DEAR GOOGLE SHAYKH…
With Google at our fingertips who needs a shaykh?
Folks today our enmity lies with Google…..relax just kidding! ( We all love Google I know J). Following on from my previous post if one was to need a shaykh then theoretically they would approach them through normal conventional means e.g. mosque, institutions, school etc. However with the online phenomenon this can be far from it, one wouldn’t have to look very far to get in contact with a shaykh (hence the snide remark about Google). Allow me to prove my case :
“Dear shaykh google, Im tired...May I skip Salah? or pray in bed?” (Like are you for real?????)
This post is all about understanding the legitimacy of resorting to online information. Lets face it one can access nearly everything via Google, with the prominence of the web I dare say people would favour getting off their back sides to find a shaykh these days. The prospects of ask the imam, eshaykh and many more informative sites at the click of a button are seemingly more attractive. Having said that it is impossible to validate everything that is on the web especially when it comes to something as sensitive as religion. With differing views and self- proclaimed scholars danger lies in their sources and trusting the information obtained.
The new age digital world more specifically the internet has changed our lives completely.
ReplyDeleteIts hard to remember life without it!
the good old days of dial up internet getting on our nerves, forcing us to go to good old fashion books or the knowledgable people.
along with the growth of internet, the growth of ignorance has grown!
i refer this in regards to your topic. i understand the context of internet as a tool and sometimes we refer to it for quick answers, which i suppose is acceptable at times?
i think i prefer the good old fashion sense of spirituality you get when sittig in front of a shaykh and talking to them verbally.
Although there are many advantages of accessing religion online, I think one should limit themselves for just the literature. I am a great believer that it is very important to have a Shaykh. I personally believe the actual baya ceremony should physically take place and not online. The reasons the first time you have interaction with your shaykh you need to feel the physical bond. After the initial meeting one can connect online, in the Gaib, as the guidance is after all spiritual.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting topic discussed here. In this current day and age the internet is widely used for a number of purposes including studying and identifying the foundations of one's belief. I do agree that an individual who has queries surrounding their islamic beliefs should consult a shaykh or imaam; however, in some societies this is not possible and so the person may refer to the internet and as a result of reading a few contradictory articles confuse themselves further.
ReplyDeleteIt is for this reason that i believe that one can and should participate in carrying out online bayah if they have no alternative means of contacting a shaykh.
You mentioned the validity of giving baya online; what is there to question?? if an individual has made the intention to join a specific tareeqa, read the necessary verses and begun to read the wazaif associated with the tehriq then surely their spiritual journey by the grace of Allah has begun. whether the shaykh on google turns out to be fake or not the intention was there and so the validity surely lies with Allah to decide?
''...can we attain the same spiritual experiences online or is it just a clear sign of our laziness and ignorance?''
I feel that by one not seeing their shaykh in person will not affect the individual’s spirituality as The key word here is spiritual and not physical. Yes if one has access to a shaykh then the use of online baya is perhaps out of sheer laziness. However the use of online baya should not be entirely disregarded as being out of ignorance.
N Chishtiyyah,
DeleteIn concerning the validity of online baya, it is correct to say that validity lies in the eyes of Allah. However the responsibility lies more in the hands of the believer, it is our duty to fully research and understand the credibility of which ever site or shaykh we come across online. If we don't do this then that would be a sign of our ignorance and laziness. We are also judged on our personal efforts and intentions by Allah, we all have the duty to seek knowlegde.
TunTun Meah & AZ B,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments. The difference in experience is immense and vast when recieving guidance directly in the presence of your shaykh. But for most part of the journery I think we can agree is that it is a personal affair. It involves alot of self contemplation and personal effort, so whether the baya is given online or in person the continuation of the baya and actual method of it does not confine one to the shaykhs physical presence. Thus in the same way once you have given baya online you are not expected to shadow your shaykh physically. The emphasis I feel that should be stressed here is the on the spiritual bond and not on the physical bond.