Judge, jury and executioner

Newswise, what an interesting week it has been last week. So much has happened on the local front, that I'm sure the otherwise plunging newspapers sales have picked up since last week.

I'm in no mood to give an analytical comment on any of the events that transpired last week. The only thing that I want to blog down is the incessant speculation that most of us tend to make based on conspiracy theories and hearsay.

Almost immediately upon hearing something which has yet to be confirmed true or accurate, we have this tendency to jump to a conclusion. We are also quick to condemn without checking the facts and without ascertaining the accuracy of what we hear. To make matters worse, even those reporting (for the sake of reporting a groundbreaking event), ignores the need to verify and validate what is being reported.

What is even terrible is when what is reported is still under police investigation. The way the story is projected in the media has inadvertently draw people to come to a conclusion that the person or persons involved is/are already guilty. The police are still investigating the facts. No charges have been made as yet. The case has not even been brought to court to be tried. Yet, in the eyes of the Malaysian public, who just loves juicy gossips, the implicated person(s) involved is/are indeed guilty. This coming from the same Malaysian public who wants to see justice being done without fear or favour.

In a nutshell, this is what I have to say about all this:

• Let the police do their job;
• Let justice prevail;
• Let's stop speculating, and worse still, spreading unfounded rumours and suspicion;
• If the person(s) is/are indeed guilty, let he be punished in the court of law, and not in the court of public opinion;
• For Muslims, even if the person(s) is/are guilty and he/she/they get(s) away with it, always put your faith in the Day of Judgement when true Divine justice is handed out;
• And more importantly, let's stop from being judge, jury and executioner.

I'd like to share the following verses from the Quran as a reminder to us all, especially Muslims:

O ye who believe! If a wicked person comes to you with any news, ascertain the truth, lest ye harm people unwittingly, and afterwards become full of repentance for what ye have done... O ye who believe! Let not some men among you laugh at others. It may be that the (latter) is better than the (former); nor let some women laugh at others. It may be that the (latter) is better than the (former); nor defame nor be sarcastic to each other, nor call each other by (offensive) nicknames; ill-seeming is a name connoting wickedness, (to be used of one) after he has believed. And those who do not desist are (indeed) doing wrong. O ye who believe! Avoid suspicion as much (as possible); for suspicion in some cases is a sin; and spy not on each other, nor speak ill of each other behind their backs. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Nay, ye would abhor it. But fear God; for God is Oft-returning, Most Merciful.

[Al-Hujurat (49): 6, 11-12]