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Social media and Islam We will be looking at a very important and modern topic in today’s session. By no means am I going to tell you to delete all your accounts/ never to go on snap chant again but rather we are going to evaluate our use of social media and make ourselves more aware of the impact of our actions online Today’s session we will cover 5 key questions:What is social media? Why do you use social media? What are the advantages of social media? What are the disadvantages of social media? What are your limits/boundaries on social media? So, we will need your contribution – points and thoughts as I would like this to be a discussion rather than a passive talk. What is Social mediaLet’s start with you introducing yourself to the person next to you and together defining what is social media (2mins)How has social media changed our lives in the last 10 – 15 years? Some of us may have grown up with it so have not known life without it or some of us grew up without it but now we live in a time where its part and parcel of our lives.No matter if we are toddler, children, adults, parents, grandparents….everyone’s using it!What are examples of social media? With your fingers – show me how many accounts you have of the outlined social media? It is a must! I have to admit I nearly have all of them too. On average, people have?7- 8 social media accounts. It’s nothing to be ashamed of unless we do not have a purpose. Intention is important in Islam, that’s where our reward stems from. Your action is for its intention– why are you on social media? Why are you watching you tube vlog, why are you scrolling your Instagram feed, why are you watching others snap stories, why are you posting online etc.… Why do you use social media? (2mins) – Discuss with your partnersListen to others than give your own example Give my own example – Instagram to share my Islamic work and inspire others with ideas and to be inspired… twitter for my work – teacher training to keep up to date with new teaching ideas and pedagogy, Facebook to keep up to date with my family and friends. Skype – used to have to speak to family abroad before what’s app video calls came along Snapchat – I don’t have because I don’t have purpose for it Slide Social interaction is a Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings be upon him). We are encouraged strongly in our religion to keep social interactions with one another. Our parents, siblings, neighbours, relatives, friends, colleagues, and community. We find multiple hadith encouraging salaam to others, go visit our sister if she is sick or help someone in need, to attend an invitation if we have been invited to a meal or wedding, emphasis on maintaining ties, rights of a neighbour etc.… So much so that once Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) would sit with his companions, they would discuss their dreams they had that night, lives and share problems. There was constant interaction between Prophet and the companions. So there’s nothing wrong with the social interaction in itself and the social media in itself. It’s the way we use it which we need to evaluate. E.g. Like a knife. You can use it to harm yourself and others or simply to cut fruits and slice things. The knife itself if not banned or haram. It’s the actions we do with it that matter. Islam doesn’t say don’t use social media, just use it correctly.You can either use it correctly or incorrectly When Allah asks you I gave you the tool of social media– how did you we social media? Which brings me on to my next question - What are the Positive of social media? – brainstorm or write on the sticky note and come up stick up and then read off as you go along - 5mins Social media is permissible to use and even encourage to take benefit from it. The power of technology is immense. You have the power to spread message to the entire world Easier to do good deeds- Subhanallah, we live in a hyper connected world - social media has made it easier for us to do so many good deeds e.g. To spread salam, check up on a sister not feeling well, to share Quran verses, hadiths and beneficial videos online. Authentic knowledge at our finger tips – join a class you can’t personally attend, watch a recording. Stay connected with loved ones - It also allows us to stay in touch with family and friends more regularly and closely. If they ae close to us or across the globe – more of a reason to maintain ties (strangely thou it’s the opposite social media has made us so busyBe part of good initiatives –e.g. WhatsApp groups, fundraising in 24hrs – just share you’re just giving page link on your status and you reach your target. So many groups these days - share a Quran verse a day / learn a new hadith a day etc.