Intermediate
Madani Events
Surah: Al-Hujurat (6)
If a Wicked Person Brings News — Al-Walid and Banu Al-Mustaliq
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِن جَآءَكُمۡ فَاسِقُۢ بِنَبَإٍ فَتَبَيَّنُوٓاْ
— الحجرات الآية 6
Occasion of Revelation (Hasan — Ahmad, Tirmidhi; Authenticated by Al-Hakim):
The Prophet ﷺ sent Al-Walid ibn Uqbah to collect zakat from Banu Al-Mustaliq. When the people came out to meet him, he assumed — possibly due to old enmity — that they intended to attack him. He returned and told the Prophet: "They refused to pay zakat and tried to kill me!" The Prophet was angered and nearly sent a military expedition. Then was revealed: "O you who believe, if a wicked person brings you news, verify it..."
Significance:
The Prophet ﷺ sent Al-Walid ibn Uqbah to collect zakat from Banu Al-Mustaliq. When the people came out to meet him, he assumed — possibly due to old enmity — that they intended to attack him. He returned and told the Prophet: "They refused to pay zakat and tried to kill me!" The Prophet was angered and nearly sent a military expedition. Then was revealed: "O you who believe, if a wicked person brings you news, verify it..."
Significance:
- Verification before judgment and action is obligatory in Islam
- News from an unreliable source must not be acted upon without investigation — to protect lives and honor
- "Lest you harm people out of ignorance and then regret what you have done" — hasty action leads to lasting regret
- This verse is a foundation for the science of hadith verification
Source: Ahmad (4/279); Tirmidhi (3032) — Hasan; Al-Hakim, Al-Mustadrak (2/523)
Test Yourself
What legal principle did the verse "if a wicked person brings news" establish?
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