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wa-ʾidhā jāʾahum ʾamrun mina l-ʾamni ʾawi l-khawfi ʾadhāʿū bihī wa-law raddūhu ʾilā r-rasūli wa-ʾilā ʾulī l-ʾamri minhum la-ʿalimahu lladhīna yastanbiṭūnahū minhum wa-law-lā faḍlu llāhi ʿalaykum wa-raḥmatuhū la-ttabaʿtumu sh-shayṭāna ʾillā qalīlan
When a report of safety or alarm comes to them, they immediately broadcast it; but had they referred it to the Apostle or to those vested with authority among them, those of them who investigate would have ascertained it. And were it not for Allah’s grace upon you and His mercy, you would have surely followed Satan, [all] except a few.
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah An-Nisa', Verse 83
83. "And when there comes unto them news of security or fear, they spread it abroad; whereas had they referred it to the Messenger and to those who hold command among them, those of them who investigate matters would have known it (the truth); and were it not for the grace of Allah upon you and His mercy, you would certainly have followed Satan, except a few."
Spreading private news and also rumours have always been injurious to Muslims. Diffusion of secret news usually originates from these motives: simple-mindedness, vengeance, infliction, being subject to the will of others, greed in materials, gaudiness, expression of information, etc. For the comprehensiveness that Islam has, it has referred to this subject and, in this verse; it blames the divulgence of military secrets. It considers narrating the information of victory or failure before offering them to the leaders as the cases of 'false pride' and 'inappropriate fear from the fanciful enemy'.
Had the warnings and the graces of Allah not existed, the Muslims would have fallen in this Satanic path (the divulgence of secrets). Therefore, spreading gossips is one of the weapons of the hypocrites. However, the news of the battle-field and military secrets must reach a central office and, after being recognized and evaluated, some convenient part of them may be spread. Hence, spreading military news and refraining from referring to the divine leaders, is a kind of obedience from Satan.
Of course, the military and political affairs, together with leading the security news and social secrets, should be controlled under an administrations hip that consists of an independent judgement and deduction. This matter is among the deities of the rank of leadership. That is why there is a close connection between master ship and Islamic jurisprudence.