May Allah bless my grandmother, who lived to be nearly 110 years old. On winter nights, we children would gather around her, and she would tell us various tales. She used to narrate the story of Prophet Joseph (Yusuf) in Punjabi verses with a melodic voice. One story she told me still resonates with me today. There was a village near a forest where a lion arrived. The entire village erupted in chaos. A brave man stepped forward with a sword. When he confronted the lion, the first strike of the sword was unbearable for the lion; hence, he fled. Some time later, the lion returned to the village, and the same brave man was there. But this time, before striking, the brave man contemptuously taunted the lion, saying, “Get lost, you dog!” Upon hearing this, the lion ran off into the jungle. The third time the lion came, he started talking to this brave man. They became friends. The brave man asked the lion, “Dear brother, how is your wound? How is the health of the king of the jungle?” The lion sighed and said, “Brother! The wound from the sword has healed, but the arrow you shot by calling me a dog went straight to my heart. That wound hasn’t healed. The blood keeps flowing.” The brave man hugged the lion, kissed his mouth, and took him to his home, where he treated him with meat and then took him back to the jungle. After telling this story, my grandmother would remind us children of the lesson that we must never utter hurtful and filthy words, as they wound the heart. Wounds from swords may heal, but wounds inflicted on the heart take a long time to mend.

While researching children’s moral education in New Zealand, a review of children’s education was conducted, and here is an excerpt from that report:
"Rooted in Christian values, we believe that instilling God's love in our children fosters their growth and prepares them for the future."
Keeping Christian traditions in mind, we believe that God’s love instilled in children will nurture them and prepare them for the future.

Similarly, in some developed countries, for a period of two to three years in primary education, the focus is on human relationships and love instead of textbooks. Children are taught moral subjects such as patriotism, adherence to the law, cleanliness, hatred of lies, and truthfulness. I remember how, in childhood, when we took our bicycles to the mechanic, we would ask him to “overhaul” the bicycle. This meant to repair it wherever it was broken. If any part was beyond repair, a new part would be installed. A good mechanic would “overhaul” the bicycle in such a way that it would become lightweight. The energy of the rider would not be wasted aimlessly. I believe that our societal system and the majority of our institutions also need an overhaul, but this will not be possible without a diligent mechanic. Special attention will be required for the education and upbringing of the new generation.

According to a saying of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), “Some statements are more wounding than the strikes of arrows” (Tirmidhi, Hasan). Those who try to wound the existence of our beloved homeland with their arrow-like words, who tarnish people’s honor on social media without investigation and proof, must be held accountable. In search of guidance, I opened the Holy Quran and found “Surah Nur.” This Surah does not specify different kinds of light; it states that if false rumors are spread in society and individuals’ honors are violated, the light will depart from society. The darkness of ignorance will prevail, leading to turmoil and conflicts; thus, to maintain the light, such criminals will be punished. Those who deserve a warning will be cautioned. The practice of degrading the honor of respected individuals will not be allowed to continue. The translation of the first verse of Surah Nur is as follows: “This is a great Surah, We have revealed it, and We have made it obligatory. We have revealed clear verses in it so that you may walk on the path of goodness” (translation paraphrased).

Dear readers! The incident of “Ifk” mentioned in the Hadith is as follows: the mother of the believers, Hazrat Aisha Siddiqua (may Allah be pleased with her), was traveling with the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). She was both young and lightweight, and due to illness, she had lost a considerable amount of weight. During the journey back, they halted at a place to allow the caravan to rest. During this time, Hazrat Aisha Siddiqua (may Allah be pleased with her) lost her necklace. While she was busy searching for it, the caravan was given the signal to depart. Hazrat Aisha Siddiqua’s litter was lifted by a few companions and placed on the camel. When Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) returned after a while, she saw that the caravan had left. She sat down there. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) would appoint a person to stay slightly behind during every journey so that if someone left something behind, it could be retrieved. In this journey, this responsibility fell on Hazrat Safwan (may Allah be pleased with him). After a while, he arrived and saw Umul Momineen, Hazrat Aisha Siddiqua (may Allah be pleased with her), sitting there. He brought his camel down, and Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) mounted it. After a while, they joined the caravan. Abdullah bin Ubay, the leader of the hypocrites, learned of this, and he began to slander them based on this incident. This news spread throughout Medina. For a month, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), his family, and all the Muslims were distressed. The revelation of Surah Nur followed, and Allah commanded: “As for those who accuse chaste women (men) and do not bring four witnesses, punish them with eighty lashes and do not accept any testimony from them. They are indeed the disobedient. Except for those who repent afterward and amend their condition, for indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful” (Surah Nur: 4-5). The scholars have clarified that the punishment for slandering someone’s character is eighty lashes, while there can be legal consequences for other forms of slander and falsehood. The reality is that both aspects are necessary! We must educate our new generation in such a way that they become useful and honorable citizens of the country, while those who are part of today’s aware generation must be made to realize that irresponsible speech and writing will have consequences.

In the mentioned incident of “Ifk,” there were three companions who were sincere but became participants in the slander, and they were also punished with eighty lashes each.

Justice and equity alone maintain the light in a society. Where there is no rule of law, where no one’s life and property are safe, and where there is no courage to correct governance, how will darkness be dispelled, and how will the light be attained? Our beloved homeland, Insha’Allah, will endure. Those who desecrated the Pakistani flag in Germany have bound themselves to loss and regret. This flag will rise even higher. Let us criticize constructively, steeped in compassion for Pakistan and its people, so that Pakistan continues to emerge from darkness and advance into the light.

Written By:Moulana Ameer Hamza