We must protect ourselves from the pitfalls of social media

The second explanation carries a deeper meaning people will not directly consume alcohol, but they will drown themselves in things that intoxicate them just like drug addicts are intoxicated. Undoubtedly, in this dazzling modern world of technology, that new unnamed intoxicant is social media. Social media literally means “social communication platforms.” Even though the bottle might say “social,” inside it contains anti-social or un-social drugs.

All researchers agree in one sentence: nowadays, social media is making us extremely anti-social. Not only society, but even families are being destroyed by this anti-social medium. After a long day’s work, when a husband returns home tired, it is the wife’s duty to offer him water, serve food, gently stroke his head, and soothe all his fatigue with loving embraces.

But what do today’s wives do? They get lost in Facebook, YouTube, X, and other such sites. Sometimes they post, sometimes they get engrossed watching reels for hours. Another scenario exists too: the wife waits the whole day for the husband to come home to share joy and sorrow, but once he is home, he immerses himself in his mobile phone, ignoring wife and children. Gradually, our families have reached the brink of destruction.

What is the history of social media? In Western civilization, where kinship and social bonds have become like museum exhibits, and people have become robotic slaves to work pressure, social media was invented for them. But we, the people of the East, already live in the paradise of large joint families and close-knit neighbors, often having better relationships with neighbors than relatives. When we go for the five daily prayers, we meet with the elders and youth of the area. We waste hours chatting at tea stalls and participate spontaneously in religious gatherings and Tabligh activities.

In short, we have always been social truly social. We are accustomed to real social life, a life that is a dream for the despairing Westerners. Alas! We have become confused by swallowing the Western tablet of social media. Forgetting real social interaction, we are drowned in virtual sociality. When the mother is sick, instead of caring for her, we post on Facebook asking for prayers. When someone meets with an accident, instead of taking them to the hospital, we get busy taking photos and posting videos.

The most frightening thing is that we cannot stay even two to five minutes without a mobile phone. The last thing before the takbir (start) of prayer is checking the phone. The first thing after salam (end) is also checking the phone. We use the phone until deep into the night before sleeping and check it immediately after waking up. Many spend one or two hours in bed engrossed in modern “drug” called reels.

Many know a hadith related to intoxication. Abdullah ibn Umar (RA) narrated that the Prophet (SAW) said: “Every intoxicating substance is khamr (intoxicant), and every intoxicant is forbidden.” (Muslim, 2003; Musnad al-Shu’ayb, 4863). Using social media itself is not blameworthy in Islam. It has undeniable importance for business and news exchange. But the way we have become addicted to screens is gravely blameworthy in Islam. It is intoxication. It is forbidden.

You will notice if you stay without your phone for four or five minutes, you start feeling restless inside. If suddenly the phone runs out of charge, the pain is unbearable. If the internet connection is lost, time seems to stop. You wonder repeatedly how to pass the time. You pick up the phone and scroll the same page again and again, watch reels for hours. No news of prayers, neglect of duties, family destruction, business loss nothing matters to us.