Scholars and Students of Knowledge Must Adapt to Technological Trends

Some scholars and students of knowledge still refuse to adapt to how technology has changed the Islamic learning landscape. They want things to be the way they were in the good old days, where their authoritative grip on the transmission of religious knowledge was firmer. They hate (and rightly so) how the internet has given a voice to many to rant ignorantly about religion, but what is also upsetting is their consistent refusal to adapt to and capitalize on these changes.

“𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐭; 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝. 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐬. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞? 𝐆𝐨 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦” – they usually say.

But who said that the internet is not the “real world”? Who uses and governs the internet but ‘real’ people? Many people do not care about the “digital masks” of others, for they are eager to mask their own identities themselves. Many Muslims enjoy speaking to other Muslims in different parts of the world; they find like-minded Muslims online with whom they are getting along. They like the internet, and part of their digital activities would involve discussing subjects they are interested in, like politics and religion. They get along with friends online in a way they cannot with Muslims in their local community whom they either do not get along with, do not have time to meet, are too shy to strike a conversation on sensitive topics, etc.

As much as ‘keyboard warriors’ are mocked, we cannot lose sight of the fact that most Muslims who find themselves doubting their religion or mainstream Islam are doing so due to being exposed to opposing ideologies on the internet. We can criticize people as much as we want for flocking to the internet to learn about religion, but the reality is what it is. Therefore, Muslims need to come to terms with the fact that the internet is one big intellectual warzone, with the digital battlefields spread across internet forums and social media channels. As a result, Islam needs to be appropriately represented in these venues.

Many Muslims are not comfortable expressing their doubts “face to face in real life” and prefer virtual engagement with others to remain anonymous. Other Muslims do not have the time to drive out to Islamic centers and sit down with Islamic teachers to resolve their doubts and prefer the convenience of researching from the comfort of their own homes on the computer.

The internet is but a medium and a critically important one at that. Because of this medium, some embrace Islam, as well as apostatize from it.

For you to agree with what I have said, you do not have to embrace what the internet has done to Islamic learning and religious authority. You do not have to like the fact that you have to adapt. You just have to accept that this is reality and that you need to cope with the times.

In conclusion, the internet is here to stay, and we need to deal with it. Al-hamdulillah, many scholars and students of knowledge have used the internet for the betterment of Islam, and they can testify to people’s thirst for authentic Islamic knowledge online. Do not unnecessarily go against the tide; swim along with the current and represent Islam as best as you can. Do not let the deviants and heretics fill the void you could have so easily occupied.