Hatred, Rumour Mongering, Fake News Are Spiritual Diseases That Lead to Destruction of Religions, Nations and Communities: The World Religions

By Arman Neyazi, New Age Islam 25 February 2025 Rumour Mongering, Fake News, Hatred, And Lies Propagated Through The Internet Against Nations, Religions, And Communities Are Highly Disturbing And Brutal Warfare Techniques. Perhaps These are even more Destructive in their Results than even Military Weapons as The Hatred And Lies Reach The Nooks And Corners Of The entire Nations And Communities Within Seconds And Tear Apart The Whole Society. Main Points: 1. Fake news, hatred, and lies propagated through the internet against nations, religions, and communities are highly disturbing and brutal warfare techniques. 2. Greed of materialistic advancement ultimately made life so complicated that we forgot our roots of religious simplicity and ethical, spiritual teachings we were born with. 3. Human beings have to understand that evil begets evil as Timothy 6:10 says: For the love of money is the root of all evil. ------ Generations ago the world was not so materialistically advanced. Needs were limited. Hence there was no mad race of competition. Contentment, the backbone of peace and tranquillity was the hallmark of society. Human society was humane, and embedded in love and peace. The ethos of the society was sought in spirituality which is devoid of hatred, lies (fake news and propaganda), and abuses of any kind. That society talked of brotherhood and mutual respect, mindful of other’s limitations or strengths. Then came the era of materialistic development, replacing the spiritual and ethical leaning of the society that complicated all those ethics of life human beings were born with. As Confucius said, “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated” Greed of materialistic advancement ultimately made life so complicated that we forgot our roots of religious simplicity and ethical, spiritual teachings we were born with. Well, this is not to blame anyone but to let the world know from where our life journey started, where it has reached now, and what is behind the decadence of society. Life is moving forward with every passing second hence we are moving towards the day the universe will complete its journey and the Day of Judgement will come and the human being will be answerable to his deeds. As the Holy Quran says, ˹He is the One˺ Who created death and life to test which of you is best in deeds. And He is the Almighty, All-Forgiving. (Quran: 67-2) Allah the Almighty created this world to test our deeds. Our deeds will be tested on the scale of our spiritual and evil thoughts. To whichever religion we belong to, we have been taught by our prophets and religious leaders about good and evil deeds, as the Holy Quran says: We have revealed to you ˹O Prophet˺ this Book with the truth, as a confirmation of previous Scriptures and a supreme authority on them. So judge between them by what Allah has revealed, and do not follow their desires over the truth that has come to you. To each of you We have ordained a code of law and a way of life. If Allah had willed, He would have made you one community, but His Will is to test you with what He has given each of you. So compete with one another in doing good. To Allah you will all return, then He will inform you ˹of the truth˺ regarding your differences. (Quran: 5-48) As per the above-mentioned Quranic injunction, To each of you We have ordained a code of law and a way of life (Quran: 5-48), we will be answerable for all our evil deeds without any excuse. A nation, a party, or an individual, who believes in ‘everything is fair in love and war’, and goes for evil doings specially during its pressing times forgets that Allah, the Most Gracious says, So, surely with hardship comes ease. (The Holy Quran: 94-5) and thus asks His creation to be on the ‘righteous path’ come what may. Had the world not forgotten that hard times are not forever and that easy days will follow soon it would not have engaged in a war of hatred, lies, and propaganda in the mad race of materialistic development but had kept patience that would have followed rewards as promised by Allah, the most Kind in the Holy Quran: ......and then remain steadfast, the angels descend upon them, [saying,] ‘Do not fear, nor be grieved! Receive the good news of the paradise, which you have been promised. (Sūrat Fussilat, No 41, Āyat 30) Fake news, hatred, and lies propagated through the internet against nations, religions, and communities are highly disturbing and brutal warfare techniques than those of the military weaponry as the hatred and lies reach the nooks and corners of nations and communities within seconds and tear apart the whole society. Here are some articles that have played their part in destruction through fake news, lies, and propaganda, for your perusal: FACT FOCUS: Trump Falsely Claims Babies Can Be Seen To Change ‘Radically’ After Vaccination Fake News, Social Media, And "The Death Of Truth" "Fake News," Lies and Propaganda: How to Sort Fact from Fiction The above-mentioned articles carry shocking analyses of the impact of fake and false news that have the potential to crush the spiritual fiber of humanity. It is not that with one fake news only one nation, person, religion, or community is affected but it affects the whole of humanity for it spreads like a forest fire that engulfs all that comes its way. Fake News that is Capable of Destabilising Countries Starmer Urged To Stand Up To Trump’s ‘Torrent Of Lies’ As He Accuses UK Of Doing Nothing To End Ukraine War Here Are The Biggest DOGE Hoaxes And Inaccuracies—As $8 Million Canceled ICE Contract Listed At $8 Billion Why Is Elon Musk Attacking USAID? How Partisan Politics Made Foreign Aid Agency Suddenly So Controversial Team Musk Flags, Trump Waves, But A Fact-Check: $21 Million Did Not Go To India For ‘Voter Turnout’, Was For Bangladesh The articles mentioned above are clear signs of how the rich try to be the richer, the developed nations try to be the most developed nations of the world, and the politicians vying to be the only ones people should have trust in. Today’s ‘gentlemen's world’ looks to be overtaking the savage militants, terrorists, and religious hypocrites as far as bringing destruction and distrust in society is concerned. Human beings have to understand that evil begets evil as Timothy 6:10 says: For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows, and so hatred will bring hatred and the propagandists will face the same consequences as they have created for others. There are some religious teachings for us to understand and follow for we keep ourselves safe from its consequences; Quranic Ayaats and Ahadith O you who believe, be persistently standing firm for Allah as witnesses in justice and let not the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just, for it is closer to righteousness. Surat al-Ma’idah 5:8 Allah has made hateful to you disbelief, defiance, and disobedience. Those are the rightly guided. Surat al-Hujurat 49:7 Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Do not hate each other, do not envy each other, do not turn away from each other, but rather be servants of Allah as brothers. Source: Sahih Muslim 2559, Grade: Sahih Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: By the one in whose hand is my soul, you will not enter Paradise until you submit to Allah and you will not submit until you love one another. Spread peace and you will love one another. Beware of hatred for it is the razor. I do not say that it shaves hair, but rather it shaves away the religion. Source: al-Adab al-Mufrad 260, Grade: Hasan It is also a part of faith to hate for his brother what he hates for himself of evil. Source: Fath al Bārī 1/74 Teachings from Bhagwad Gita Given to egoism, power, haughtiness, lust and anger, these malicious people hate Me in their own bodies, and in those of others. BG 16-18 .....and who is friendly to every living being – he certainly comes to Me. BG - 11.55 BG 2.3 - O Partha, yield not to unmanliness. This does not befit you. O scorcher of foes, arise, giving up the petty weakness of the heart. Lessons from Christianity Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. (John 2:9) Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. (Ephesians 4:31) To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behaviour and perverse speech. (Proverbs 8:13) All religions of the world, as the above-mentioned Quranic Ayaat, Prophet Muhammad (SAW)’s sayings, Bhagwad Gita, and Biblical lessons show, reprimand human beings for keeping themselves away from the evil of hatred, or else the consequences will be harsher than expected here and in the hereafter. And Allah Knows The Best. ---- Arman Neyazi is a columnist with NewAgeIslam.com. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/interfaith-dialogue/hatred-rumour-fake-spiritual-religions-communities/d/134715 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism