You Are Responsible for What You Publicise
We find ourselves living in this most amazing digital era today and we use more technology than any other generation before us. We can literally access anything, anyone, anywhere at any given time. It goes without saying that it will naturally come with its own set of challenges and it is of utmost importance that we educate ourselves on how to navigate and deal with all of this safely.
While ‘most’ people know how to deal respectfully with each other in their face to face interactions, that is not always the case in the internet world. People need to adopt basic social skills and it needs to be clearly understood that what you say online matters just as much as what you say in the real world. It needs to be understood that you are not anonymous and on the other side of the screen there are real people. Social media has officially become a platform for people to hide behind their keyboards and vent and pick arguments with whomsoever they wish.
Alhumdulillah for being blessed with knowledge to help us differentiate right from wrong. This knowledge that we all have access to and that many of us possess, needs the art of wisdom when responding. It does not give any individual the right to belittle someone else. It by no means implies that we are perfect and we can somehow pass our judgement on other’s.
It is quite important to note also that advising someone and judging someone are two different things. You can either make a person or break them and it is imperative that these bad habits are broken and not accepted as the norm.
Every individual goes through a different phase of reformation. Our spiritual side is not always at the level we expect it to be due to negative influences, sometimes depression, distraction, etc. We cannot sit behind the screen criticizing and judging a person without reflecting on our own flaws.
When it comes to social media, we have to create a barrier especially when it comes to our personal sphere because when we post something, we’re allowing criticism and judgment. We’re inviting the toxicity.
There’s no need for an explanation about your decisions and choices to anyone except Allah Ta’ala. You don’t need to make insaan (human) a priority for validation, and justification in your life. What you do, how you do it, why you do it, should not be answerable to public. Your deeds, your way of life will be dealt with by Allah Ta’ala and this is essentially where your focus needs to lay.
When you post an image or video of yourself or something regarding your personal life, then expect to receive criticism. Someone out there will always find something to complain about, spread gossip, pass judgmental comments, bully you, etc.
Once you try to maintain a boundary between your personal life and social media, you will find that your life is filled with more solace. You won’t have a reason to crawl back into isolation so often.
I’ve always mentioned this and I will say it again. Try digital detox! It’s vital for your body and mind. Take a break from social media now and then. Focus on self reformation, reflect on your life and work towards improving it. You will soon realize that it not only helps you to think better and gain a more positive perspective, but it also helps you to understand that life has so much more to offer than wasting hours on social media.
Use that break to bring yourself closer to your Creator and be involved in things that are more constructive. I just want to leave you with this one last thought to ponder on: How you speak to people whether online or face to face, speaks volumes about you as a person so please always remember to be tactful and respectful.
Remember this sinful slave in your esteem dua’s.
