rahmanirrahim~)
Indonesian imams label "virtual" flirting a sin
A group of Indonesian imams warned Muslims on Friday not to use popular Internet networking sites like Facebook for flirting or gossiping.
A non-binding resolution issued after a meeting of hundreds of scholars from Java and Bali islands warns that using sites like Facebook can lead to sinful lust and "obscenity."
"We forbid the use of Facebook, Friendster and other social networking sites unless they are being used to foster Islamic teaching," a spokesman for the clerics, Abdul Muid Shohib, said.
"So spreading ill words about others, gossiping and other things that go against religious teaching on social networking sites in the virtual world are forbidden according to Islamic law."
Facebook is hugely popular in the world's most populous Muslim country, and while rulings from Islamic clerics are influential they are rarely followed to the letter.
Indonesia ranks fifth behind the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy and France in terms of Facebook use, according to Internet tracking website Alexa.com.
This is despite its crumbling or, in many areas, non-existent digital infrastructure, and the fact that the majority of the country's 234 million people have little or no access to computers.
Shohib acknowledged that the networking site, where people can set up their own profile pages and share comments and pictures with their friends, was also popular among students and imams at Indonesia's conservative Islamic schools.
"We realize that the virtual world is hard to control," he said.
"There are many senior imams who worry because pornographic images often pop out while they interact through Facebook," he added.
Not Just Facebook, Friendsters and as such but also other very popular social sites like myspace, hi5, and twitter. Basically use common sense, anything you can or cannot do in person also applies online. Some of the things that are being done that are sinful and haram are:
- gossiping, lying, backbiting
- flirting, cybering, webcaming, etc
- posting pictures online (see hadith about 2nd look being a sin and ayah (33:33) of staying in your homes and wanton displays)
- posting inappropriate pictures in tight clothing, even undergarments
- allowing strangers in your bedroom via posting such pictures
- basically leaving Islam at the door while coming online
There are in some practicing Muslims who fall into this trap of syaitan and give in. while they do hijab and cover properly (men and women) offline, online you see pictures of them that will make you wonder if it’s the same person?
When we get online, insyaAllah we should fear Allah and remember this ayah every time:
“Verily, the hearing, and the sight, and the heart, of each of those you will be questioned (by Allaah).” [al-Israa’ 17:36]
So be careful when using facebook or whatever social networking sites.
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