Muslims in Social Media, an exposure of our true selves.
The writer, Zamena Manekia Manji (Bujumbura, Burundi) is a bookworm with a passion for writing and community service.
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A
s Muslims, we are required to adopt and display good Akhlaq, which loosely translates to the practice of virtue, morality and good manners. In the era of social media, we should exercise extreme caution in how we behave and present ourselves. From the reel makers to the
keyboard warriors, every move one makes especially on social media makes us answerable to
the Lord.
It is no secret that Muslims to most people, are perceived as staunch, oppressed and to some, as terrorists. The Western mainstream media has left no stone unturned to ruin Islam’s name, either by labelling Muslims as terrorists or completely misinterpreting the concept of the Hijab, painting it as a tool of oppression to the World, which needless to say, represents the exact opposite.
According to the search engine journal, a staggering 4.8 billion people use social media which represents 59.9% of the global population. In a world where one can connect in an instant from someone thousands of miles away, or how information now spreads like wildfire complete with photos and videos, Spiderman’s popular quote fits perfectly which states ‘’ with great power, comes great responsibility’’.
It’s like walking on eggshells or being watched like a hawk. This is why Muslim content creators who are easily influencing today’s generation, need to use their platforms wisely. Whereas several Muslims are all out there to bring about a positive change either through acts of generosity, sharing valuable knowledge and presenting light-hearted comedy, many influencers who claim to be Muslim aren’t quite adhering to the teachings of Islam. From some Muslim women celebrities who suddenly decide to remove their hijab to other famous Muslim men openly partying and splurging on lavish cars, they tend to oversee the damaging effect such actions can have on the viewers especially the younger generation, most of whom are practically idolizing the blue ticked Instagram personalities.
Another concern stems from the comments section on various posts on social media, also known as the keyboard warriors. Hidden beneath the screen, some people tend to get extremely rude, offensive and even vulgar when discussing a controversial topic or lashing back at an apostate/anti-Muslim person. How conveniently did we forget that our Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h) never flinched nor retorted when a lady kept pelting him with garbage and went to meet her when she fell sick? How are we the Ummah of the most merciful of men if we don’t even think twice before attacking someone with harsh words? How are we making a mockery of other’s beliefs when our Imams were known to treat the non-Muslims with utmost respect and dignity?
Agreed, that we have to speak up when our religion is attacked but there is a way of articulating our words without directly offending the person. Furiously typing curse words and condemning them to hell really isn’t the way forward, if anything it further triggers the originator of the post to spread more hate. We need to learn how to respond gracefully but powerfully, effectively silencing the anti-Muslims with knowledge and etiquette.
We should also use our time on social media wisely and utilize it to the maximum by spreading the true essence of Islam through displaying excellent Akhlaq, speaking up for the oppressed around the world by being a positive influence in a world full of hatred and animosity. Together, with the overpowering presence of social media, we can truly pave the way for a better World.
More from this writer:
Writers Panel | A Simple Thought | Obituaries | Ziarat Ashura | Islamic Calendar | Facebook | Instagram