…Messenger of Allah? said, "Whoever guides someone to virtue will be rewarded equivalent to him who practices that good action". [Muslim].The Messenger of Allah delivered a religious speech on the Day of Sacrifice and said: 'Let those who are present convey to those who are absent. For perhaps the one to whom it is conveyed will understand it better than the one who (first) hears it.'"So what’s wrong with social media? What are the Negatives of social media? – brainstorm or write on the sticky note and come up stick up and then read off as you go along - 5mins Does it affect our health? –Slide Negatives of social media: Well if the founder of Apple, Steve Jobs, along with others influencers limit their children’s screen time, there must be a reason why?Why do you think mental health/depression is on the rise because social media gives us unrealistic expectations? Unrealistic expectations It makes us think and believe certain things when they are really not the truth. A vlogger will usually show all the positive parts of her life, the Instagram worthy pictures or make a situation Instagram worthy – but what about all the hardship she went through to take that picture or all the sad times in her life, the hours spent alone on a laptop editing her video and hate comments she had to read. I want us to become critical thinkers of what we watch / see and hear on social media. People online putting their lives on show. They share with you everything and it seem as though they have everything perfect in their life. Beautiful house, they can apply make up on perfectly. They dress so well and are creative. They cook good healthy food. But hang on! They don’t show you want they don’t want you to see! Whilst watching a make- up tutorial, how many times do you think she has practised that makeup tutorial before she put it on? Edit? Deleted parts? Look book, or clothes haul- How do you know that she purchased those clothes for that season, to do her look book video and or will she then returned them? House pictures/ tours - How do you know if that was even her real house she took you on a tour for you?Does she also share with you the screaming child in the other room, the messy kitchen downstairs, her financial difficulties, her arguments with her husband last night? I am not judging people who share their lives online – I am just saying- We have to be critical of what we view online other will it will have a negative impact on our mental health – it is not as it seems? E.g.….Use SLIDE examples – DESCRIBE IT. Expectations do not match reality Watch video here To critically evaluate others posts/pictures/videos Relationship looks all great, but isn’t really at allFriends out for dinner but really not present in one another’s company Creating the opportunity for the sake of the picture She had that tea party – birthday party just so that she could take pictures for Instagram. Honestly this social media craze of getting more followers, most likes has driven out way of living upside down – the party for the photos and followers, not the party for friends/family and then I’ll take some pics just for my Instagram. Be careful the messages you take away and how much you use it to measure your standard of life, because if you set an unrealistic standard of living, you will never be content. Social media plays a big part in making us feel dissatisfied with what we currently have. You will always be comparing yourself to others and what they have. Because you will never reach that mind - set that what you want! Bad for our mental health – start comparing ourselves to everyone else. Our social standards increase Hadith look at those below you in terms of Dunay and those above you in terms of religion We have increased our social standards instead of lowering them and focusing on what really matters – our emaan and the hereafter. FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)Fear of Missing out (FOMO) is a phenomenon that was born at the same time as Facebook—and it’s one of the most common negative effects of social media. FOMO is basically a form of anxiety that you get when you’re scared of missing out on a positive experience or emotions that someone else is getting. Actually a word in the dictionary. This fear is constantly fuelled by your social media engagement. The more you use social networks, the more likely you are to see that someone is having more fun that you are right now. And that’s exactly what causes FOMO.I’m missing out on an offer, important news, and this causes us to enter the unendable scroll! Why do you think it doesn’t end? Because it’s designed to consume you, and for you to be on it for as long as possible. Makes you feel like you need to do what everyone else is doing – pictures of Turkey I need to go, everyone’s taking Instagram pictures at a certain café – I need to visit. Everyone is going to a certain event – I need to go too. Takes away from you doing what you want, and you end up doing things people want/make you feel you need to do. Time waste How many of us actually post on the social media accounts? How many of us spend all the time watching what people are doing? Hadith – Research shows that you should only spent total half an hour on all your social media.SINS ARE HIGHLIGHTED Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:Messenger of Allah (?) said, "Every one of my followers will be forgiven except those who expose (openly) their wrongdoings. An example of this is that of a man who commits a sin at night which Allah has covered for him, and in the morning, he would say (to people): "I committed such and such sin last night,' while Allah had kept it a secret. During the night Allah has covered it up but in the morning he tears up the cover provided by Allah Himself."