shared, often to create issues between individuals or groups. Prohibition in Islam -Quranic condemnation: Allah condemns the talebearer in the Quran, describing them as “a slanderer, going about with calumnies” (Quran 68:11). Prophetic warning: The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said the talebearer (nammama) would not enter Paradise, emphasising the severity of this act.Tuhmah (Slander/Accusation): Casting suspicion on someone without evidence.Bhutan (False Allegation): Fabricating lies against someone, attributing to them what they never did.
These sins existed long before smartphones, but social media has amplified them. What was once whispered in a room can now be broadcast to thousands in a matter of seconds.
The Digital Amplification Of Sin:
In earlier times, gossip or slander might reach only a handful of ears. Today, a careless post or a thoughtless forward can travel across continents in moments.
The Prophet (SAW) warned: “A man may utter a word thoughtlessly, without considering it harmful, yet because of that he will fall into the Hellfire deeper than the distance between east and west.” (Bukhari, Muslim)
What then of the words we intentionally Post, type, share, or endorse? A comment mocking someone’s honour is ghaibah. The forbidden act of tale-bearing or slandering, which involves spreading harmful, hurtful words, gossip, and secrets from one person to another to cause discord, corruption, or to spoil relationships. It is a sin condemned in the Quran and Sunnah, with the Prophet Muhammad warning that a talebearer will not enter Paradise. This act differs from gheebah (backbiting), as nameemah is done with the specific intent to incite conflict and ruin others.
A forwarded rumour without verification is tuhmah.
A fabricated(half-truth-distorted truth ) story uploaded for clicks is buhtan. Even a “like” on a harmful post is a silent approval of sin.
The Illusion Of “Just Liking”:
One of the greatest deceptions of the digital age is the illusion of harmlessness. People often excuse themselves: “I didn’t write it, I only liked it,” or “I didn’t create it, I just forwarded it.” But Allah warns in the Qur’an: “Indeed, those who love that immorality should be spread among the believers will have a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter.”(Surah an-Nur, 24:19)
To “love that immorality should spread” includes enjoying, endorsing, or amplifying it—even passively. A “like” is not neutral; it is a vote. A forward is not innocent; it is a chain of sin. And every link in that chain is recorded. Deleting a post from your feed may erase it from people’s eyes, but it does not erase it from the records of the angels.
Accountability Before Allah:
The Prophet (SAW) told Mu‘adh ibn Jabal (RA) that people will be held accountable for every utterance. Mu‘adh, surprised, asked: “Will we be held accountable for what we say?” The Prophet (SAW) replied: “May your mother lose you, O Mu‘adh! Is there anything that throws people into the Hellfire on their faces except the harvest of their tongues?” (Tirmidhi)
The angels who record our deeds make no distinction between words spoken by the tongue and words typed by the fingers. A comment under a photo, a careless insult in a WhatsApp group, a sarcastic tweet—all are speech. And all will testify on the Day of Judgment.
Allah says: “Not a word does he utter but there is a watcher by him, ready to record.”(Surah Qaf, 50:18)
In today’s context, this verse covers not only the spoken but the typed, uploaded, and shared.
From “Why Me?” to “What Next?”-The believer’s strength lies in reframing. Instead of asking “Why me?” when faced with gossip or slander, the believer asks: “What lesson is Allah teaching me through this?”But more importantly, we must ask ourselves: “Am I guilty of harming others with my words or posts?” Trials inflicted by others may purify us, but trials inflicted on others by our tongues and fingers may condemn us.
Guidelines For Digital Speech:
The Qur’an gives a principle that applies perfectly to the online age: “O you who believe! If a fasiq (evildoer) comes to you with news, verify it, lest you harm people in ignorance and then become regretful over what you have done.”(Surah al-Hujurat, 49:6)
Before commenting, posting, or forwarding, ask three questions: Is it true? Have I verified it with credible sources? Is it beneficial? Will it build or destroy?
Is it pleasing to Allah? Would I be proud to present it to the Prophet (SAW)? The Prophet (SAW) summarised it beautifully: “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him speak good or remain silent.” (Bukhari, Muslim)In the digital sphere, “remaining silent” often means resisting the urge to comment, like, or share.
Turning The Test Into A Blessing:
While the risks of digital speech are immense, the opportunities for reward are equally vast. The Prophet (SAW) said: “A good word is charity.” (Bukhari, Muslim)
Sharing Qur’anic reminders.Forwarding a beneficial dua. Encouraging someone in difficulty. Uplifting comments that bring smiles instead of tears.
Every click can either weigh down our scales or lighten them. The same tools that spread buhtan can, when used with taqwa, spread mercy, light, and hope.
The Social Cost Of Loose Speech:
Beyond personal accountability, sins of digital speech corrode society. Families break apart due to slander in WhatsApp groups. Communities fracture over fake news. Reputations are destroyed in comment sections. The Prophet (SAW) warned that a believer is one from whose tongue and hand others are safe. If our presence online leaves others unsafe, then we have failed in the most basic condition of faith.
Pick-ups As:
A Digital Amanah: In an age where every hand holds a device, every Muslim holds an amanah. Our online presence is not separate from our deen. Our posts are chapters in our Book of Deeds. Our likes and forwards are witnesses that will either defend us or accuse us.
Before posting, pause and ask: Will this draw me closer to Allah or further away? Will this harm someone’s dignity or honour? Would I want this word, this comment, this share, to be read out loud on the Day of Judgment? If yes—share it. If no—remain silent. For silence in the face of gossip is safety, and speech that spreads goodness is salvation. The Prophet (SAW) gave us the most concise roadmap: “Speak good, or remain silent.”
In the digital age, this is not just advice—it is survival.
The writer is a medical doctor at Mubarak Hospital, a member of the Group of Concerned Citizens, and a columnist who actively contributes to discussions on moral, social, and religious issues. He can be reached at X @drfiazfazili.
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