Islamic guidelines for using social media

In the name of Allāh, ar-Raḥmān (the most merciful), ar-Raḥīm (the bestower of mercy)

One of the easiest avenues of immense reward – and conversely much sin – is social media. This point is further illustrated when we consider how a single message may reach thousands, if not millions within an instance. A person may not pay a moment of thought to his or her ‘tweet’, ‘post’ or ‘snap’, and yet the consequences can be dire.

In fact, this is a clear testification to the statement of the Prophet ﷺ,

a person makes a statement which pleases Allāh; he does not give it much consideration, but it reaches as far as it reaches, and his rank in Paradise is raised due to it.

A person makes a statement which angers Allāh; he does not give it much consideration, but it reaches as far as it reaches, and he is thrown into the Fire due to it. [1]

Our “posts”, “tweets”, “pins”, “snaps” and other forms of social media can either guide many people or indeed misguide; you could be opening the doors of Paradise through them or opening doors to the Fire.

To ensure such avenues earn us reward from Allāh, we should keep the following guidelines in mind:

1. Make it an act of worship.

Any worldly action can be transformed into ‘ibādah (worship) based on one’s intention. If you post via your account because you want followers or seek fame, your action is restricted to worldly gain. But if you utilise your social media accounts to please Allāh and guide others, you will be rewarded in the Hereafter. A person who does so, will have a portion of the saying of Allāh:

{And who is better in speech than he who calls to Allah: “My Lord is Allah, does righteous deeds, and says: “I am one of the Muslims.”} [41:33]

Of course, one’s intention is not sufficient, rather the action itself must also be within the limits of Islam.

2. Be a key to goodness not a key to evil.

Use your social media to encourage others to do good, inspire people to have imān and be a means of guidance. Do not use your social media account to spread disobedience, filth and corruption. It is saddening to see how many young Muslims are a cause of sins and disobedience through their behaviour on social media.

The concept of ḥijāb has been changed from one of modesty and covering, to fashion and attracting attention. Music is being “Islamised”, thereby justifying it in the minds of many naive Muslims.

Do the creators of such accounts forget that after their fame dies, they will leave this world and their reckoning will be with Allāh? Then they will be questioned about the people they led to disobedience.

The Prophet ﷺ said,

Some people open the doors to good and close the doors to evil; other people open the doors to evil and close the doors to good. Glad tidings to those in whose hands Allāh places the keys to good, and woe to those in whose hands Allah places the keys to evil. [2]

3. You cannot be anonymous from Allāh.

One of the traps of social media is that it allows any person to become whoever he or she wants. A person can assume the identity of another or remain anonymous, posting according to one’s desires but without facing any repercussions.

But remember your Lord is the one from whom even your inner thoughts are not concealed, there will be no anonymity on the Day of Reckoning. So anything that you would not post using your real identity, do not post it anonymously.

{Warn them (O Muhammad) of the Day that is drawing near, when the hearts will be choking the throats, and they can neither return their [hearts] to their chests nor can they throw them out. There will be no friend, nor an intercessor for the oppressor who could be given heed to.

Allah knows the fraud of the eyes, and all that the chest conceal} [40:18-19]

4. Be sure any Islamic post is correct and authentic.

Being careless in investigating the authenticity of a ḥadīth or the validity of an Islamic ruling is not only dangerous for one’s own self, but it can also misguide many others. Look to what trusted scholars have said regarding the ḥadīth or the ruling you are about the broadcast.

The Prophet ﷺ said,

Whoever lies upon me intentionally, let him prepare his place in the Fire. [3]

It is feared upon a person who does not ensure his information is authentic and accurate may indeed enter into the above ḥadīth.

5. Verify before you make a judgement.

This is especially important when it relates to other people. The Prophet ﷺ said,

It is sufficient for a person to be considered a liar, that he conveys everything he hears. [4]

It is not acceptable for a person to blame the one who sent him the original information, even if it was a person of knowledge. Rather a person must always verify and investigate before posting.

{O you who have believed, if there comes to you a disobedient one with information, investigate, lest you harm a people out of ignorance and become, over what you have done, regretful} [49:06]

6. Do not be hasty.

Before you press that button, think, think and think again. A person is in control of his tongue as long as he has not said a word, as soon as the word is said, he is no longer in control. Similarly, you are in control of your tweets and posts as long as you do not send them. Once they have been sent, you have lost control. Before you can delete it, it will have already reached thousands of people and perhaps screenshots have already been taken, so do not be hasty.

The Prophet  said,

Patience and deliberation is from Allah; hastiness is from Shaytan. [5]

Do not fall into the trap of being the first who “claims the scoop” or the first to break the story – this is an indicator of insincerity.

7. Leave behind a legacy of goodness.

You may die within an instance, and suddenly you have left behind several social accounts to your name. Your posts, tweets and, photos will remain long after you have died. You can either leave behind sound knowledge and goodness, or you leave behind immorality, indecency and, disobedience. Either way, it will the legacy that defines you, and you will continue being rewarded or punished due to what you left behind.

{Verily, We give life to the dead, and We record that which they send before [them] and their traces [behind them]…}  [36:12]

8. It is the content that matters, not clickbait.

Using a catchy title to merely attain numbers is only important to a person who is calling to himself or a business. In Islām, numbers and followers do not matter, only that you speak the truth and speak it in an appropriate manner. Of course, we want the da’wah to reach as many people as possible, and we are happy when we see more people guided, but mere numbers – by any means necessary – is not the intended objective.

Be careful of using clickbait strategies for da’wah, such that you use shocking titles to draw the attention of people and gain followers. Do not fall into the plot of Shaytān who tells you “use any means, as long as the objective is Islamic”. Rather a Muslim must ensure that both the objective and the means are Islamically correct.

{Say, “This is my way; I invite to Allāh with insight, I and those who follow me. And exalted is Allāh; and I am not of those who associate others with Him.”} [12:208]

9. Islām is a religion of priorities.

Do not lose focus of your priorities in the real world, whilst immersing yourself in the virtual world.

Your social media should not delay your ṣalāh; your virtual friends should destroy your relationship with your family. A successful person is the one who remains balanced and fulfils all his responsibilities and priorities.

We should not shy away from using social media and technology to further Islām. Where there is falsehood, it must be countered with the truth; we should not leave any domain devoid of the da’wah, but at the same time we should not let this distract us from other responsibilities.

I ask Allāh, the majestic and exalted, to show our Muslim youth the path to guidance, and give them the ability to traverse it. May peace, blessings and salutations be upon the best of creation.

Written by the one in need of Allah,

Abul Abbaas Naveed Ayaaz

Nelson, Lancashire.

9th Shawwaal, 1439h

Corresponding to 23rd June, 2018

 

Footnotes

[1] Narrated by Abu Hurayrah; Collected by al-Bukhārī.

[2] Narrated by Anas Ibn Mālik; Collected by Ibn Mājah.

[3] Narrated by Abu Hurayrah; Collected by Al-Bukhārī & Muslim.

[4] Narrated by Abdullah Ibn ’Amr Ibn al-Aas; Collected by Abu Dawūd

[5] Narrated by Anas Ibn Mālik; Collected by Al-Bayhaqi & others