By Saheed Salawu
THE Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has called for caution about the use of social media and new digital technologies, urging people to exploit the technologies for righteous endeavours that would benefit the human race.
The National President, Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, United Kingdom, Rafik Ahmed Hayat, who spoke at the just concluded 58th annual Jalsa Salana, Islamic conference of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, United Kingdom, at Hampshire, Oakland Farm, said modern technology had pushed many people to deviate from the commandment of God and rules of humanity.
Hayat, who spoke on the topic ‘Guarding Against the Negative Trends of the Contemporary Age’ at the programme, said rather than exploiting the gains of social media for growth and development, many are using it for exploits that are detrimental to human existence.
At the event, it was announced that Taiwan has joined the league of countries where the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is now established to continue the propagation of Islam and service to humanity.
Hayat emphasised the need to utilise the technologies in ways that are beneficial and align with Islamic values.
He said using the technologies appropriately would make the world better and keep people away from imitating bad habits.
Quoting from a recent research, Hayat said many are restless and hopeless due to activities perpetrated on social media. He urged parents to be upright and strict in monitoring their children on when and how they use their phones.
Earlier, the world head of the Amhadiyya Muslim Community, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, expressed concern over the distractions and potential moral pitfalls presented by modern technologies such as the internet and television.
He called for vigilant parental oversight to safeguard children from harmful influences that are pervasive online and in the media.
The Ahmadiyya world leader said: “By purifying the environment of your home, you will ensure that the frivolities and innovations of the times do not influence your household. These are the things that undermine efforts for pure transformation and consume them like a pest.
“This modern society is considered civilised, but not everything in these developed countries is truly civilised. Some things are taught under the guise of freedom that lead to corruption.
“Those who are regarded as highly developed are often engrossed in frivolities and evil, considering these as freedoms.
“Under the names of freedom of thought and freedom of conscience, obscene behaviours are displayed in streets, alleys and markets.
“Some among us, due to a sense of inferiority, consider these behaviours as civilised and try to adopt them. They try to learn these behaviours under the name of freedom. If our homes have a religious environment and we focus on prayers, we will avoid these pitfalls.
“In today’s environment, pay special attention to the fact that these frivolities have entered our homes through the internet and TV. Now, everyone has an iPhone, iPad, or tablet, through which they can watch indecent films and see inappropriate pictures. These are the deceitful tactics of the Dajjal that lead people away from God and religion.”
Meanwhile, Taiwan has joined the league of countries where the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is now established to continue the propagation of Islam and service to humanity.
This news was shared with members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and invited guests at the just concluded Islamic conference of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, UK.
According to Hazrat Masroor Ahmad, Nigeria leads other African countries with new membership with Guinea and Congo Brazzaville following accordingly.
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