Spread but TRUTH !

Plato came to his teacher, Socrates, and told him that his servant was talking bad about him in the marketplace. Socrates smiled and asked him, 'What was he saying?' Plato said, angrily, 'He was saying that...' Socrates motioned to Plato with his hand to stop, and smiled, 'Before you tell me this, apply the Test of Three on it, ponder over it and then decide if you should be telling me this. Plato inquired, 'What is this Test of Three?' Socrates said, 'Are you sure that what you are about to tell me is absolutely true?' Plato at once nodded in negative at the question. Socrates smiled and said, 'Then what benefit will it bring you or me if you tell me about it.' Plato quietly stared at his teacher's face. 'This was the first test and we move on to the second,' he continued, 'what you are about to tell me, is it a good thing?' Plato shook his head and replied, 'No, it is a disrespectful thing to say.' Socrates asked, 'Do you think it is wise to tell your teacher something like that?' Plato again shook his head. Socrates said, 'Thus, this does not follow even the second test.' Plato kept staring at his teacher’s face. Socrates said, 'And the final test. What you are about to tell me, is it beneficial for me?' Plato replied, ‘Oh no, teacher, this is beneficial for you in the least.' Socrates smiled and said, ‘If it is not beneficial for me, then what is the need to tell me about it?' Plato started looking right and left in utter amazement.

That was a great lesson for Plato and for all of us: we should not talk without being factual and there should be truthfulness in our conversation .we usually blab and blather about others without confirming the truth. It is sad that we spent hours on useless discussions with no ultimate conclusions , which mostly include rumours or back biting of another person. we should decide today that we will not spread any word unless it is authentic , valid , divine and beneficial.  we should decide ourselves whether we want to talk useless or productive . We have two ears but one mouth for a reason; so that we might listen more and talk less.

Be a good listener. If you will be a good listener , you will be listened . If you keep secrets , your secrets will be kept. Respect others to be respected. Speak less so that when you speak, people listen . Do positive discussion with the peers to be benefited with knowledge and positivity. Spread knowledge not false rumors. Do a little research before telling someone about something. Don't spread suspicions. As Allah said in the Quran "O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion, indeed some suspicions are sins. And spy not, neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting). And fear Allah, verily, Allah is The One Who accepts repentance, Most Merciful" (Qur'an 49: 12) 

This quality of healthy discussion is diminishing from our society. We usually talk bad about others , project a bad image of others and try to spread it without confirming. We assume things and try to spread our assumptions. Which is one of the many evils in our society. We must eradicate it unless it's too late: and then it will be impossible for us to uproot it. Today, let us make a promise with ourselves that we will not believe and spread rumors and that we will only share or spread knowledge! 

 May God help us all to follow the right path. Ameen!