The world has become one small village, but it wasn't always like this.
Growing up, I went to a boys high school so drama wasn't really a thing. Until college started. Short form content took over the internet, and the world became one small village. The tragedy of your small town that no one once knew ends up reaching the world's pockets. Within seconds.
Headlines by the minute. Click. Consume. Comment.
But it wasn't always like this. My generation were the last to see a glimpse of life before everyone became a TikTok scholar and social media influencer.
Life just felt slow and steady.
So what happened to just being quiet? To verification? To not getting involved?
What happened to turning back to the scholars and the wise?
Shares and reshares take over the internet.
I say this and you will probably see my name in the comments rage baiting people for fun. I guess this is a reminder to myself, just like most of the things I publish.
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: "من كان يؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر، فليقل خيرًا، أو ليصمت"
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'He who believes in Allah and the Last Day must either speak good or remain silent.' (Sahih al-Bukhari)
The loud voices who hastily react with rage and emotion, they are described as passionate. As knowledgeable.
Is it really passion?
Or are you just trying to fit in with everyone else because you're bored?
O beloved sibling! What do we achieve from constantly commentating our opinion? Sharing news and issues that we haven't even comprehended, from people we don't even know.
Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala has saved us from such trials, yet we force ourselves to get involved.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِن جَآءَكُمْ فَاسِقٌۢ بِنَبَإٍۢ فَتَبَيَّنُوٓا۟ أَن تُصِيبُوا۟ قَوْمًۢا بِجَهَـٰلَةٍۢ فَتُصْبِحُوا۟ عَلَىٰ مَا فَعَلْتُمْ نَـٰدِمِينَ
'O you who believe! If a Fasiq (liar/evil person) comes to you with any news, verify it, lest you should harm people in ignorance, and afterwards you become regretful for what you have done'. (Surah Al-Hujurat)
I don't want to turn this into a Hadith lesson, going into who is a trustworthy person and who isn't but we see it a lot today, there's no need to mention examples.
'Did you see what she did, what he said, where she went, then he came'.
'Bro did you see that story about that girl who'...
'that scholar who said'...
And even when you refuse to listen it's almost enforced and glorified.
'Nah, trust me you don't even want to know what happened'...
I can hear it right now while I write this, and people walk past with their conversations. But my question is, 'what's the point?'
Ibn Al Mubarak رحمة الله was asked about the statement of Luqmaan to his son:
'If speech is from silver, then silence is from gold.'
So he said: 'It means that if speech in obedience to Allah is from silver, then silence [in order to refrain from] disobedience to Allah is gold.' [Jaami-ul Uloom Wal-Hikam: page: 155]
We bounce from app to app, reel after reel. Looking for the next controversy. The options feel somewhat endless.
As kids we thought having a phone meant freedom, independence, control. But when was the last time you felt like that?
Probably when you were still a kid and before you had a phone.
Freedom isn't found in social media apps, and notifications from random people. Freedom is following the book of Allah and the Sunnah. Leaving that which doesn't concern you.
Now like always I have to clarify, this isn't a call for everyone to shut up and become silent. For us to all become mute in our daily lives.
There's times as a Muslim you're going to have to step up. Clarify and defend what is right, and you may be alone while everyone else is against you. Just like the Prophets before us.
وَلْتَكُن مِّنكُمْ أُمَّةٌۭ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى ٱلْخَيْرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ ۚ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ
'Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to all that is good (Islam), enjoining Al-Ma‘ruf (i.e. Islamic Tawhid and all that Islam orders one to do) and forbidding Al-Munkar (Shirk and disbelief and all that Islam has forbidden). And it is they who are the successful'. (surah Ali 'Imran)
So let's seek knowledge and learn manners, so at least when we speak we know what is right and wrong.
Your Brother, IbnFarooq
Shaikh Salih Al-Usaymi حفظه الله