In an age where every Muslim is on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, the question of how to conduct ourselves on social media has become a matter of faith. Sheikh Omar Suleiman addresses the often-overlooked spiritual dangers of social media addiction — from wasting the precious blessing of time to spreading nudity, backbiting, and earning sin with every thoughtless post, like, and share.
The Most Neglected Danger of Social Media
Before discussing what people post, the most fundamental problem with social media is that it pollutes the mind, teaches impatience, and trains people to waste time. One of the great scholars of Islam, Imam Ibnul Qayyim, said that wasting time is worse than death — because death disconnects you from the world, while wasting time disconnects you from Allah. The hours spent scrolling, refreshing, and consuming content are hours stolen from worship, beneficial knowledge, and real human connection.
“Wasting time is worse than death — because death disconnects you from the world, whereas wasting time disconnects you from Allah. People are just addicted to their devices.”
How Muslims Earn Sin on Social Media
- Sharing immodest content — Posting or forwarding images of scantily dressed individuals means you are actively spreading what Allah has forbidden and violating the honor of others
- Backbiting and trolling — Saying things online that you would never say face-to-face is still backbiting in the sight of Allah, and the keyboard does not protect you from its consequences
- Destructive criticism of Islamic workers — Attacking scholars and dawah efforts from behind a screen destroys both the critic and the work being criticized
- Addiction replacing real life — When online life replaces real life — real exercise, real relationships, real worship — the heart begins to die
“If you want to do something good, take people of knowledge and confidence, ask Allah for sincerity more than anything else, acknowledge your mistakes, and keep going. Don’t be discouraged.”
The Prophetic Standard for Online Conduct
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that the one who invites to good receives the equivalent reward of everyone who follows that invitation. Every social media post is either an investment in your akhirah or a liability. Post the right things, say the right words, share beneficial knowledge, and use these powerful platforms to invite people to the worship of the Creator — because on the Day of Judgment, every like, share, and comment will be accounted for.
