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Sometimes you’re forced to speak up, even if you don’t want to, even if it’s out of character.

That just happened at the mosque this lunchtime, when the boys’ teacher asked, “Who has heard of so-and-so?”

Immediately, other dads ventured all they thought they knew. “He was a terrorist. He went to Syria. He was a terrorist extremist. He was with al-Muhajireen. And then…”

It is at this point that I have to raise my voice. Not because I like the person, or am his friend or supporter. Simply because I hate this lack of precision when it comes to speaking the truth.

It is at this point that I have to tell a room full of men and boys that I knew this individual personally, and that he was none of those things. It’s left to me to set the record straight, whether they want to hear it or not.

Of course, what he was in the past was not the point. The teacher wants to speak about what he stands for now. The latter, of course, I cannot speak of for I have not kept up with that old acquaintance of mine, other than to be aware of his occasional diatribe in the media.

As to that, when asked, I say, “I don’t know anything about that.” Which is really how this discussion should have started out. At the least, it could have started, “So-and-so reportedly said such-and-such…”

No, but we hear no such thing. This was the second tale reported to the group, presumably without verification, from whichever social media forum it was gleaned from.

The mosque is not a place to hear such tales. Here we are supposed to be mindful of our deen. “Speak good or remain silent.” “When news comes to you, verify it.” “Do not mix truth and falsehood.” “Be just even against yourself.”