The Silent Epidemic of Character Assassination

Md. Mahbub-ul Alam :

“Character Assassination” has, indeed, been known to be an ailment of human soul from time immemorial. When this spiritual malady spreads irresistibly, it takes the form of an epidemic. As it is the disease of the soul, it easily pervades society and silently corrodes the essence of humanity. Almost all the religious books, scriptures and theological materials have made people remain careful of its outbreak.

If we revisit the pages of divine history, some events strike our hearts as deeply as the tale of Prophet Hazrat Yusuf (A:). He was a young man having extraordinary purity and virtue, yet he became an early victim of one of the oldest tragedies of society, which is “character Assassination.” The incident involving Zulekha, which is known to almost everyone, stands as an infamous example of how an untrue accusation can shake a person’s dignity. Hazrat Yousuf (A:) had suffered the inhuman treatment of character assassination much before the term existed. His integrity was tainted, his reputation stained, and his life shattered because someone chose falsification over truth.

The narrative feels antediluvian, yet it is painfully modern. The methods have changed, but the purpose remains the same. Today, instead of physical harm, reputations are damaged by lies. A single malicious comment, a single rumour, or a single fictitious story can destroy a person’s dignity, which often is beyond repair.

It is heartbreaking how silently and easily this devastating habit has become a part of daily life. Though the holy Qur’an warns, “Destruction is for every person who habitually mocks others, ridicules them, and speaks ill of them behind their back” (Al- Humazah 104:1), a rumour is forwarded without a second thought. a screenshot is shared without assessing its authenticity. An edited video clip is circulated to provoke emotion or mockery. At times some people act due to carelessness, at times because of jealousy or simply for amusement. But often what we forget is that behind every rumour is a human being, with a heart, a family, dreams, and vulnerabilities. What is just “one share” for a person may become a lifetime shame or disaster for someone else. In this age of instant reaction, moral restraint has lessened unthinkably and even become slower than the click of a button where wisdom seldom arrives but at times too late.

A glaring example is the 1998 scandal involving President Bill Clinton, during which Monica Lewinsky became one of the first persons to face bitter online character assassination. As the internet emerged, millions spread rumours, jokes and hateful comments about her, turning her into a global symbol of scandal without context, empathy, or justice. Lewinsky later mentioned she was “the first person to have her reputation destroyed worldwide through the Internet,” narrating her case and example of digital public shaming.

The digital era has expedited this crisis. Social media platforms often amplify cruelty, instead of fostering understanding. A dishonest accusation can outspread like wildfire; a misleading headline can shape perceptions; a manipulated image can destroy someone’s life within minutes. Jonathan Swift, a famous Anglo-Irish essayist and satirist, appropriately narrated in his The art of political Lying, that “Falsehood flies, and the Truth comes limping after it”, a statement that has never felt more accurate before.

It is to note that this problem is not created by technology alone. It lives within us. It grows in our impulses, our judgments, and our conversation. Many of us carry scars for a period, even throughout our lives, inflicted by words of others. Some of us may also carry the guilt of harming someone unintentionally. We need to question ourselves, are we addicted to these heinous activities? The truth is, we severely underestimate the power of our own speech. We justify gossip as harmless, slander as “just opinion,” and rumour-spreading as “just fun.” But words are never “just words.” They can build trust or destroy it. They can elevate someone or bury them. They can restore hope or rob someone of their will to live.

The tragedy today is not only that character assassination occurs, but that it has become normalized. People now participate in public shaming as casually as they scroll through their phones. Someone’s personal failure becomes a joke, someone’s private struggle becomes the object of gossip, and someone’s mistake becomes a viral humiliation.

And all of these happen while the victims watch helplessly, unable to defend themselves against a storm they did not create. The damage is far deeper than what is visible on a screen. Families are torn apart by rumour. Young people lose their confidence. Careers collapse overnight. Reputations built Over decades crumbled in a moment. Many victims of online slander carry wounds that few can see. Some being helpless choose to succumb to death. Only the victim feels the real pain of it, as poet Krishna Chandra Mazumdar, in one of his poems titled “বুঝিবে সে কিসে” mentioned “কী যাতনা বিষে, বুঝিবে সে কিসে; কভূ আশীবিষে দংশেনি যারে”We need to remember, counting others’ sins never make someone a saint.

A society cannot thrive when people feel unsafe, not physically, but morally and emotionally. Trust is the foundation of human relationships, and character assassination shatters that trust. When suspicion replaces sincerity and malice replaces empathy, communities weaken from within. Creativity dies when people fear disrespect. Courage disappears when people fear humiliation. And progress crippled when people are concerned being targeted for standing out.

To bring this epidemic to an end, it is important to first recognise that character assassination is a grave issue. Such an apparent individual insult slowly turns into a social plague which corrodes sympathy, solidarity, and the foundation of human society. Youth never prosper if their creativity is hampered due to fears of being target of cyber-crime. Moreover, when intentional lies take the place of the truth in the form of rumours, families cannot live in peace, and a dignified society cannot exist.

To seek redemption out of the deep-rooted malady, empathy is the first priority. It turns away restraint into moral responsibility and silence into wisdom. Another important aspect is the verification. The Quran warns, “If a wicked person brings you news, verify it.” (Al-Hujurat 49: 6). In practice, this injunction orders the prohibition of the amplification of unverified screenshots, video content, or dramatic rumours. Even if many people share, it doesn’t validate its truth. Verification is not only a key principle of journalism but also a moral responsibility.

It is also necessary to revive a culture of respectful dialogue. This is a natural phenomenon – human beings will have disagreement with each other but that must not have negative consequences. It is constructive to criticise ideas, but it is pointless to attack an individual. The advice given by the Prophet (SM), “Speak good or remain silent” (Sahih al-Bukhari: 6136), is, perhaps, the most powerful remedy provided to modern crisis.

Institutions will also have to carry their share of responsibility. Truth must be prioritised by media organisations instead of sensationalism. Social media platforms should have more prolific systems of identifying harassment and preventing defamation. Schools are being called upon to teach digital ethics and emotional intelligence. Yet the deepest change begins within each human heart. A jealous heart cannot be a happy heart. We must rediscover the courage to defend dignity – our own and that of others. Rumours should be stopped, even when they are alluring and decline gossip, even when it is amusing.

We need to develop a culture where honour is protected like a treasure, children grow up learning that kindness is power, communities uplift instead of tearing down. A culture where mistakes are corrected privately, not broadcast for humiliation, the differences spark into learning instead of hostility. Such culture is not a daydream; rather its requirement is urgent. We can continue along the path of cruelty, or we can choose compassion. We can normalize humiliation, or we can restore dignity. We can spread rumours, or we can stand for the truth. The real humility is when, if someone is reminded of one’s own faults, seeing the fault of others. If someone wants to talk about others, that should be in their supplication. We need to ponder on the great saying: “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.” Let us not include ourselves in the list of small minds. Let us restrict ourselves so that others are not harmed in any way because of our words or act, as the Prophet (S.A.) mentioned, “A Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hands others are safe” (Al-Bhukhari: 10).

Reference:

Tabassum, M & Alam, M. M. (2023). The State of Telling Lies: An Analytical Approach from Bangladesh Perspective. BUP Journal. Vol-10. Issue-01.

(The writer is the Vice Chancellor of Bangladesh University of Professionals, Dhaka)