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Using Social Media from an Islamic Perspective: Challenges, Dilemmas, and Guidelines

Social Media from an Islamic Perspective

Social media has become one of the most powerful tools of the modern age, fundamentally transforming how we communicate, work, and socialize. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and Twitter have created opportunities for global connection, knowledge sharing, and entertainment. However, with these opportunities come significant challenges, especially from an Islamic perspective. The rise of addiction, time-wasting, exposure to improper content, and the fostering of harmful trends makes it necessary to evaluate how Muslims should engage with these platforms.

The scope of permissible matters in Islamic Sharia is broad and encompasses most modern innovations. However, this does not mean they are entirely unrestricted; their use must align with Islamic guidelines and principles.

Islam offers timeless guidance on balancing worldly tools with spiritual well-being, emphasizing responsible use, moderation, and accountability. This detailed exploration examines the Islamic perspective on social media, shedding light on its challenges, dilemmas, and the solutions rooted in the Qur’an and Sunnah. We also discuss real-life examples and studies to emphasize the relevance of this topic.

1. The Power and Reach of Social Media

In 2024, there are approximately 4.9 billion social media users globally, representing more than half the world’s population. Social media platforms are used for diverse purposes: sharing information, influencing public opinion, fostering business opportunities, and connecting with loved ones. For Muslims, social media can be a double-edged sword—it can be a powerful tool for spreading Islamic knowledge and creating meaningful change, or it can lead to distraction, sin, and harm.

In the same time, we can use this statistics to enrich our dawah online activities

In 2015, a Muslim content creator from Indonesia launched a YouTube channel to explain Islamic teachings in a simple and engaging way. Within five years, his channel had amassed over 10 million followers, with his videos translated into several languages. This example highlights the potential of social media for amplifying the message of Islam to a global audience.

However, the same platform is rife with harmful content that contradicts Islamic values, which demonstrates the importance of intentional and mindful usage.

2. The Challenges of Social Media

While social media has benefits, its challenges cannot be ignored. These challenges pose significant threats to a Muslim’s faith, character, and mental health.

a. Social Media Addiction

Social media platforms are designed to keep users engaged as long as possible through algorithms, notifications, and endless scrolling. Studies indicate that users spend an average of 2-3 hours daily on social media. Addiction manifests when people prioritize social media over real-world responsibilities, relationships, or spiritual growth.

Ahmed, a university student in Cairo, found himself spending 6-8 hours daily on TikTok and Instagram. Initially using the platforms for relaxation, he eventually fell into a cycle of procrastination, missing assignments, and delaying his prayers. This addiction not only harmed his academic performance but also weakened his relationship with Allah (SWT).

b. Wasting Time on Social Media

The Qur’an emphasizes the value of time:

“By time. Indeed, mankind is in loss, except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds…” (Surah Al-Asr 103:1-3).

Social media often becomes a time-consuming distraction, leading users to spend hours scrolling through memes, videos, and unproductive content. This wasted time could be spent on worship, self-improvement, or serving the community.

Example: Productivity Loss at Work

A study conducted in the UK found that employees who frequently checked their social media during work hours were 13% less productive than their counterparts. This distraction has a ripple effect, reducing efficiency and increasing stress. Muslims are encouraged to excel in their worldly duties, whether at work or in personal endeavors. Misusing time on social media undermines this Islamic ethic.

c. Exposure to Improper Content

One of the most concerning aspects of social media is the rampant availability of improper content, including explicit imagery, lewd language, and gossip. Islam strictly prohibits exposure to such material, as Allah (SWT) commands:

“And do not approach immoralities – what is apparent of them and what is concealed…” (Surah Al-An’am 6:151).

Even passive exposure to haram content can harm a person’s iman (faith). Over time, repeated exposure can desensitize individuals to sin, making it essential to actively filter and avoid such material.

Example: TikTok’s Algorithm

TikTok’s “For You” page is notorious for showing content based on user behavior. If a Muslim unknowingly interacts with inappropriate content, the algorithm may begin to push similar videos, creating an ongoing struggle to maintain modesty and faith.

d. Fostering Envy and Materialism

Social media fosters a culture of comparison, where users are exposed to the seemingly perfect lives of others. This creates envy, dissatisfaction, and ingratitude, directly contradicting Islamic teachings. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

“Do not look to those above you. Look to those below you, as it will more likely remind you of Allah’s favor upon you.” (Bukhari).

Real-Life Example: Instagram’s Impact on Body Image

A 2020 study found that 67% of teenagers who regularly used Instagram reported feeling insecure about their appearance due to comparisons with influencers. Muslims must remember that Allah (SWT) values inner character and piety over outward appearances.

A warn from the prophet (SAW)!

The hadith, “Take advantage of five before five: your youth before your old age, your health before your sickness, your wealth before your poverty, your free time before your busyness, and your life before your death,” reported by Hakim, emphasizes the importance of utilizing the blessings Allah has granted us before they are inevitably lost or diminished.
It serves as a profound reminder to Muslims to be proactive in doing good and living purposefully, but this what social media want to consume wrongly.  

Your Youth Before Your Old Age

Youth is a time of vitality, energy, and potential. During this stage, a person often has fewer responsibilities, allowing them to focus on building their character, faith, and skills. This phase should be utilized for worship, learning, and making a positive impact. As we age, physical strength and stamina decline, and regrets can arise over missed opportunities. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) reminds us to embrace youth as a blessing and use it to cultivate good habits, develop our spirituality, and prepare for the responsibilities of adulthood and beyond.

Your Health Before Your Sickness

Good health is a priceless gift that allows us to perform acts of worship, work, and serve others with ease. However, health is not guaranteed; sickness or physical limitations can come unexpectedly. This part of the hadith encourages us to maximize our productive capacity while we are healthy. It is a call to use our physical well-being to engage in acts of kindness, voluntary fasting, prayers, and charity. It also underscores the need to show gratitude to Allah by not wasting the ability to act while we are still capable.

Your Wealth Before Your Poverty

Wealth, like health, is transient. While one may enjoy financial stability now, circumstances can quickly change due to unexpected events such as economic downturns, job losses, or natural calamities. The Prophet (peace be upon him) advises us to use our wealth for good causes—spending in charity, supporting the needy, and investing in acts that earn the pleasure of Allah. Wealth should not lead to arrogance or wastefulness, but rather be viewed as a tool for building lasting rewards in the Hereafter.

Your Free Time Before Your Busyness

Free time is another blessing often taken for granted. As life progresses, responsibilities tend to multiply—family obligations, work commitments, and societal duties can consume one’s time. When free time is available, it should be used wisely for beneficial pursuits, such as learning, worship, self-improvement, and strengthening relationships with family and friends. The hadith is a reminder that time is precious, and wasting it on trivial or harmful activities is a loss that cannot be undone.

Your Life Before Your Death

Finally, the overarching theme of the hadith is the value of life itself. Life is an opportunity to earn Allah’s pleasure and prepare for the Hereafter. It is finite and fragile, and once it ends, there are no second chances. This phrase underscores the urgency of repentance, performing good deeds, and living in a way that aligns with Islamic principles. Each moment of life is a chance to seek forgiveness, improve oneself, and contribute to society in meaningful ways.


Therefore, it is essential to evaluate your time spent on social media and reflect on how it aligns with the teachings of this hadith.

3. The Dilemmas of Social Media Trends

Trends are a defining feature of social media, influencing behavior, fashion, and even values. However, many trends conflict with Islamic principles.

a. Dangerous Challenges

From reckless stunts to mocking religious practices, viral challenges often encourage harmful or unethical behavior.

In 2021, a TikTok trend emerged where users created parodies of Islamic practices, such as mispronouncing verses or mocking prayer. While intended as humor, such behavior borders on blasphemy and diminishes the sanctity of Islam.

b. Promoting Superficiality

Trends often prioritize superficial aspects, such as physical beauty, wealth, or popularity, over character and virtue. Islam encourages Muslims to focus on inner qualities rather than external validation:

“Indeed, Allah does not look at your appearance or wealth, but He looks at your hearts and deeds.” (Muslim).

