How can we guide children to verify information before sharing, as part of Islamic integrity and honesty? 

Parenting Perspective 

In an age of rapid-fire sharing, teaching children to pause and verify information is a crucial skill. It builds critical thinking and instils a deep sense of responsibility for the words and images they put out into the world. 

Explain the Responsibility of Sharing 

Help your child to understand that sharing something online is an act of bearing witness to it. Explain that if the information turns out to be wrong, they have unintentionally participated in spreading a falsehood, even if they did not create it. 

Teach Simple Verification Steps 

Give them simple, practical tools to check information. This could be looking for the original source or comparing what they have seen with a reliable news website. For younger children, a simple rule can be to always check with a parent first before sharing something surprising. 

Encourage a ‘Pause Before Posting’ Habit 

Help them to build the habit of pausing before they post. You can teach them to ask three simple questions: ‘Am I sure this is true?’, ‘Is this kind?’, and ‘Is this helpful?’ This internal checklist reduces the risk of impulsive sharing. 

Model Integrity in Your Own Sharing 

Your own actions are the most powerful teacher. Let your child see you taking a moment to verify something before you share it. Explaining your thought process aloud shows them that this is a mature and responsible habit for everyone. 

This approach helps them to become responsible digital citizens who value truth and integrity. 

Spiritual Insight 

The Islamic tradition commands believers to be meticulous with information, verifying news before accepting or spreading it. This principle is more important than ever in our digital age. 

Verifying Before Accepting 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Hujurat (49), Verse 6: 

‘O you who have believed, if there comes to you a disobedient one with information, investigate, lest you harm a people out of ignorance and become, over what you have done, regretful…’ 

This verse establishes a clear religious duty to verify information before acting upon it or passing it on, in order to prevent causing unintended harm. 

The Danger of Spreading Rumours 

It is recorded in Sahih Muslim, Hadith 5, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘It is enough of a lie for a man to narrate everything he hears.’ 

By linking this powerful teaching to their online habits, children can understand that being careful with information is not just a practical skill, but a profound act of faith and integrity.