Whom to trust in a case of false testimony

Question

Question: A certain qadi, who is also a government teacher, in the presence of several people makes a false and baseless accusation against several well-known responsible persons that they had him transferred (in his post), and thereby sows discord in the community. However, at the time of clearing up (the matter), in the presence of the very people to whom he had said this, he denies (it) on oath.

Answer

Making an accusation without verification because of some false report or mistaken assumption is a cause of tribulation (fitna); therefore it is necessary to clear it up and investigate. One should clear oneself before the person about whom the untrue thing was said: “It came about for such-and-such a reason; now it has become known that it was untrue, so I apologise.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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