Gus Ipul urges public to strengthen tabayun in digital era

Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf, also known as Gus Ipul, has urged all segments of society to enhance patience and diligence in the current digital technology era by cultivating a culture of verifying information before sharing it on social media.

Meeting after the Eid al-Adha 1447 Hijriah prayer at Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque on Wednesday, Gus Ipul stated that reinforcing the spirit of verification or tabayun is crucial amid the widespread circulation of opinions blending truth and falsehood.

The message promoting digital literacy and ethics aligns with the core of the Eid al-Adha 1447 H sermon titled ‘Strengthening the Spirit of Sacrifice, Caring for Nature and Humanity’ delivered by UIN Alauddin Makassar Rector Prof H Hamdan Juhannis.

‘I noted from the sermon the importance of patience in today’s technology era. We must be ready to verify before sharing. We must foster and strengthen the spirit of tabayun and clarification, given the often-mixed nature of opinions—some correct, some partially correct, and some entirely false,’ he said.

He views caution in managing digital information as a strong moral responsibility to prevent negative impacts or social unrest in community life.

Beyond highlighting technological challenges, Gus Ipul praised the smooth, secure, and orderly execution of the Eid al-Adha 1447 H prayer at Istiqlal Mosque, which carried a humanitarian spirit of mutual assistance regardless of background.

‘This is a powerful message for all of us: whatever we share must be accountable. One point the preacher conveyed was the need to help one another without discriminating based on religion, ethnicity, or political views,’ he added.