This is such a great reflection, we really do have to recognize that no one is perfect and should only look towards Prophets for influence. Surah Baqarah also condemns blind belief from the people of the book who blinded followed their leaders when Islam was introduced instead of learning about Islam and making their own judgments about what religion to follow. And like you said, at the end of the day, we will be standing alone and held accountable for our own actions and no one to blame.
Btw I love your yt videos and I’m so happy to discover you’re also on Substack!
We're all held accountable for our words and how they impact others and now with the internet and social media, this accountability only intensifies. It's just so interesting to me how when we're talking irl, we have such a sense of mindfulness. For example, if we're in a room with a couple of people, I'm careful not to expose you in a harsh manner in front of the others. And yet, in a comment section where hundreds, thousands, or sometimes MILLIONS of people are receiving our words, we often forget to tip-toe in the way we do irl. If we're worried about tarnishing the reputation of a peer in a small room, what can then be said of protecting another's reputation on a platform where every word and phrase has the potential to echo across the span of the internet? It terrifies me to think of the sins that are amplified when deprecating comments gain traction. It's a really eerie paradox: to find shyness in small gatherings and audacity on large platforms. We may be hiding behind screens, but we're never hiding from Allah SWT. I think this all just comes back to that self-accountability and back-bone that you mentioned we need to maintain. Even as consumers, with each comment, we make ourselves forces of influence. And for each one of those comments, we're going to be held accountable
Im not yet a hijabi but i do wear it then and now when i go out, none of my family members have made a big deal about it when i wear it or not while going out, and that part resonated with the part in the essay that no one irl actually cares what you do as much as they do on social media, honestly to me its my own journey and what i know that others dont is that ive come so far, like i used to dread the day my mother would tell me to cover my head (shes always made me dress modestly against my own will) but ive actually come to love wearing it on my own, like it makes me feel elegant and makes me feel put together, it makes me feel like a woman i suppose and i really do like it, even if it isn't worn in the most proper of ways by me yet and i do take it off now and then, but i think its a respective journey for us all, because what people on the internet don't understand is that we are all so beautifully imperfect as humans and we may hate someone for triggering us online, but we don't know what they go through in the head and their hearts enough to try!! We are all at some point in our life trying and its not for social media, its all for Allah!
This is such a good point. I agree that influencers have a sense of responsibility on the influence they can be having. Especially, on their younger fan base. But it is NOT their responsibility what decision and actions you take. You and you alone are ultimately responsible for your actions. We shall be judged as individuals. Are you really going to say to Allah swt I committed sin because my favourite influencer did? Let’s be better. Thank you for sharing Bahja🤍
This is such a great reflection, we really do have to recognize that no one is perfect and should only look towards Prophets for influence. Surah Baqarah also condemns blind belief from the people of the book who blinded followed their leaders when Islam was introduced instead of learning about Islam and making their own judgments about what religion to follow. And like you said, at the end of the day, we will be standing alone and held accountable for our own actions and no one to blame.
Btw I love your yt videos and I’m so happy to discover you’re also on Substack!
Yess! I love this. Thank you for sharing. Also so happy to be here haha 🥹🤍
Yes! “His mercy is endless, and His door is always open. So, hold onto that. Seek His guidance. Allow yourself to grow, stumble, and get back up.”
so beautifully articulated. i love this!
MashaAllah taBarakahAllah 💕 beautifuly said sis
I love your words, you’re such a big sister to me.❤️🩹
I love you 🥹🤍
Just the reminder I needed
Spot on. 👏🏽👏🏽
Incredible loved every part of that 🤍🤍
an amazing read!! ive always had this mindset but i couldnt fully voice the way you did.
We're all held accountable for our words and how they impact others and now with the internet and social media, this accountability only intensifies. It's just so interesting to me how when we're talking irl, we have such a sense of mindfulness. For example, if we're in a room with a couple of people, I'm careful not to expose you in a harsh manner in front of the others. And yet, in a comment section where hundreds, thousands, or sometimes MILLIONS of people are receiving our words, we often forget to tip-toe in the way we do irl. If we're worried about tarnishing the reputation of a peer in a small room, what can then be said of protecting another's reputation on a platform where every word and phrase has the potential to echo across the span of the internet? It terrifies me to think of the sins that are amplified when deprecating comments gain traction. It's a really eerie paradox: to find shyness in small gatherings and audacity on large platforms. We may be hiding behind screens, but we're never hiding from Allah SWT. I think this all just comes back to that self-accountability and back-bone that you mentioned we need to maintain. Even as consumers, with each comment, we make ourselves forces of influence. And for each one of those comments, we're going to be held accountable
Im not yet a hijabi but i do wear it then and now when i go out, none of my family members have made a big deal about it when i wear it or not while going out, and that part resonated with the part in the essay that no one irl actually cares what you do as much as they do on social media, honestly to me its my own journey and what i know that others dont is that ive come so far, like i used to dread the day my mother would tell me to cover my head (shes always made me dress modestly against my own will) but ive actually come to love wearing it on my own, like it makes me feel elegant and makes me feel put together, it makes me feel like a woman i suppose and i really do like it, even if it isn't worn in the most proper of ways by me yet and i do take it off now and then, but i think its a respective journey for us all, because what people on the internet don't understand is that we are all so beautifully imperfect as humans and we may hate someone for triggering us online, but we don't know what they go through in the head and their hearts enough to try!! We are all at some point in our life trying and its not for social media, its all for Allah!
This is such a good point. I agree that influencers have a sense of responsibility on the influence they can be having. Especially, on their younger fan base. But it is NOT their responsibility what decision and actions you take. You and you alone are ultimately responsible for your actions. We shall be judged as individuals. Are you really going to say to Allah swt I committed sin because my favourite influencer did? Let’s be better. Thank you for sharing Bahja🤍
Thank you for this