Let’s Face It!

It is natural instinct for human being to communicate and integrate in a society be it multi-cultural society or a mono cultural society. As the world develops and progresses to catch up with time that is slipping away swiftly right under our nose, we invented tools to hasten work yet produce results that are seemingly as good or even better. However, with betterment, comes several disadvantages.

One of the tools that I will be sharing about is on social networking; Facebook. It is one of various means of rapid communication between people from across the globe. With 829 million people use Facebook on a daily basis, it is by far the world’s largest social network.

It is without doubt that Islam encourages bonding (silaturrahmi) as stated in Surah An-Nisa, verse 1:

“O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife [Hawwa (Eve)], and from them both He created many men and women and fear Allah through Whom you demand your mutual (rights), and (do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship). Surely, Allah is Ever an All-Watcher over you.”

Disadvantages

However, many a times a lot of miscommunication occur when the reader begins to misinterpret or take it personally. Often, morality is at stake.

This image below is proof that the effect of Facebooking has affected the society hence there is a need to have moral and ethical conduct when using Facebook.

Guidelines

Here are some guidelines using Facebook as a platform to attain mardhotillah which is the ultimate purpose of life.

1. Use appropriate language

Rasulullah s.a.w was a man with most eloquent speech. He made sure his speech was made understandable to the people around him especially when it comes to clarifying Allah’s words.

2. Keep comments short, simple and beneficial

Rasulullah s.a.w made sure his speech was brief and clear.

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّ رَسُوْلَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ : “مَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ فَلْيَقُلْ خَيْراً أًوْ لِيَصْمُتْ، وَمَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللهِ وَاْليَوْمِ الآخِرِ فَلْيُكْرِمْ جَارَهُ، وَمَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ فَلْيُكْرِمْ ضَيْفَهُ”.

This hadeeth advocates one to speak good. If there is no goodness coming from our speech  then, silence is the best option.

3. Do not reveal too much personal information

Allah s.w.t. mentioned in Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 195:

“And spend in the name of Allah and do not throw yourselves in your own hands into destruction(by refraining)…”

By revealing too much personal information is a risk you take and the gain of others to misuse your personal particulars.

4. Never use pictures that may compromise integrity and images of yourself.

Take the extra caution to delete images stored under ‘Only Me’(settings) as Facebook has a series of auto update which we might overlook.

5. Never post negative and angry remarks

First impression lasts unless you want the whole world to know.

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Allah will cover up on the Day of Resurrection the defects (faults) of the one who covers up the faults of the others in this world”.
[Muslim].

6. Don’t friend someone you don’t know. Do not be fooled by the salam first impression

Most common scams are ambiguous donation to marriage proposal which ends up into you becoming the victim.

7. Take every comment or story with a pinch of salt

Control your nafs and do not be easily disheartened by your friend’s remarks. Clarify directly with your friend if it troubles you and till then, do not suuu’ zhonn.

8. Share fruitful information

Especially those that remind others of our obligations as a khalifah.

Lastly, real time face to face social networking is still the best form of effective communication.

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FACEBOOK CONTEMPORARY ISSUES MUSLIM LIFE SOCIETY SOCIAL MEDIA ETHICS ISLAM AND ETHICS TECHNOLOGY