A reflection on Surah An-Nisa 4:83 - the Qur'an's guidance on handling information responsibly, applied to life online.
Our students grow up with more information at their fingertips than any generation before them. Teaching them to use that access wisely is as much a part of tarbiyah at DSQA as teaching them to recite correctly.
Referring Matters to Those Who Understand
وَإِذَا جَآءَهُمْ أَمْرٌ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْنِ أَوِ ٱلْخَوْفِ أَذَاعُوا۟ بِهِۦ ۖ وَلَوْ رَدُّوهُ إِلَى ٱلرَّسُولِ وَإِلَىٰٓ أُو۟لِى ٱلْأَمْرِ مِنْهُمْ لَعَلِمَهُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَسْتَنۢبِطُونَهُۥ مِنْهُمْ ۗ وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُۥ لَٱتَّبَعْتُمُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
"And when there comes to them something [i.e., information] about [public] security or fear, they spread it around. But if they had referred it back to the Messenger or to those of authority among them, then the ones who [can] draw correct conclusions from it would have known about it. And if not for the favor of Allāh upon you and His mercy, you would have followed Satan, except for a few." (Surah An-Nisa 4:83)
Allah (SWT) describes those who spread news of security or fear without verifying it first, and instructs that such matters should be referred back to the Messenger (SAW) and to those in authority among them, who are able to properly understand it. The principle is timeless: information should be verified and understood before it is spread.
A Blessing That Requires Discipline
The same device that carries Qur'an recitation, beneficial knowledge, and family connection can just as easily carry distraction and misinformation. The believer's task is to use these tools with taqwa, God-consciousness, choosing what to consume and what to share with the same care they would bring to speech.
We encourage our students to pause before forwarding, sharing, or believing what they see online, asking whether it is verified and whether it benefits. May Allah (SWT) grant our students discernment and discipline in how they use every tool He has placed in their hands. Ameen.