From websites to You Tube to Facebook, there are now different forums for the Muslim population to provide its views, seek advice and exchange ideas. The information age has given birth to Islamic keyboard warriors – who have assumed the role of defending, advising or spreading Islam through chat forums and social media.
We all want to give the correct perception and information on Islam. However, in many Islamic online forums, the situation can become unpleasant. In these anonymous and unmoderated environments, many of us do not observe basic Islamic manner, protocol and adab.
Even if online, we are not allowed to behave however we want, in accordance with our nafs, pride and desire, but in line with what Allah expects of us. Let us examine eight simple points:
1. Beautiful Manner
This is the most important rule and is the backbone of all our interactions. People are judged primarily by manner, and first impressions are almost always based on this. There is adab in the way we speak to each other. One of the early scholars mentioned that the dignity of a person is his own deen, his level in this life is according to his mind and the status in his life is according to his manner.
The closest to Allah and Prophet Muhammad SAW is the one with good manner. “A believer will attain by his good behaviour the rank of one who prays and during the night and observes fasts during the day.” (Abu Dawud).
It was also reported that Prophet SAW, said, “Shall I tell you about who among you I love the most and the one who will be seated closest to me on the Day of Rising?” The people were silent, so he repeated that two or three times. Then the people said, “Yes, Messenger of Allah.” He said, “The one among you with the best character.” (Bukhari)
Rules of good behaviour apply in the online arena. Manner is reflected in the way you post a comment, your content, the choice of words and how you react to provocation. Merely infusing all your phrases with Masha Allah, Alhamdulillah etc. is pointless if you are rude or nasty. Being anonymous is not an excuse for stripping away one’s good manner.
Many forums now, especially if not well moderated, are full of arguments, accusations and insults by moderators and contributors alike. The overall effect is detrimental to Islam. It turns the non-Muslims, and even the Muslims away.
There is no such thing as a rude or bad mannered Prophet or Messenger. They left us the examples of gentle speech and kind words. Even when Musa AS was sent to preach to Pharaoh, Allah SWT told him to be gentle in speech.
Beware of the comments we post on the net. Don’t be rude or aggressive. Remember to give salam and polite phrases like “please” or “thank you” always help.
Even asking for advice has a certain manner. For example “DON’T UNDERSTAND THIS AYAT EXPLAIN NOW JZK!!!!!!” is not the correct way, but so many of us have reduced our communication to this coarse level. Is this the way we communicate with our teachers, colleagues and bosses?
Bring back our manners to the forum. If we die tonight, at least we can tell our Prophet SAW that we have behaved in the way he asked.
2. Post Correct Statements
Many of us today grew up without the benefit of a formal Islamic education. Much of the knowledge we own has been corrupted by culture and other influences.
Many of us talk about Islam according to our own understanding of it, not according to what Allah says. Many well meaning people make online statements about Islam with no proper basis, research or knowledge, on a range of issues from rulings to the matters of the unseen such as Dajjal and angels, based on information from other ill informed people, guesswork and a recollection of what some relative told them in the past. We follow our own nafs, not Islam.
Imagine if you were making a presentation before your CEO and an audience of 500 executives. You would research extensively to ensure that your facts and figures are accurate.
If you can be so meticulous for dunia, what about for akhirah? Every statement you make about Islam, even anonymously, is a mini presentation on Islam. More importantly, once online, the statement will be read again and again and even disseminated to others.
Incidentally, Google is not a reliable source of correct Islamic knowledge. The internet is like an ocean, which is full of good and bad fish, pollution, beauty and rubbish. You may pick up a shiny fish and then discover it is toxic inside! Therefore, always check with a person who has proper Islamic knowledge, or if unavailable, reputable books on Islam.
3. On Giving Advice or Disagreeing
Many of us give advice which aren’t backed up by Qur’an or Hadith, but rather through custom, culture and tradition. There are also others pass judgments and declare something as halal or haram, as if they were fatwa machines, with no knowledge, consultation with the learned or qualification to do so.
The Companions were highly reluctant to pass rulings on Islam. If they were approached, they would refer the questioner to another Companion. These were the most knowledgeable Muslims, but they were afraid of such a high responsibility. The arrogant ones, who are devoid of knowledge but love to hear themselves talk, are slaves of Shaitan. It is much better for you to keep silent on a topic you do not know about, rather than to provide wrong information that can mislead others.
The rule is simple. When advising, unless you are certain that what you are saying is in line with the Qur’an and Hadith, do not give advice. We dispute and criticize each other’s practices and often assume they are wrong, without verifying the truth ourselves. Maybe it is us who are doing things wrongly! Islam is subject to various interpretations according to the situation, and that there may be more than one ruling on a topic, so don’t assume that only your way is correct. Think before you type.
If you feel that the person genuinely needs advice, then research if you are not 100% sure, or verify the information with a scholar or a learned person first. It is better to give delayed but correct advice instead of hasty and inaccurate conclusions which can lead others astray.
The worst is when we disrespect our own scholars. It is common to see statements like “Are you out of your mind?”, “I’m sure the Qur’an doesn’t say such a thing!”, defying a reputable scholar who is better qualified. This is especially predominant on a ruling that people don’t want to comply with. Suddenly, everyone is a de facto scholar, even if they have no Islamic knowledge to back their point. No one wants to listen to the learned. Is this the way of the Sunnah? What is the value of a nation that does not respect its scholars or the wise elders?
There is manner and respect, even in disagreeing. The Companions, early pious people and scholars had different opinions and understandings on certain issues. Yet they never allowed themselves to lose their manner and their relationships with each other. Their different opinions were based on different sources of information, whereas today, we have different opinions based on our egos, conjecture and limited knowledge. It is a tragedy.
4. Criticising and Judging Others
A lady posts a YouTube video on Islam, and she gets slammed because her scarf is too colourful. A moderator posts a comment which is in line with Islamic principles, and people accuse him of bid’ah because Allah is not written in all caps – “ALLAH”.
Certain keyboard warriors grant themselves the authority to behave as Islam’s policemen, judge and jury. Many are policing based on ignorance and without sound Islamic evidence. They judge, label each other as mushrik and kafir, not realizing that such accusations, if Allah finds them false, will land back on their own souls.
We are not Prophets or Messengers and we do not have the benefit of Angel Jibril AS giving us revelations. It is not our right as human beings to label and pass judgments on others. Yet in this age of instant gratification, so many keyboard warriors give knee jerk reactions.
Sometimes, someone is clearly on the wrong path. Let us check to our intention if we want to correct them. Is it because we want to look clever and get praised, or is it because we are concerned for the person’s soul? Only the ignorant and the arrogant disgrace others in public. One who genuinely cares can send a private message and address the issue in a tactful and civilized way.
Prophet SAW, in correcting the actions of others, did it subtly and discreetly, sometimes using metaphors, to avoid humiliation or embarrassment.
Fear Allah. You do not want Allah to be harsh in His assessment of you, and being harsh in the treatment of others is one of the instances where you deprive yourself of Allah’s mercy.
5. Less “Flowery” Language please
It does not matter what the topic is. Hijab, salat, politics, abortion, responding to a rude comment on Islam … foul language is not acceptable.
It does not matter if you are joking, trying to look like a “modern day Muslim” or replying to a Muslim or non Muslim. It does not matter if the other person uses profanities. We are Muslims, and no matter what era, profanities are forbidden.
We can do better than this. Islam is a noble religion, and we as its ambassadors must behave with politeness and restraint. Allah is owner of dignity, and why will Allah grant this to you if you are so obscene in your language?
6. Keep Calm and Don’t Take The Bait
Some people, both so-called Muslims and non-Muslims, love posting controversial comments just to provoke an argument. It happens everywhere. Discussions on the manner of eating are taking place peacefully, until some internet troll posts an irrelevant comment to say that the Qur’an encourages murder and abuses its women. Immediately all the keyboard warriors take up arms, and engage in lengthy arguments.