4. Social Media's Impact on Mental Health

Social media has been linked to increased rates of depression, anxiety, and loneliness, especially among young users.

a. Desperation and Low Self-Esteem

The curated lives presented on social media create unrealistic expectations, leading users to feel inadequate.

A study conducted in Saudi Arabia revealed that excessive social media use among teenagers correlated with higher rates of depression and poor self-esteem. Researchers attributed this to the constant comparison with influencers and peers.

b. Cyberbullying and Harassment

Anonymity on social media often leads to cyberbullying, which can cause severe emotional harm. Islam places great emphasis on the dignity of individuals, warning against verbal abuse:

“And do not insult one another and do not call each other by [offensive] nicknames…” (Surah Al-Hujurat 49:11).

Social Media for Dawah

5. Guidelines for Responsible Social Media Use

Muslims must approach social media with intentionality and mindfulness. Here are practical guidelines:

a. Set Clear Intentions

Before logging onto social media, ask yourself: How will this benefit my dunya (worldly life) or akhirah (Hereafter)? The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

“Actions are but by intentions…” (Bukhari).

b. Follow Beneficial Content

Curate your feed to include accounts that promote Islamic teachings, personal growth, or beneficial knowledge. Avoid following individuals who promote materialism, gossip, or sinful behavior.

c. Limit Screen Time

Set daily limits on your social media usage to prevent addiction. Tools like screen-time trackers or scheduling “offline” hours can help maintain balance.

d. Use Social Media for Dawah

Social media offers an unparalleled opportunity to spread Islam. You canmany activities like: Sharing Quranic Verses and Hadiths, Creating Short, Informative Videos, Promoting Islamic Events or Activities, Posting Inspirational Stories and Quotes, Engaging in Q&A Sessions, Creating Islamic Educational Content.

e. Seek Allah’s Help

Finally, make dua (supplication) to Allah (SWT) to guide you in using social media wisely and protect you from its harms.

How Fiqh Specialists Determine the Halal or Haram Status of New Issues like Social Media

Islamic law, or Shari’ah, is a comprehensive guide to human life, rooted in the Qur’an and the Sunnah (teachings and practices of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him). Yet, as time progresses, new situations, technologies, and societal practices arise that were not explicitly mentioned in these primary sources. One such modern development is social media. How do Islamic scholars determine whether these new things are halal (permissible) or haram (impermissible)?

Fiqh specialists, or jurists, rely on a well-established methodology for deriving rulings on new issues. This process, rooted in the principles of usul al-fiqh (the foundations of jurisprudence), involves a careful study of the Qur’an, Sunnah, consensus of scholars (ijma’), and analogical reasoning (qiyas), among other tools. This article explains the process of extracting rulings and applies it to social media as a practical example.

Islamic Jurisprudence

The Foundations of Islamic Jurisprudence

Islamic jurists derive rulings for new situations by following a structured process:

  1. The Qur’an

The Qur’an is the primary source of guidance. It provides general principles and specific rulings that shape all aspects of human life. When addressing new issues, jurists look for relevant verses that establish broad values such as justice, modesty, honesty, and accountability. For example:

  • “O you who have believed, do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly…” (Surah An-Nisa, 4:29)
  • “Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due…” (Surah An-Nisa, 4:58)

These principles can be applied to matters like online transactions, the ethical use of platforms, and respecting others’ privacy on social media.

  1. The Sunnah

The Sunnah complements the Qur’an, providing practical examples and elaborations. Jurists study the actions and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to extract rulings. For instance, the Prophet’s emphasis on modesty can inform guidelines for appropriate behavior and dress on social media.

  1. Consensus of Scholars (Ijma’)

When a new issue arises, scholars may agree upon a ruling based on shared interpretation of the Qur’an and Sunnah. This consensus becomes a valid source for future reference. For example, scholars may collectively agree that sharing inappropriate content or defaming others on social media is haram because it contradicts Islamic ethics.

  1. Analogical Reasoning (Qiyas)

When direct evidence is not available, jurists use analogy to extend existing rulings to new situations. For example, the prohibition of alcohol can be analogically applied to drugs, as both intoxicate the mind and lead to harm. Similarly, traditional rulings on backbiting and gossip apply to modern forms of these behaviors on social media.

