CURRENT ISSUE : FACEBOOK AS A MEDIUM OF DAKWAH

Life is like a battle field. In this battle, as long as it is in line with the syariat of Allah, He will shows the right path and lighten the burden of His servant in order to face the challenge that has already designed for them. In this digital era, Allah sent down an intuition towards His servants in terms of technology such as information technology- Facebook as one of the medium to spread the da’wah.

Facebook users in Malaysia now nearly hits 12 million users while for internet user, it scores 69.91 %. Socialbakers.com reports recently Malaysia is in the 17^th rank for the largest number of Facebook user. The report shows 53% of the users are male while 47% is female user and most of the users are teenagers and also adults. More than 25 million users from all over the world are recognized as active members for Facebook and most of them spend around 19 minutes per day for social networking. This fact proves the vital role of digital information technology in spreading the da’wah.

Utilizing the influence of Facebook as one of social networking web that has the largest number of users in the world, has lead to the downfall of Ali Zainal Abidin regime in Tunisia, Husni Mubarak in Egypt and Muammar Ghadaffi in Libya. Now Facebook triggers the same phenomenon in Syria, splendor the rising of the citizen who has been suppressed by the regime for years.

We must view Facebook as one of the best medium to spread the information to all mankind without denying the fact that some people failed to use Facebook for the benefit of mankind. It is either they are illiterate when it comes to information technology, or that they deal with the technology with wickedness in heart instead of with revelation and a sound mind.

In this new era of globalization, Facebook is the best medium to spread the beauty of Islam to constitute the role of talk-based method as the main medium. Consequently, we couldn’t stress more on the necessity of every Muslims as the preachers of Islam to adapt themselves to this technology era, and to utilize it to the fullest.

Create and own a Facebook account, and activate it with true knowledge and precise information. Avoid slender and curse words, instead put forward facts and figures, as well as simple and clear debate. Mastering the language of the world’s youth will make the process of guiding them easier, along with accurate knowledge and information, provided it is based on the guidance revealed by Rabbul Izzati.

Acknowledging this significant and crucial development, we therefore enlist Islamic scholars and their colleagues at the top in the list of people who are obliged to be the activist of Facebook, as consistent and wise users. Guide these youngsters to achieve their dreams through the right way, and that this change does not go against Islamic ethics limitations.

Thus, let us start with instilling intention of doing this because of Allah, Basmallah, and join this useful medium. Let us practice patients in handling every hassle and be strong in dealing with whatever challenges that will inevitably come along the way of victory and glory.