These exchanges usually become hostile and aggressive. Statements and insults are hurled from either side. At the end, we pay the price of looking vulgar, irrational and emotional, while the aggressor is having a good laugh behind his screen at home.
Don’t entertain this cheap trick. What happens is that you are giving the internet troll exactly what he wants, which is attention.
What if he is actually seeking to learn about Islam? You can recognize this from the way the question is posed and how he reacts. If he is a sincere seeker of knowledge, he will ask politely and listen to the answers, even if he is not convinced of the reply. If his intention is to argue and be disruptive, this will be apparent from the outset. The discussion will go in circles, the internet troll will keep diverting tack and topic (from murder to hijab to insulting our Prophet SAW) and the original subject matter is abandoned. Who benefits at the end?
Ignore the comment, or better still, delete it or block the person. It is that simple (and nothing frustrates an internet troll more than being ignored!)
7. Do Not Propagate Fitnah
I don’t understand why people do this. “Urgent! Some kaffirs are spreading a hate video about our beloved Prophet. Pass this on to warn others”. The person then posts a link to the offensive video, so that other people can watch and spread it! What is the benefit of this?
They are only propagating slander and giving free international publicity to the creators. Others who have never heard of the video before will be watching it, and that burden of insulting and defaming the Prophet SAW will be theirs to bear. So will all the hatred that is incited and the hostility that it creates. At the end of the day, again, Muslims are cast in a very bad light, and who was originally responsible?
In Islam, spreading a fitnah is prohibited. The rule in Islam is to stop all slander against the Prophets, Messengers and Companions from spreading, not to publicise them. How can you explain to Allah that because of your one post, 60,000 people have watched filth and lies about the Prophet SAW?
Raise awareness, but with wisdom. Whenever someone posts something offensive, react by showing good manners, instead of spreading the material and making death threats. Do not affirm people’s misconceptions about Islam by propagating the false!
8. When Addressing Non-Muslims
One of the fundamental rules of da’wah is that a lot of it is reflected in our behaviour and manner. This is a very simple principle explained in the Qur’an in 6:108 about dealing with non-Muslims – do not insult their gods because in retaliation and ignorance, they will insult ours.
Muhammad SAW was sent as a mercy to mankind. Our role is to spread a legacy of mercy and manner.
If a non-Muslim tries to lead us into a dispute, walk away. In internet terms, it means, delete or ignore and even block, especially if the comments are obscene, spiteful and blasphemous.
If you feel the need to engage, be merciful. A very good hint is, talk about the good of Islam rather than the bad of the other’s faith. Try to find the common ground, and engage in sensible discussions. If your starting point is by insulting, being nasty and screaming for attention, no one will listen to you. Don’t blame anyone if you are met with hostile comments in return!
Similarly, do not intrude on non-Muslim websites to spread Islam. I have seen Christian websites plastered with aggressive comments by Muslims. This is disrespectful, to them, to us and to both religions. If we cannot give respect to others, then we do not deserve any in return. How can we invite anyone to Islam when the qualities we show are so appalling?
It is enough that one or two rude sentences from you will turn them away forever from Islam. Similarly, one or two beautiful sentences might open their hearts and will be a cause in saving their souls.
Final Thoughts …
Whatever you post will be read again and again and again, until it is deleted. If you have made mistakes before, please beg Allah for forgiveness. Go back to that post or comment, and delete or edit as necessary. Make your words are witness for you for your journey to Paradise.
You will not be questioned by Allah about what the other person did … but you will be questioned about how YOU reacted.
If you want respect from others, remember it originates from Allah, as does dignity. This is earned through suppressing one’s arrogance, being humble, and constantly emulating qualities beloved to Allah and Rasulullah SAW, online and offline.
Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah SAW said, “I was sent to perfect good character.” (Bukhari)
May Allah make us good ambassadors of His faith, ameen.
