Nauman Hadi, UK
We in Khuddamul Ahmadiyya are in a very unique trade. Our business pertains to the practice of conducting our own tarbiyat [moral training] and that of our fellows. But what is our income? What metric have we to measure our wealth that we can accumulate through this? Are we left empty handed at the end, or have we tall edifices to call our own?
It is this natural desire to obtain reward that – though it should manifest itself as seeking recompense from Allah alone – can at times pounce forth as a grotesque beast of egoistic fulfilment; like the desire to gain wealth by commercialising Islam in a manner contrary to its teachings.
Through such means does capitalism become sovereign lord, whilst spiritual reformation is demoted to watch from the side-lines; a device left on the shelf only to be employed to grant false legitimacy to the pursuit of commercial enterprise.
There used to be a time when the phrase “with the rise of social media” would resonate. But somehow that no longer feels appropriate to describe the current era. In fact, it harkens memories of more than a decade ago, sometimes even further back. It feels like it’s been eons since we first heard of Twitter, Instagram or Facebook (their names have even changed since then!)
Perhaps a more accurate way to begin these few words would be to say something like this: the prolific commercialisation with the rise of social media has given us a world where capitalistic pursuits have been broken down to atomically minute degrees. Everything can be commercialised these days, drawing a steady and at times colossal income.
With this shift, there is a peculiar and strange trend that we are witnessing. We are seeing the commercialisation of tarbiyat. No, I do not mean the acceptable practice of making ends meet so one can continue helping people without profit as the ultimate goal; rather I mean the ‘business-ification’ of Islam where the Holy Quran, Sunnah [practice of the Holy Prophetsa] and Ahadith become a mere façade.
This capitalistic pursuit is at times dressed up as ‘dawah’ – we may understand this as tabligh [preaching] or tarbiyat. The word ‘halal’ is paint-brushed across anything to give it the authenticity that Muslims naturally look for in their daily lives.
Of course, we can never judge intentions and nor should we. But we should most certainly be aware of this. The real danger behind this (other than the obvious harvesting of religion for a capitalist hunt) is that our faith is very easily distorted to fit the demand, rather than the demand being adapted or removed in accordance to our faith.
A straightforward example of this is the sacred institution of nikah [Islamic marriage]. Almost every Ahmadi will be aware that in the view of some, a nikah can be rendered obsolete by saying as-salamu-alaikum [peace be on you] to an Ahmadi. Of course this is then followed by those who pass such ridiculous fatwas to charge the innocent victims for another Nikah ceremony.
This commercialisation of Islam through social media does not always have to be for the sake of hard commerce. In fact, this practice can at times lead to the mockery of religion for a few likes or followers. Social media algorithms work in specific ways and there is always a competition to gain the most views and post viral content.
In such a race, however, it can be tempting to humourise the very serious aspects of the Islamic faith – the Sha`ai-rillah the sacred things of Allah – to satirise Islamic institutions for the simple reason that humour sells well and can generate views.
It will not come as a surprise that the deep attachment that Muslims have towards their faith is looked upon with envy. Whilst other faiths have altered their beliefs in line with prevailing norms and values, the religion of Islam prides itself as being timeless. When this is placed against a backdrop where others seek to exploit Muslim expression of wanting to change the beliefs of Islam, it becomes all the more grave.
At times, on online platforms, the commercialisation of Islam can manifest itself as an attack upon the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and its sacred institutions to gain credibility to turn the wheel of profit. Making a video on social media, levelling all manner of false allegations, causing sectarian division, and ending the video by asking viewers to make a purchase is unfortunately growing. This is nothing new – it is simply a continuation of the age-old practice of profiting from religion, specifically where the spiritual wellbeing of people is just an afterthought rather than the aim.
What is our practice of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community? It is interesting to note that a condition in the declaration for life dedication – Waqfe-Zindagi – runs as “I shall not demand in lieu for my services any remuneration”. It is one of many ways that the conditions for life dedication embody the verse of the Holy Quran in which Hazrat Maryamas dedicates her unborn child for the sake of Allah (Surah Aal-e-`Imran, Ch.3: V.36); the word muhararan means freeing something completely from another, meaning that the task of religious reformation, especially that of others, must be carried out without any element of worldly ambition.