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AVOID OVER-SOCIALIZING ONLINE DURING RAMADAN

AVOID OVER-SOCIALIZING ONLINE DURING RAMADAN

Tuesday, 04/05/2021

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This year’s Ramadan is observed while the world is coping with the COVID-19 pandemic. Standard
operating procedure (SOP) and movement control order (MCO) continue to be enforced as part of
the new norms. These measures are needed to expedite the pandemic’s disappearance.
Celebrating Ramadan during MCO is challenging for Muslims. Most of their time is spent at home as
outdoor activities are minimized. With too much free time at their disposal, Muslims may find it
difficult to refrain from excessive online socializing using their smartphones or other gadgets.
If they are unable to control their actions, their fasting will be meaningless.
Fasting without preserving iman and taqwa will not be rewarded. This is based on two hadiths by
Prophet Muhammad SAW. This first hadith says that many people fast but obtain nothing from their
fasting except thirst and hunger (narrated by al-Nasa’I and Ibnu Majah). The second hadith says that
those who do not refrain from saying untruthful things will not have their fasting accepted by Allah
SWT (narrated by al-Bukhari).
The objective of fasting itself is to instil taqwa in Muslims. This is based on a verse in the Quran that
says that it is compulsory for Muslims to fast like it was for their ancestors so that they gain taqwa
(al-Baqarah, 2:183).
The general meaning of taqwa is to do what Allah SWT says and not do what Allah forbids. Thus,
fasting is more than abstaining from eating and drinking, which many people understand it to be;
instead, it includes doing or not doing other actions as well.
Included as part of taqwa during fasting is abstaining from committing forbidden acts such as
gossiping and slandering, which are considered trivial matters to the society. These acts could only
be done in face-to-face settings before, but now they can happen online on social media. Regardless,
these acts are still forbidden and sinful in Islam.
Muslims who are fasting need to refrain from gossiping and slandering. In fact Prophet Muhammad
says that fasting is in part being patient (narrated by al-Tirmizi). There are three categories of
patience for Muslims: patience in doing what Allah says, patience in abstaining from doing what
Allah forbids, and patience in facing tests from Allah SWT (Lata’if al-Ma’arif).
Muslims need to be patient when following the commands of Allah SWT, especially the command on
fasting. They must exercise high level of patience, as the reward for fasting is great. Prophet
Muhammad related that Allah SWT said every deed by the Muslims are for themselves except
fasting, which is for Allah SWT, and Allah SWT will reward those who fast (narrated by al-Bukari).
Based on the hadith, fasting by Muslims is different from other deeds. There are two interpretations
by Islamic scholars. First, fasting means foregoing comfortable life and the desire for something for
the sake of Allah SWT. Muslims who do these although they can afford them are deemed to have
achieved high level of iman and taqwa.
Secondly, fasting is a deed that cannot be observed by or shown to other people. It is somewhat like
a secret shared only between those who fast and Allah SWT.
 
When these two interpretations are accepted and practiced, it makes it easier for Muslims to refrain
themselves from gossiping and slandering during face-to-face or virtual socializing.
It must be remembered that whatever that appears on social media, typed by the hands but coming
from the heart, will be judged by Allah SWT. So, do not take the matters lightly and make fasting a
worthless practice. Avoid giving negative comments and writing something unnecessary. Share
positive captions that can benefit other virtual readers.
Allah SWT says in the Quran: And who is better in speech than one who invites to Allah and does
righteousness and says, “Indeed, I am of the Muslims.” (Fussilat, 41:33)
 
Original Malay version by:
Dr. Abdul Hanis Bin Embong
Senior Lecturer
Centre for Fundamental and Continuing Education
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu
 
English translation by:
Corporate Communication Office
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu