Why I will not boycott Facebook on May 20, 2010 & How Muslims Should Respond
// May 19th, 2010 // default
Why I will not boycott Facebook on May 20, 2010
Originally posted by Adnan Ali at http://j.mp/20mayprotest. Posting here so that people who do not have FB access can view.
My name is Adnan Ali and this is why I will not sign off or boycott Facebook on May 20, 2010.
As you know someone has created a page on Facebook to collaborate the “Draw Muhammad Day”, NauzibAllah , Astaghfar, shame on the antagonist and participants.Muslims on Facebook are outraged by this act of blasphemy and due to our immense respect and love for our Prophet Muhammad PBUH, have been reporting the page in the Racist / Hate Speech category. I have done so myself. Apparently Facebook has not acted upon what we Muslims think are its own rules and policies about user generated content on Facebook.
Since then, there has been a growing demand by the Muslims on Facebook to boycott the platform and it has been rumored that Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has been asked by the Pakistan government to block Facebook or the disputed Page’s URL. [Update: ProPakistani.pk is reporting that PTA has indeed blocked the Page URL.]
I will not be supporting any such boycott by Muslim users of Facebook, nor shall I support any block or ban by the PTA. Here is why:
1. Boycotts are the easy way out. Boycotts achieve little and they are just a self satisfaction tool.2. If the 2,359,620 Pakistanis choose to delete their accounts on Facebook, it is going to make no economic or social difference on Facebook.
3. This is a media war. Muslims have always been prone to emotional discourse which provides immense pleasure to our enemies. Moreover, boycotts are going to leave the social media space open for those who hold wrong beliefs about our Prophet PBUH.
4. Why should PTA ban this page in Pakistan? It does not have jurisdiction over other countries. So, PTA is stopping Muslims in Pakistan from accessing this page? How does that make sense? Why are Muslims in Pakistanis visiting this page in the first place? I think that no Muslim worth his salt would visit such pages and therefore PTA can stay away from banning the internet.
5. Allowing government interruption and censure on the internet will lead to precedence. Which sites will be next? Local sites where the government is criticized for politics and policy? This is a wrong and dangerous step and we should not in any case accept government censure of the internet in Pakistan.
6. Boycotting something like this will only give it more life. Imagine all the status messages that have the link of the page. We are actually spreading this virus rather than burying it. Add to this, other pages and groups created by Muslims which highlight the content of the blasphemous page. This is ridiculous behavior.
7. Our emotional outbursts are only going to be picked up by mainstream media and then everyone can join and laugh at our activities.
8. For most of us so called aggrieved people, we disrespect, ridicule and deny the teachings of Prophet Muhammad PBUH when we do not offer prayers, do not fast, lie, steal, bribe or accept bribes, engage in immoral activities etc. So I do not consider that being a Muslim gives us any moral high ground in this situation. As Muslim youth, we are the least educated in Islam. A majority has not opened the Quran or read a Tafseer in ages. A little introspection never hurts.
Here is what I would do if I was so inclined to do so:
1. Instead of promoting the blasphemous content by adding the link to my status message and creating groups and pages that showcase this content, I would sit and contemplate why this is happening.
2. Have no confusion; this is another organized attack just like the original cartoons. They know how we will react to such outrageous behavior. They know that we will boil our blood in emotional outrage and then destroy our own properties, kill our own citizens and provide another body blow to our weak economy.
3. As a reply, I would create a Facebook Group or Page to praise the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, highlight his teachings, his achievements, and his famous sayings, how he taught us to treat the poor and the children and the women. How the Prophet Muhammad PBUH urged caution and care and taught rules even for war.
4. I would ask people to record 1 minute videos about why they love Prophet Muhammad PBUH and recite their favorite Hadeeth.
5. I would narrate how Islam teaches respect for all Prophets of Allah and our faith is incomplete without believing in the Prophets of Allah.
6. I would encourage western and non-muslim scholars to visit the page and add their comments about this issue.
7. I would hope and encourage all Muslims to join this page rather than having small silos of their own. In fact, unity is the only solution here.
I am confident that my solution is better than emotional outbursts and impotent activities like boycotts and governments bans of websites.
How Muslims Should Respond to the May 20 Facebook page controversy
Originally posted by Dr. Awab at http://j.mp/20MayResponse
I fully support the suggestion of this response to the Draw Muhammed Facebook page controversy, makes a compelling argument to strive for peace and tolerance. This issue was previously discussed previously on this blog
Join the Facebook Group page to Honour the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) and also the Fan Page here, not in reaction, but more as a proactive step trying to show the world religious tolerance and the the fact that how Islam preaches peace, tolerance and respect
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35 Responses to “Why I will not boycott Facebook on May 20, 2010 & How Muslims Should Respond”
My videos. Featured videos.
- Ddnan said: ki muhammad se wafa tuny tu hum tery ha ye jaha...
- ~FurSid said: oh yes, one of my favs too :)...
- Hayley West said: my all time favourite book is 'By the River Piedra...
- ~FurSid said: Sure Sana :)...
- Sana Nasir said: Lol, my dads in it :) Can you post the link onto...
- Furat Ovais said: wow! i like how you think. on the night of the 20t...
- Why I will not boycott Facebook on May 20, 2010 & How Muslims Should Respond
- Draw Muhammad Day - Fake Love of Muhammad (S.A.W.)?
- D. U. C. K. - Photography Exhibit
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by FurSid, Sid, hasan ali khattak. hasan ali khattak said: Why I will not boycott Facebook on May 20, 2010 & How Muslims Should Respond | ~FurSid http://goo.gl/SBbb [...]
[...] of the best opinions on this web-crisis is by Adnan Ali: http://blog.fursid.com/blogged/why-i-will-not-boycott-facebook-on-may-20-2010-how-muslims-should-res... Widgets aren’t working on many blogs that have Facebook pages added. I wish PTB realized that [...]
Much needed. Trying to write a post myself too. Btw love your blog design.
Good idea !! …………. that’ll show our intolerance & adaptability with the very environment (say cruel or whatever)
Salam I do agree with some of your points specially 8 .but u r missing something Is it fard for us muslim to be on facebook. Its lke facebook is a key source of spreading peace? We r a big community and v need to show some power .if v unitedly block facebook they will definitely make sure that such a thing never occurs. v r not running away its fb tat need us not v . If v all muslims block then definitely it is going to make economic or social difference for Facebook.
My advice v shuould read Quran with tafseer and stop wasting time on facebook .Only purpose I see for a muslim to be on dacebook is to some good for islam.
@Faizan
had it been that all the Muslim countries blocking facebook I’d have supported it very much. But just banning it in Pakistan isn’t going to help.
I would partially agree to the above, but as per BBC and other news sites… here are some stats:
“Facebook Last 2 Days Losses Reach Up to 2 Billions €, BBC News If it Will Continue For More 7 Day iT would Reach to €40 Billion Euro.”
Facebook Earning $11000000000
Facebook Users 4609,221,00
Per User Earning $2.9
Pakistani Users 2349620
Total Revenue From Us $ 5,631,281,29= 461,765,066Pkr
Pakistan Revenue 47.5% of Facebook Earning = $517,000,000
So i guess we should boycott face book.
The reason i would partially agree NOT to boycott is not the reasons presented here, but simply we talk about giving lives for the LOVE of HOLY PROPHET PBUH, but never think about living HIS prescribed way. We will lie, cheat, manipulate and commit every other sin, and yet call our selves muslims. looking at ourselves in Pakistan, i am really ashamed that we are the MUSLIMS by name, not by deeds. May Allah forgive us and bestow strength on us to follow His guidance – AMIN.
There’s no such news on BBC. These stats are not confirmed or from a reliable source.
It is no wonder muslims aren’t much of anything in the modern world. Every muslim is busy on Facebook and whatever in the name of networking. A few thousand internet morons setting up a silly page trying to disgrace islam wont do anything to islam nor muslims. Nor will boycotting facebook for the sake of that anti-islam page do anything to the facebook. Muslims have to leave facebook as a whole and try doing something more creative and useful with their time and energy than add strangers, post verses like it matters. The people who use facebook and networks aren’t deprived of any information/blogs/forums to learn their deen. Boycott facebook for keeping yourself sane, not for what some unintelligent internet addicted non-believers post. peace
I’d support if all Muslims were to leave facebook. But the point is we’re not going to do that… so let’s not leave the ground for others to spread hatred and respond wisely using their own tools.
Btw there’s this social network/community site for Muslims called Muxlim http://muxlim.com/
Updated my blog as well.
Thanks for the mention Raheel.
You, sir, have become a major inspiration for those who stand against this silly ban. I’ve mentioned your link in my post. Please do check.
Thank you for the grand work!
Thanks Mehreen. It’s only but I’ve collected from other sources. I may not 100% agree with every word of it but have quoted them word by word for the sake of completeness. But I do endorse them more than anything and kind of agree with that’s been mentioned.
You shall also check my other post Draw Muhammad Day – Fake Love of Muhammad (S.A.W.)? An alternate opinion (http://j.mp/alt_opinion)
You think that ur solution is quiet sensible, but this is also true that it is sold hearted and emotionless. I guess you are not aware, but such web pages that you are suggestion have already been created and many non muslims are the members of these pages and what they did was abuse and write ill words against the Prophet.
But even so if you want to take an action other than boycot, you should opt for educating the muslims that they should not be adding themselves in the non muslims speech and throwing ill words at them…
But in my view, at the moment boycott is the best solution and MAY ALLAH give guidance to the thoughtless people who have face book phobia and were willing to go for proxies in order to operate face book on 20th MAY. This shows that how much is our teen and youth under the influence of media. I can not your way or thinking but i do say you that your way of thinking is quiet dull in this matter. (” The freedom of speech”, of course you know what i am talking about)
[...] Why I won’t boycott Facebook, Blog post by @Fursid [...]
I agree with the message absolutely. Why should PTA block this site when muslims even with a low level of imaan would not even think of opening it. It is no doubt a media war and leaving space would not let us fullfil the mission of Prophet (pbuh) to spread his message to EVERY ONE. When we act in an aggressive manner they definitely laugh at us and we are acting unlike Islam teaches us. Allah says about people who make fun of the religion in Surah Nissa ” Be patient and ignore them and tawakkal on Allah. Tawakkal means after taking appropriate actions leave the result on Allah. However, we must boycott the page for the days this ativity is happening as they will inturn bear heavy losses
They banned facebook….. Now you can’t react…
They don’t ban porn, they ban sites from where we get information, including a lot of religious information…..
If Osama bin Laden (who is although not that much of a terrorist as US want to make others believe), creates his profile on facebook, will the ban the whole site in US?
i know how addicted u are to facebook i totally support my government with that facebook is not don’t deleting this page bocz they want hits i don’t know if u have noticed that or not but by the time when this page was built by thing Muslims around the globe made hundreds of communities to stop what happen more clicks more moneyn let them wait and see how much they loose through this ban i wish all the Islamic countries around the world do this if they really are Muslims i fell pity on u shame on u facebook supporter :@
I would like you to read through this:
Draw Muhammad Day – Fake Love of Muhammad (S.A.W.)? An alternate opinion http://j.mp/alt_opinion
lol lol lol
in very simple words the blog creator will keep adding bucks to zuckerburg account …..coool baby …………..lol lol lol lol
i am quite surprised on the lot of muslim folks who are still favoring presence of Facebook unbanned …
Have you ever thought what s their business all about ..its about YOU…yep ..Your presence there is making millions of dollars for Zuckerburg ..just a click of yours is needed whether you love facebook or hate it …they need just a click.
If you ever come across reading about evolutionary changes in western and american culture you will appreciate the fact that their whole life revolves around MONEY thing …if you cut their money they will cry if you give them money( believe it or not but v 3rd world nations though being poor ..still give then millions of bucks)
…so the best way to show them our strength is to cut the money thing ..and you will see them frightening in days ….
i have read somewhere long before ..that great advice is always simple ..and i feel this simple advice of leave CLICKING this so called social networking site is the best thing we could do.
first time in life i am feeling proud that i didnt activate facebook account lol
by d way i can only pray for you the blog creator that ALLAH helps you attaining bit more insight …and encourage you to know for whom you are working for thru such blogs ….
one more thing i wanna add …have you ever pondered what is social networking all about ….what sorta social connections they are …
..
baby this is made for DEVELOPED nations …the nations whom have built empire of technology in every sense …its not for us which suffer water and electricity shortages and could not do to make it up ……whose engineers,managers while working at their office secretly keep facebook open ..checking status updates and not giving proper concentration to work……
…
we never understood EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN strategy for keeping us slave in any way ..whether they rule us or not …they rule us in true sense thru such stuff…
Dr. Amber, I would suggest you read this:
Draw Muhammad Day – Fake Love of Muhammad (S.A.W.)? An alternate opinion http://j.mp/alt_opinion
I totally agree with you, keep it up!!
I’ll try my best to spread your blog.
[...] their purpose: seeking attention. And it is we ourselves who have helped them do so. " (Why I will not boycott Facebook on May 20, 2010 & How Muslims Should Respond | ~FurSid) ———————————- Source: Pakistanis divided after Facebook banned over Mohammed [...]
Well Action you are suggesting Fursid i did tried once on Orkut. there are many Communities on Orkut. they disgrace our Beloved Prophet in everyway . I joined there in Hope that i can have a discussion and i respond to what they are saying. But even i make them answerless they were not ready to Admit that what they are saying is wronge.
So its there Plan and they will never change. They will keep on appearing . Only way you just ignore them with soundness.
well adnan u r not a muslim ..u r such a **** in so many ways …and u r so coward …now u r saying that we shoud not boycott face book…so here’s an idea ..why dont u get american visa to all the pakistanis ,,so we can practically go there and fight for it …u idiot
I think its totally wrong to argue with the false factors given in your post…
What will you do if you know whole of your environment is controlled by yourselve…What do you do if you dislike every person in the home and every one has good relation with eachother…You should walk out that house…Make your own Way and reach to the place where you can defeat them…
Just boycotting FB is not the solution, but we have to do lot more than just boycotting….a lot more…research in technology, reach to the top rule the world…its the only solution as MIGHT IS RIGHT….
good one. If you dont mind, I would like to use this for use on my own blog (sufiazamir.wordpress.com)
Sure feel free to use it :). will appreciate a link back.
I think it is must for us to ban facebook and attack facebook in all the ways we can to cut down its profits that it generates from us and then insults our beliefs and religious values.
Furthermore, you must also watch the Facebook Truth – The Real Face of Facebook. This should be enough for any wise person to know the real agenda behind this SOCIAL NETWORKING FAD.
well…i think PAK govt has done rite..we should take stand againt such crapz…i mean how can we tolerate dz thing.
I totally disagree.
boycotting facebook is the best decision.
Q:why?
A:because FB is because of us(the users) and if 80% muslims leave facebook(as expected beacause 40-50% did it till now) this will eventually force all relatives of these muslims (wheather muslims or non-muslims) to leave facebook because they find nothing afterwards which is there before boycott.
and eventually heavy bandwidth of facebook will decrease to zero…
moreover I found no reason to use facebook when there are many alternatives present like
http://www.millatfacebook.com
http://www.emanfacebook.com
http://www.welinked.com
and
http://www.myfriendsbook.com
all hosted by muslims…….
HA HA HA
Why we boycott Facebook on May 20, 2010.
Muslims should boycott FB for whole life instead of a day
wow! i like how you think. on the night of the 20th May my friend shared with me a similar idea… to portray the teachings of our Prophet PBUH such that people can see the truth. at first his idea of not boycotting fb sounded weird but the more i thought about it the more i agreed. we muslims need to be technologically and emotionally sound. it’s time to stop the blood shed and educate ourselves.. that’ll lead to unity.
BUT!!! at the same time i didn’t discourage those who went for the boycott… thinking that its time to unite… so if we will boycott fb, we’ll do it together… was my thought but a more long term option would have been to come together and bring this day down by showing them what it really means to be a muslim.