Friday Khutba of Tokyo Camii “TECHNOLOGY ADDICTION AND SOCIAL MEDIA ETHICS”

Honorable Muslims!
Islam primarily aims to ensure that humans’ lives, properties, mental health, dignity, and faith, created to be the most honorable being on earth, are protected. It regards these five values inviolable. It does not approve in any manner these values being undermined for any reason. Binding all spheres of life, this fact is also applicable to using technology, the Internet, and social media.

Dear Muslims!
People who produce technology using the reason and material given by Allah (SWT) are accountable for using it for a good cause. By using technology, if they go after gambling instead of halal earning, extravagance instead of moderate spending, morally ill practices instead of honorably living, and violence instead of compassion, then greatly mistaken are they. Moreover, if they kill their time behind a television or computer screen, they become accountable against themselves, their families, and Allah (SWT). The technology, expected to buy time by speeding up humans’ processes, has turned into the most deceiving trap for waste and loss of time today. However, Prophet Muhammad (saw) warned us as follows, “There are two blessings that many people lose: Health and free time.”^[1]

Dear Believers!
Occupying a great place in everyone’s lives, the Internet and social media should be prevented from turning into an area uncontrolled, unprincipled, and free of responsibility. What suits a Muslim is always to act responsibly, observing Allah’s boundaries (SWT). Just as it is a sin to tell a lie, defame people, and utter slanders at them in offline life, it is also a sin to do so online. Allah (SWT), as the Lord of the Worlds, watches us over online, too. He will bring us to account for all our words and acts online, also. In verse I recited as I began the khutbah, Allah (SWT) states, “Do not pursue that of which you do not know. Indeed, the hearing, the sight, and the heart – about all those one will be questioned.”^[2]

Dear Muslims!
Today it is not possible to live in a way completely isolated from technology. In fact, Islam does not want such a thing either. However, it is the primary responsibility to use the technology as aware of halal-haram, paying attention to protecting moral principles without violating human rights and liberties. That way, we might have more productive time and more meaningful efforts. We might render the world better and peaceful… As long as we use the technology under Allah’s limits and boundaries (SWT) as in all His blessings.

[1] Bukhari, Riqaq, 1.
[2] Isra, 17/36.