‘Haqquni’ (adhering to the truth), ‘Bāṭil’ (falsehood), and ‘Gumrāh’ (misguided) are terms that carry particular significance in the religious context. Similarly, honorific titles such as ‘Mufti’, ‘Mufassir’, and ‘Allama’ possess their own distinct status and significance.
However, through indiscriminate use and misuse, these words and titles are gradually losing their distinctive importance and prestige.
Terms and titles that once carried considerable weight and dignity no longer evoke the same sense of significance in many people. Instead, people have begun to regard the practice of scholars labelling one another with such terms or bestowing these titles upon one another as an everyday occurrence. Indeed, these words and titles have even become a source of amusement for some.
The scholars concerned cannot escape responsibility for allowing religious terminology and honorific titles to be reduced to objects of ridicule and triviality.
Sadly, the word ‘fitnah’ is now being added to this list, although its usage had already become somewhat diluted.
If this trend continues, the very word may eventually lose its significance and gravity even when used to identify fitnah. Rather than focusing on avoiding fitnah and warning others against it, we may become more preoccupied with labelling people as instigators of fitnah and attaching the tag of ‘fitnah’ to this or that person or issue.
Consequently, while claiming to protect the Ummah from fitnah, we ourselves may become major catalysts for its spread.
And thus, the warning of the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) may become a reality in our own conduct—a warning whose meaning is that fitnah will originate from them and return to them.