Fear Allah while we are Travelling through Cyber World in Internet Using ( FRIDAY SERMON-19/09/14-MUIS )

For those who are users of smart phones, have you imagined how it would be like if you do not have your phone with you for an entire day? 

Or imagine if you are unable to easily access your Facebook, or Twitter account, and cannot simply “update” your Facebook status for maybe several days.

 I am sure many of us here, if we have left our phones at home when we go out, we would actually turn back to retrieve our mobile phones.

In today’s world, it is a fact that we cannot avoid communicating and interacting in the cyber space. 

In fact, technology today has enabled us to interact while being on the move, through the use of mobile gadgets, without being hooked up to a personal computer.

However, in our excitement to leverage on technology, we should not be obsessed with social media platforms to the point that it may adversely affect our interaction and communication with family members. 

We should not be so attached to our mobile gadgets that we are inseparable from our mobile devices when we are eating, drinking, taking a shower and even sleeping – simply because we feel the need to surf the internet or play games or interact with our cyber friends.

Hence, it is important for us to understand the ethics and guidelines of surfing the Internet and making use of the cyber space. 

Cyber wellness (which refers to positive well-being of Internet users and a healthy cyber culture for the internet community) needs to be understood by all, whether users are adults, parents, youth, children or teenagers.

Every individual Internet user has a responsibility toward him/herself as well as toward others, and there needs to be mutual respect among users.

Be responsible and ethical Internet users. Respect your friends in the cyber space. Avoid using vulgarities, making rude and condescending comments that will tarnish their image.

 Do not insult, defame, make sarcastic remarks, gossip, fault others, or even make accusations and claims that are may not be verified and may be false!

 Do not watch or post what ever it is not allowed in Islam.Always keep away from the Immoralities which  are widely shared in the cyber world.

            in the context of the cyber space, where what one writes or posts will remain as a written record, can easily be spread widely and can be difficult to be retracted or erased, If it is in fact a fithnah or slander, then the sin is multiplied.

It is important for us to ensure that our social media pages and accounts are free from any form of vice.

 This is because, through social media such matters can be spread widely and rapidly, and so the “weight” of our sins will also multiply! This includes being accountable for the sins of others who spread the harm that we started (be it false accusation, backbiting etc).

This is in line with a reminder from Rasulullah s.a.w. which means: 

“Whoever calls upon others to deviant practices, then he will bear the sins of those who followed him, and it does not reduce the sin and the sin of those who followed.” [Hadith narrated by Imam Muslim]

With smart phones, social media sites can easily be accessed. Applications aimed at easing communication which enables group chats such as ‘Facebook messenger’ or ‘WhatsApp’ are sometimes misused to share and spread images, photos, videos and information that are inappropriate.

As responsible Internet users, we need to verify the information that we receive, to ascertain that the information is accurate and true, before we hit that “share” button. This is not just limited to Islamic information, but any sort of information such as the halal status of a product, news about certain individuals, and so on

We must also be extra vigilant in ensuring that our children, especially our very young children, do not fall prey to irresponsible people who use the social media websites to trap innocent children.

 These days, many young children who are still in primary school, already have their own Facebook, Twitter etc.  It is an unhealthy trend and one that is worrying. It actually allows irresponsible individuals with bad intentions to take advantage of children – be it girls or boys. These irresponsible people pretend to be children themselves, acting as friends of the same age of these young Internet users, and then go on to trap them.

These are the main guidelines regarding the ethics of interacting in the cyber world, especially the various social media platforms. Hopefully they will serve as useful reminders for all of us