The Dangers in Digital Space

The Youth of the Ummah in Peril- II

More than ever before, our times are bearing witness to phenomenal changes in technological innovations and human lives are increasingly organized around smartphones and other technology-based instruments. Thanks to the convergence of communication technologies and the consequent emergence of social media platforms in cyber-space, virtual interactions with people anywhere is easily feasible in our globalized world. Certainly, advanced technologies are vital enablers and a force-multiplier for doing good, allowing individuals and nations to come together on common platforms to discuss specific concerns and to share best practices for addressing challenges. At the same time, we need to be critically-aware of the negative side effects- the many dangers and harmful impacts lurking behind the unprecedented ‘opening-up’ made possible by the new mediums of the digital space, especially for the young people.  

In his Friday Sermon of 22 February 2019~17 Jamadi’ul Aakhir 1440 AH, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hadhrat Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius continues the theme of the perils affecting modern-day youth in our societies. Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) warns against the increasingly unabashed pursuit of synthetic happiness- be it in drugs and other deadly cocktails by the youth in our times, and points to the critical need for comprehensive intervention at various levels by the social stakeholders to ensure that our deeply-vulnerable young people are weaned-away from fatal attractions and dangerous choices in their lives, with profound consequences for families and societies as well.

Likewise, Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) alludes to the many dangers of the new "addictions" of the youth, represented by their 'trendy gadgets', and the virtual access to social media platforms. The extraordinary reach of the new mediums to capture our emotions, thoughts as well as other inanities through photos, videos and other forms of self- expressions, coupled with the temptations of the young to share it all with both friends and complete strangers can have profoundly negative implications for our emotional happiness, psychological well-being and mental health, especially for the people who are  virtually "addicted" to these devices. As the communication devices are 'neutral' enablers, the danger of criminality and immorality are ever-present, and as such, the new challenges of ubiquitous access requires careful handling, and the prudent deployment of vital ethical teachings on decent engagements and appropriate behaviour. The task ahead for the social actors is to ensure that the youth are constantly-educated and enabled to deal with the challenges and pitfalls of the new platforms so that they may only exploit their true potential in the most appropriate and creative ways for their own progress and the social common good, points out Hadhrat Saheb (atba). 

Read the Friday Sermon Below: 

By the grace of Allah, I continue today the second part of my sermon on “The Youth of the Ummah in Peril”. Last Friday I told you how young people also have a mission to accomplish. The youth are our future, and they must be protected from the harmful effects of globalisation. The Islamic faith of the youth of our Ummah must be protected and safeguarded. 

One of the greatest misdeeds of globalization is drugs: natural drugs, such as cannabis, heroin, etc., and synthetic drugs such as synthetic cannabis, etc. Drug as a whole is fatal. But synthetic drug is toxic and fatal. It is worse than other natural drugs, because it takes possession of the body of our youth brutally, even as to go as far as to depersonalize them, causing them psychotic problems, and even causing their death.

We face a real problem and if we are not careful, we shall be badly trapped. What will become of our society and the future of our children and this world? We are responsible to Allah (swt) for the future of our young people. I feel a terrible thrill, and even I tremble and I get anxious with this problem that kills our youth.

FINDING SOLUTIONS

I ask the government to promote sports in schools. All religious leaders and social workers must make themselves available to our youth to educate them about the danger of drugs. Parents too must watch their children’s social lives (outings, meeting up with friends etc.) because this danger affects boys as well as girls.

So first and foremost, the great powers (countries/ governments) are now trying to exploit every possible opportunity to extend their hegemony to many areas of human life.

Secondly, these powers are exploiting their technological breakthrough to develop more mechanism of formulas and practices capable of increasing their capabilities and aptitudes, on the one hand, and to further strengthen their hegemony over the human life of the other side. But the target is the Muslim youth. This study also does not hide the fact that globalisation has its advantages as well as its disadvantages. As an advantage, diffusion of sciences and knowledge, and the facilitation of contacts between people. Something that the Muslim youth exploits thoroughly without worrying about the danger that accompanies these advanced developments.

Danger: They promote the spread of immorality in many forms, reaching mainly the world’s youth, including that of the Ummah.

From this, it should be clear that a challenge is being made to Islamic thinkers and scholars: To find strong and effective ways to explain to the youth of the Ummah that under these trendy gadgets that globalisation put to their services, there are many dangers to their faith, heart, and piety.

So, making use of these advanced technologies is fine but it should be done with great care. Take what is good and avoid what is bad. The thinkers of Islam must be aware of the damage that is on the horizon of the youth of the Ummah. They must... Not just them, but all of us, spiritual leaders, parents, teachers, school leaders, governments, etc. must be aware of this and do what is necessary to avoid this damage. And to protect our youth from the Ummah, all concerned parties must act promptly and intelligently. HOW?

This is an important question and step forward towards a conscious Islamic commitment for future protection.

• To make aware, especially to this youth of the Ummah, that Islam is a practical, easy, very open religion that always aims for the good and happiness of people in this life and in the hereafter.

• Accept without reservation that Islam is the last of religions and the absolutely best one and that Allah does not accept any religion except Islam.

• Explain through work sessions the various aspects of the value of Islam and the awareness of fighting corruption, infidelity, immorality and other plagues that eat away at society in general.

• Defend the concept that Islam never justifies self-withdrawal, but rather recommends a certain openness to the world and this temporal life, albeit with caution.

Allah (swt) says in the Holy Quran:

“Do you not see how Allah has made what is in the heavens and on the earth useful to you, and has lavished His blessings on you both outwardly and inwardly?”  (Luqman, 31:21).

“Say, ‘Who has forbidden the adornment and the nourishment God has provided for His servants?’” (Al-Arraf, 7:33).

To achieve the desired goal, we must make the youth of the Ummah understand that globalisation is welcome, but it is up to young people to know how to take the offer with tweezers (i.e. with great caution), to reject what is contrary to the principles of Islam, and not to adopt what darkens faith and brings doubts to the reality of the true Islamic life.

I call upon the theologians, educators, imams everywhere around the world, including Mauritius. Let’s work hard to plough the ground, inch by inch to make the youth of the Ummah understand the good and bad sides of globalisation. To do this, it is imperative to involve the family, society, school, media, multiple social actors, including mosques. The importance of education and religious culture in addressing the dangers of globalisation for young people must be recognized, accepted, adopted and put into practice. Whether here or elsewhere. The rapid evolution of various societies throughout the world towards development, it is imperative that this progress must be scrupulously scrutinised so that the religious aspect is not rejected in any way. Such rejection is likely to make people, especially our youth, sink into a purely material trend. It may also bring collateral damage that could threaten the values ​​of society in general, but much more the Ummah. Let us make efforts and duahs to this end. For without the help of Allah, we could not take the necessary steps and be successful in leading our youth in the right way, and protect them from the harms of this temporal world.

May Allah couple our weaknesses with His might and enable us to change for the better our youths and tomorrow’s society, bringing them nearer to Allah and to Islam and far away from the harms of globalisation and temporary but mortal pleasures of this world. Ameen.