Sheikh Khaled El Gendy, a member of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, warned against rushing to circulate news and information without verifying its accuracy.
He explained that receiving information should involve several stages, beginning with listening, followed by analysis and examination by the mind, before a person decides whether to accept, reject, or share it.
El Gendy stressed that some information lacks reliable foundations and should therefore be dismissed regardless of who presents it.
Khaled El Gendy Explains the Importance of Analyzing Information
Khaled El Gendy emphasized that analyzing the content of a piece of news should come before relying on its source.
He referred to the Quranic verse: “O you who believe, if a wicked person brings you news, verify it.”
According to his explanation, the first step is to examine the information itself in terms of accuracy, logic, and available evidence rather than simply trusting the person or organization that shared it.
Why Information Should Be Verified Before Trusting Its Source
El Gendy explained that identifying and assessing the source should come after examining the content itself.
He also pointed out that interests and agendas can influence the way information is presented, making critical evaluation an important part of responsible media consumption.
Artificial Intelligence Makes Content Verification More Important
Khaled El Gendy stressed the importance of applying several criteria before accepting or sharing information, particularly with the rapid development of artificial intelligence tools.
Digital content can now be modified and altered with increasing ease, making it important to verify photographs, recordings, videos, and circulating claims before sharing them.
Questions to Ask Before Believing a News Story
People can evaluate information by asking several questions:
- Is the information reliable?
- Is there clear evidence supporting it?
- Has it been reported by more than one source?
- Could the content have been manipulated or altered?
- Could sharing it cause harm or negatively affect society?
These questions provide an important layer of information filtering before a person decides to circulate the content.
Khaled El Gendy Warns Against Spreading Misinformation
El Gendy stressed that responsibility does not end with understanding information. It also extends to the decision to publish and circulate it.
He noted that spreading false or misleading information can have social and legal consequences, particularly when it contributes to conflict, rumors, or harm to the public interest.
“Ear, Mind, Then Tongue”
Khaled El Gendy summarized the proper process of dealing with information as “ear, mind, then tongue.”
The idea is that a person first receives information, then analyzes and evaluates it, and only afterward decides whether to repeat or publish it.
The problem arises when people skip the stage of thinking and verification and move directly from hearing something to sharing it.
Khaled El Gendy Cites a Quranic Verse
El Gendy cited the Quranic verse: “When you received it with your tongues and said with your mouths that of which you had no knowledge, thinking it was insignificant while it is great in the sight of Allah.”
He explained that the verse warns against circulating statements without knowledge or verification, emphasizing that words carry responsibility and that information that appears insignificant can have serious consequences.
Awareness Is a Responsibility Before Sharing
Khaled El Gendy emphasized that awareness in dealing with information has become essential, urging people not to rush to share news, videos, or claims before examining them.
He stressed the importance of thinking before publishing and taking responsibility for one’s words, especially in an environment where digital content can spread rapidly to large numbers of people.
What did Khaled El Gendy say about sharing news?
He warned against sharing news without verification and emphasized listening, analyzing, and evaluating information before publishing it.
What are the stages of properly handling information?
El Gendy described the process as “ear, mind, then tongue”—listening first, followed by analysis and then speaking or publishing.
Why is content verification important in the age of artificial intelligence?
Modern technology has made it easier to modify images, videos, recordings, and other forms of digital content.
What questions should people ask before sharing news?
They should ask whether the information is reliable, whether evidence exists, whether multiple sources support it, whether it can be manipulated, and what impact sharing it could have.
Can spreading misinformation cause harm?
Yes. Circulating inaccurate information can have social and legal consequences, particularly when it contributes to conflict or harms the public interest.