Additional Tools in Islamic Jurisprudence

  1. Public Welfare (Maslahah Mursalah): Scholars evaluate whether an action promotes or harms the public good. For instance, they may permit social media use for educational and dawah purposes while condemning its misuse for spreading immorality or misinformation.
  2. Customary Practices (‘Urf): Jurists consider cultural norms as long as they do not contradict Shari’ah. Social media norms, like using it to announce weddings or share Quranic reminders, are permissible unless they violate Islamic principles.
  3. Blocking Harm (Sadd al-Dhara’i): If something permissible leads to harmful outcomes, jurists may prohibit it. For example, while using social media is generally permissible, scholars might discourage its use if it results in addiction, neglect of prayer, or exposure to harmful content.

Applying These Principles to Social Media

Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter present unique challenges and opportunities. Jurists examine specific aspects of social media to determine their halal or haram status:

1. Content Creation and Sharing

  • Halal Use: Sharing Islamic knowledge, maintaining family ties, or promoting ethical business practices aligns with Islamic values.
  • Haram Use: Posting inappropriate content, engaging in gossip, or spreading false information contradicts Islamic teachings on modesty and honesty.

 

2. Privacy and Ethics

Islam emphasizes the sanctity of privacy:

  • “And do not spy…” (Surah Al-Hujurat, 49:12)
    Sharing someone’s private photos or messages without consent violates this principle and is therefore haram.

 

3. Modesty and Interaction

Social media interactions, especially between non-mahrams (unmarriageable kin), must adhere to guidelines of modesty. Excessive flirting, immodest selfies, or inappropriate conversations are discouraged.

4. Addiction and Neglect

If social media use leads to neglecting obligatory acts like prayer or harms mental health, it may be deemed impermissible. Scholars might analogize this to wasting time excessively, which is discouraged in Islam.

5. Spreading Good vs. Evil

Social media’s potential to amplify messages means users must weigh their actions:

  • “Whoever guides [someone] to goodness will have a reward like one who did it.” (Sahih Muslim)
  • “Whoever starts something bad will bear its sin and the sin of those who follow it…” (Sahih Muslim)

Promoting beneficial content is rewarded, while sharing harmful or sinful content is condemned.

6. Conclusion

Social media, like any tool, carries the potential for both benefit and harm. It depends on how it is used and the intentions behind that use. For Muslims, navigating social media requires a mindful approach guided by the principles of the Qur’an and Sunnah. Islam teaches us to strive for balance in all aspects of life, including how we engage with the digital world. Our actions online should reflect the same consciousness of Allah (taqwa) that we aim to uphold in other areas of our lives.

One of the primary challenges of social media is the risk of addiction. Excessive time spent scrolling through feeds can lead to neglect of more meaningful pursuits, including acts of worship, personal development, and family responsibilities. Muslims must assess their usage and ensure it does not dominate their lives or distract them from their ultimate purpose: seeking Allah’s pleasure. Another concern is the prevalence of inappropriate or harmful content. Social media often exposes users to trends and messages that conflict with Islamic values, making it vital to exercise caution and selectivity in what we consume and share.

Despite its challenges, social media also holds immense potential for good. It can serve as a powerful platform for dawah, allowing Muslims to share knowledge, spread positivity, and inspire others toward righteousness. By creating and promoting content that aligns with Islamic teachings, users can contribute to the betterment of society and encourage others to engage with social media in a more meaningful way. It is also a tool for staying connected with family and friends, fostering community, and accessing beneficial knowledge.

Ultimately, the key is to transform social media into a source of barakah (blessing) rather than a source of fitnah (trial). This requires discipline, intentionality, and a clear sense of purpose. Muslims should set boundaries for their usage, regularly reflect on their intentions, and seek Allah’s guidance in navigating this digital landscape.

May Allah (SWT) grant us the wisdom to use social media in ways that enhance our lives and bring us closer to Him. May He protect us from its harms and allow it to be a means of spreading goodness and strengthening our faith. Ameen.

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