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].New era of social media we highlighting our own sins – even though Allah covers us up. We show the world our pictures doing in the cinema, concerts, with non-mahram, dressed indecently. More people view it the more will testify against you on the DOJ. Also, The Prophet (peace be upon him) says, whoever sets a bad example, whoever has started a bad trend, they will have … they will bear the burden of it and the burden of everyone else as a result who has been affected by it, or who drops into it up to the Last Day. And that would be not decreasing the burden from anyone of themBe careful what you recommend or promote You can’t undo what you’ve done – once that picture/comment/post has gone out you can’t undo it. Teenage girls fall into the trap or sending their pictures to someone who has promised them privacy and the next minutes it’s all over the internet – there is no undo button! We should event be really careful of who has our pictures of us without our hijab. We young girls think its fine she only has sisters on her account, how do you know who is viewing it on her phone, or if her brother, husband is sitting on the coach next to her, or sees it as he walks past. It’s our job to take precautions. Don’t drop your guard.Chasing likes SEEKING LIKES - instant feel good factors – endorses happy hormones – but it’s just a digital think so strange how it gets us excited or happy. Be sure not to be chasing it. Like the girl in the video On the authority of Abu al-’Abbas Sahl bin Sa’ad as-Sa’idee (may Allah be pleased with him) who said:A man came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and said, “O Messenger of Allah, direct me to an act which, if I do it, [will cause] Allah to love me and the people to love me.” So he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Renounce the world and Allah will love you, and renounce what the people possess and the people will love you.” A hasan hadeeth related by Ibn Majah and others with good chains of authorities.Chasing fame – young people today all want to become YouTube vloggers – why? I’m not saying you can’t be popular online – but that’s not what you should be searching for. A Muslim should be humble and focused on his hereafter and not chase the things of the dunya. False information and fake news – We are led to believe that certain false thing are true when in fact they are not. Video – just as an example to teach us to be more critical and aware of what you consume. Ultimately we are - ACOUNTABILITY – update to fake name I Say to my students that there are two versions of you that you have to take care of and will be questioned about on DOJ. The real physical you and your actions, and the digital you! How you present yourself online. What do you post, watch and comment on? However we are accountable for our action online as much as we are in person. You could even argue to a certain degree we are more accountable because in person you may not commit a sin because someone might see you but on a private platform where it’s just you and no one else can see what you are watching or doing – we lose that sense of responsibility. Still accountable for what you say under a fake name - You may have a name like pinkcandyfloss – no one even knows its you – and you are commenting on scandals, following pop stars What you watch What you type And if you speak to young people they will tell you exactly that. The friends they have a different personality in person and behave totally different online. Why is that? Because you feel like you can hide behind a keyboard. But no! You are accountable! The angels are writing down what you are typing, what you are viewing late at night by yourself in your bed with your phone. It’s a test of your sincerity – it’s just between you and Allah – will you watch that indecent video or listen to that song or support a certain cause. The language you choose to use online, the people you decide to follow, or private messages and talk too privately. Our social media has a foot print and your will be questioned about it. Malik related to me from Abu'z-Zinad from al-Araj from Abu Hurayra that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "One of the most evil of people is the two-faced person who shows one face to these people and another face to those people." (Mutta Imam Malik) You need to be the same person online and in person. Same rules of life and Islam apply in person and online Lower your gaze Not to say anything The Messenger of Allah? said: Avoid sitting by the road side.” The people then said, ‘O Allah‘s Messenger ?, we cannot do without those meeting places in which we converse” So he said, “Well, if you insist (on that) give the road its due rights.” They asked, ‘What are the road’s due rights?’ He replied, “Lowering your gaze, abstaining from anything offensive, returning salutations, enjoining the right (Ma'ruf) and forbidding from evil deeds (Munkar).” (Bukhari and Muslim)You will be held responsible for every text, forward, share that you do. Angel are writing down what your fingers are typing.You are what you consume – just like the food you eat has an effect on you so does your social media feedWhat you follow What you watch What you see Will dictate: How you feelWhat you want to buy Where you want to go You are what you follow. We mindlessly check our social media feed multiple times a day. Whilst waiting for a bus, in the Tesco shopping queue and some of us even when waiting in the traffic. We voluntarily allow it into our personal space – it will have an impact on you! Make up vloggers – the more you watch them, the more you will believe that you need to go out and buy Huda beauty’s new foundation or the latest eyeshadow pallets out or lipstick even though you have so many of the same shade at home. Do you even stop for a minute and think that she’s getting all this makeup (draws and draws full) sent to her in the post! Yes sponsored! To try it on - it’s her job and make you want to buy it and you’ve fallen for the trick. Or if you watch a cooking video – you want to then try that dish Or a Primark clothes haul – makes you want to go Primark etc.… If you watch Islamic reminders – will make your emaan feel refreshed If you see someone climb a mountain for charity – makes you want to do charity work too Not a go to place to seek Islamic knowledge – fiqh on twitter or through snapchat storiesIslamic knowledge and social media Islamic knowledge is not to be taking from social media Yes mashallah there are many great authentic you tube channels out there, scholars recording their own talks/series for us to benefit from. But then there is also the opposite. Anyone thinks they have the right to open up their own you tube channel/ Instagram account and giving out their opinions on Islam. Their own versions. Are they qualified to do so? Why are they refuting other people? This is not from Islam, and if you listening to them, liking them giving them views then you are partaking in this also. Do not waste your time on such things Someone who starts a makeup channel / lifestyle / cooking channel – starts giving out religious advice – they are not qualified to do so.Ilm is widely available. We have so many beneficial ways of gaining Ilm in - is not to be taken from Instagram stories, twitter fiqh rulings etc.…Beware of who you take your knowledge from Last question - What are our boundaries and limits on social media?How to be social media aware! Verify information - Is it real? Do I believe this? Learn to question and challenge everything on social media regardless of who send it to you. Do not trust anyone. Choose who you follow carefully. Do you want to be a leader or follower? What are you allowing someone that you follow on Twitter or a Facebook friend to bring into your life? Open your life to those who will help you strengthen your Imaan (belief), and will help you to be closer to Allah.Set a good example Be cautious of what you share & post. Allah is always watching us and angels are present to write every action we make. Whether it is a public post or private chat, be always aware that you are not alone. If you son or daughter reads your post or status, what kind of footprint are you leaving behind? Will it make them proud or ashamed?Social media detox – every few month check who you are following – is it benefitting me in anyway – can I unfollow anyone….renew your intention, - why am I watching this drama serial? Stranger things 3 – because I enjoy or or because everyone else watching it and I need to keep up with the trend. And be able to tweet or Instagram- just finished watching stranger things 3 - or simple as turn off your notifications that constant disruption Set a certain time to be on social media – really disciplined- monitor your usage – apps research recommends half an hour. Concern yourself with yourself The Prophet (?) said, "He who believes in Allah and the Last Day must either speak good or remain silent."[Muslim].Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said:"Indeed among the excellence of a person's Islam is that he leaves what does not concern him." (Tirmidhi) If your active on social media…THINK – How would others feel if I post this? Why are posting cute pictures of you and your husband and then complain that you are getting messages about how handsome your husband is On you social media account are you only sharing pictures of your holidays? Everyone must think you travel so much, so lucky…. Don’t get ayn – evil eye on yourself Will your post make someone jealous, how would a happy picture of you and your spouse make someone else who just got divorced/struggling to find a spouse feel. We don’t assess the impact of our social media foot print! I’m not saying – don’t share – do – I have public and active social media accounts too – but just renew your intentions and be abit wise. We should aim to be the same person we are in physical, same as online – keep to your morals and principles and that brings me to …. Back to accountability – it’s just between me and Allah – same rules apply – you will be accountable for your social media footprint. It’s your job to decide if there more harm than benefit in any particular social media that you use. The message today is not to go home and delete all your social media accounts (unless you want to go on a total social media detox – which is up to you. But the message here is to be wise, critical and accountable about the way you use social media. Please forgive me if I had said anything wrong or offended any one to you and please remember me, my family, our community, our masajid our scholars and the ummah in your humble duas. ................
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