[b]Dangers Lurking on the Internet; What we tend to overlook while on the Internet[/b]
[size=4]Dangers Lurking on the Internet[/size=4]
What we tend to overlook while on the Internet
by Ismaael Sakkary
The Internet has become a large part of life for many of the Muslims in our time. The time spent exchanging e-mail addresses, and hotmail accounts amongst us is comparable to how the Companions of our beloved Prophet Muhammad saws used to busy themselves in learning the religion of Allah (weather in studying or in action) from each other.
There are without a doubt many beautiful aspects of the Internet, and a huge opportunity exists for much good to come out of our time there. One can spend time learning about the Correct Islamic Beliefs, or one may choose to learn the correct way of praying, or one may research and learn a part of the Qur'aan, all in the span of a few moments. One may make new friends who will help him or her strive in the way of Allah, or one may choose to post in message boards learning from others or teaching them. But with all the good and beautiful things out there, we have to be serious and realize that the evil on the Internet is even more then this, and the Shaitaan, may he be cursed by Allah is lurking around everywhere looking for us, waiting for us to slip to take us further away from Allah.
After seeing how many Muslims, including myself use the Internet I have compiled a list of observations that we as Muslims should be aware of before we begin spending our time on the Internet.
Before we begin, I would like to remind all of us of one of the sayings of our Prophet Muhammad saws: [b]"Amr ibn Maimoon Awdi (Radhiallaahu Anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) advised one person, 'Appreciate five things before five (things): a) Your youth before old age; b) Your good health before your sickness; c) Your wealth before your poverty; d) Your free time before your involvement; and e) Your life before your death."[/b] (Mishkat pg.441; Me'raaj)
[b]E-Mail[/b]
The average Muslim receives anywhere from 10-30 e-mails a day, some of us even more. Many of these e-mails, though they are from friends, and fellow Muslims, contain only that which will use up your time. Weather it is spend in reading, or replying or sharing it with others, many of the Muslims find that they spend an hour or more engrossed in this activity alone! I swear by Allah, the Most High, that if we spent just half of that time reading the Qur'aan, or pleasing those whom we have Islamic Obligations to (Parents, Spouses, Children, etc.) we would see a increase in our Blessings, and would see happiness in our lives that the Internet could never give us.
[b]Message Boards[/b]
Another popular way for Muslims to interact with each other is Message Board. Upon closer examination however, you will notice many of the postings are useless, even incorrect, filled with teachings that are contrary to the Pure Islam. The reason being everyone wants to say something, but not everyone is qualified to talk on that which they talk about. The other side Negative Aspect is that some people enjoy message Boards so much that the time they spend on it, exceeds, the time they spend on other Islamically Sound extra curricular activities, or even Obligations we have as Muslims! It has become common for a Muslim to spend time he should be spending taking care of his work, or spending at the masjid, glued to his computer screen. It has become common for the Muslim Woman to ignore her obligations at home to instead post away on a Message Board. It is not something strange that a man will come home and find his wife glued to the computer screen, reading a post on a Message Board. The house however, is still dirty and the food remains uncooked.
[b]Chatting[/b]
Online Chatting, or Instant Messaging has become just another way for most of us to engage into idle time. You will find that some of the Muslims spend hours a day chatting on the Internet. Though it is useful for making friends and sharing information with each other, a lot of it is useless speech, which contains no benefit. Not only that a lot of it falls into that which is haram. It is common and accepted that people joke; by way of lying or that they engage in backbiting and spreading rumours. Prayer is delayed; Sunnah prayers are left off in pursuit of this wasteful activity, and sins are earned. The small good in this activity makes one feel as if they are doing something beneficial but in reality it is far away from being that which brings us closer to Allah.
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