Ramadan, Day 26
O you, those who have faith, do not some of you laugh at some others; it may be that they are the better ones. And do not some women laugh at others; it may be that they are the better ones. And do not defame your souls and do not mock each other with nicknames. Evil is corruption after faith. And who does not stop this, indeed they are wrong-doers. O you, those who have faith, avoid too much speculation; surely some speculation is a sin. And do not spy or backbite each other. Would you love someone who ate the flesh of his dead brother? You would abhor it. And be in awe of God. Surely God is forgiving, merciful.
I see it all the time on Twitter when people think themselves clever and superior by making fun of people they disagree with (such as liberals mocking Republicans). Another thing I see a lot of is taking some rumor or claim, often from a source the person does not otherwise trust (which is addressed separately in 49:6) and going off into a flight of speculation about someone else's motives all because that rumor or claim fits a preconceived notion that they have. The rules in this verse don't require belief in God, just common sense and common decency. It would be enough if everybody were to follow them, online and off.
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