Are Mobile Phones a Blessing or an Affliction?
Since 2012-11-21
In this era, we need all the available means of modernism, which are facilitated for our service and comfort. Among these means is the means of communication such as what recently appeared in our societies; it is called the “mobile phones”.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Praise be to Allah Alone, prayers and peace of Allah be upon the seal of the Prophets.
In this era, we need all the available means of modernism, which are facilitated for our service and comfort. Among these means is the means of communication such as what recently appeared in our societies; it is called the “mobile phones”. It is that small device which became an indication of responsibility, as the one who does not have it will not be considered responsible in the sight of his society. In addition, he will be considered unable to keep up with the requirements of life. Unfortunately, nowadays people are boasting of buying mobiles for the highest prices. Moreover, some people among us pay the highest sums of money to get what is called the “distinguished number”. They do so for boasting and acquiring reputation; however, they forget the main purpose and aim of using the mobile phones which is calling. The price of some of those distinguished numbers have reached thirty thousand riyals, and some times more than that, in return for getting them. However, we did not ask ourselves one day the following question:
* Are mobile phones a blessing or an affliction?
The human, naturally, loves showing all what he owns in order to strengthen his personality in front of everybody. As a result, people took such small device as one of the most significant features by which man shows off himself. They forgot its danger to the extent that children who are ten years or eleven years old, and may be younger, started to carry it under the consent of their parents.
Sometimes, the father buys a mobile and a SIM card for his son from his childhood. Moreover, we reached the extent that we give a mobile phone for the female servant with the pretext that need necessitated it. However, we did not realize that it is a double-edged weapon.
Few among us are the ones who thank Allah, Glorified and Exalted, for such a bounty, which He has granted and facilitated for us. On the contrary, we started to have conversations without paying attention to the words uttered or the messages either sent or received.
My honored brother!
The problem is that you did look at it from a religious or an intellectual point of view, if this sentence is correct. Have you ever asked yourself one of the following questions:
* Have I thanked Allah the due thanking for such bounty?
* Is it considered a matter of wasting money in vain or not?
* Will I be called to account for it before Allah Glorified and Exalted?
* Is my mobile phone a blessing or an affliction?
I tell you that you will certainly be called to account and asked about it and you will be asked about all what you say and all what you spend. Al-Mughîra ibn Shu’bah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “Verily, Allah has forbidden for you: undutifulness to mothers, and burying daughters alive, withholding the right of others in spite of being able to return that to them and demanding that (which is not one’s legitimate right). And He disapproved three things for you: useless and idle talk, persistent questioning, and wasting of wealth.” [Reported by Al-Bukhâri]
«إن الله حرم عليكم: عقوق الأمهات ووأد البنات، ومنع وهات. وكره لكم: قيل وقال، وكثرة السؤال، وإضاعة المال» رواه البخاري
Useless and idle talk is a matter for which you will be called to account. Allah says, {Not a word does he (or she) utter but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it).} [Surat Qaf 50:18]
{مَّا يَلْفِظُ مِن قَوْلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيْهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌ} ق: 18
Transliteration: Ma yalfithu min qawlin illa ladayhi raqeebun AAateedun
This means that each and every word uttered by man is surely, watched by an observer. Such observer does not leave a word or an action without recording it.
Beware my Muslim brother as the angel records everything. In case of having a mobile phone, you have to take care of some matters. The following are some of them, as they are too many, but they are a reminder to the forgetful and a warning to the heedless:
1- Praising Allah, Glorified and Exalted, every now and then for such blessing and admitting that He is the one Who granted us such blessing. In addition, we should feel that it is facilitated for serving His slaves and easing their matters. Whenever we disobey Him, He is able to destroy it and deprive us of it.
If you have a blessing, take care of it;
For acts of disobedience take blessings away.
2- Avoid boasting of it before people for fear that you may hurt the poor and the needy who do not find something to eat.
3- Avoid useless speech so that it does not become an affliction upon you in the worldly life and in the Hereafter. In addition, remember that you will be held responsible for all that you utter, as previously mentioned.
4- Use it for every good matter and never use it for something else. It can be used for calling the relatives and kinship and asking about their affairs. Moreover, you should not use it in sending or receiving messages except if it has a benefit for you in this worldly life and in the Hereafter.
5- Switch off your mobile or at least switch it to (silent) mode when you are going to meet Allah, Glorified and Exalted, in (prayer) so that you can meet the Lord of Might and Majesty by a submissive heart. This is a way of thanking Allah, Glorified and Exalted, for His blessings and an indication of respecting Him, Exalted be Him. In addition, this is in order not to interrupt the submissiveness of those who are praying because of the ringtones of your mobile.
6- Avoid the insolent ringtones which remind you of certain songs. It is enough to have the usual ringtone as a matter of adhering to your religion. Fear Allah and know that you will be called to account for what you heard. Be sure that the ringtone indicates the personality of man. This was mentioned in a Fatwa (formal legal opinion) issued by the Standing Committee for Scholarly Research and Issuing Fatwas, number 20842, dated 2/3/1430. The fatwa is as the following:
Question: many mobile phones contain musical ringing tones. Is it permissible to use such ringtones instead of the usual ringing tone (that is originally installed in the set)?
The answer: it is not permissible to use musical ringtones and similar tones because listening to music is forbidden. It can be replaced by the usual ringtone.
7- Replace the dissolute pictures and words put by some people on the screen. Instead of them, use words that remind you of Allah Almighty such as, Exalted is Allah, Allah is the Greatest, I seek forgiveness from Allah. Such statements are abundant, praise be to Allah.
8- Start with the greeting: assalâmu ‘alaykum (peace be with you), so that you can gain the reward and avoid words which do not have a reward such as, hello, welcome…etc.
9- Do not use it in places where it may affect the ones who are next to you such as if you are driving the car, on the plane, or in the hospital, graves, and mosques. Lower its sound when necessary especially in quiet places such as the hospitals.
10- Do not give it to children to use it or play with it because if you did so, your child will be aware of such device. Thus, he may take it without your permission or he may buy a personal one for himself and hide it from you, especially if he became a teenager. In doing so, we are not prohibiting what Allah, Glorified and Exalted, has permitted. Instead, it is a matter of keeping our children away from much pampering and excessive luxury, which may affect his personality and lead him to be irresponsible person.
11- Looking into one’s soul and calling it to account concerning what it speaks of. Be keen, as possible as you can, on avoiding backbiting, calumny, or audacious kidding. Beware that your mobile phone does not send or receive any dissolute messages. Moreover, be keen that it is not used except for saying every good word and sending every good message. Try to make your words nice with the one to whom you are speaking, so that you gain the reward from Allah and remember that the good word is a charity.
Finally, the proverb says, “The sword is judged according to the one who uses it”. Thus, if you used the mobile for the good, Allah will help you to do that and your mobile will be a minaret for the good. It will be a minaret for strengthening the ties of kinship, having good speech, uttering sincere words, exchanging pieces of advice, calling to Allah, praying for others… etc. On the other hand, if you used it for something evil, it will heavily pour misdeeds on the balance of your deeds and it will cause a severe penalty for you, at present in the worldly life, and later in the Hereafter.
Peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad.
Prepared by ‘Ali ibn ‘Umar Badik
With little modification
Madar Al-Watan, 344
- Category:
- Source: