الـمَسْؤُولـِيَّةُ الشَّرْعِيَّةُ فِي حِمَايَةِ الأَبنَاءِ مِنْ مَخَاطِرِ التِّقْنِيَّةِ : The legal responsibility to protect children from the dangers of technology

Al Quran is the final Holy Book revealed upon the Last of Prophets Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH). The Quran & Sunnah is the only source of holy guidance as it entails detailed instructions for each and every walk of human life. Here guidance from Quran for the followers of Islam (الـمَسْؤُولـِيَّةُ الشَّرْعِيَّةُ فِي حِمَايَةِ الأَبنَاءِ مِنْ مَخَاطِرِ التِّقْنِيَّةِ : The legal responsibility to protect children from the dangers of technology) is discussed wrt protection of children from the dangers of technology is legal responsibility for better living from Quran and Hadith of Prophet ﷺ. This is an approved Jumma Khutba from the Sultanate of Oman and translated in English.

أَعُوذُ بِاللّٰهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ۔

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

In the name of ALLAH, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

الـمَسْؤُولـِيَّةُ الشَّرْعِيَّةُ فِي حِمَايَةِ الأَبنَاءِ مِنْ مَخَاطِرِ التِّقْنِيَّةِ

The legal responsibility to protect children from the dangers of technology.

Praise be to Allah, Who created man, taught him eloquence, and provided him in this age with means of communication that have shortened the passage of time. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, without partner, Who has entrusted us with these blessings to see how we act. And I bear witness that Muhammad, peace be upon him, is His servant and Messenger, sent with concise and comprehensive speech and righteous deeds. May the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him and his family, and his companions, men of understanding and insight. This is the translation of the recited verses from Surah Luqman:

أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فاعوذ باللہ من الشیطان الرجیم- بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم

وَلَقَدۡ ءَاتَيۡنَا لُقۡمَـٰنَ ٱلۡحِكۡمَةَ أَنِ ٱشۡكُرۡ لِلَّهِ‌ۚ وَمَن يَشۡڪُرۡ فَإِنَّمَا يَشۡكُرُ لِنَفۡسِهِۦ‌ۖ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَنِىٌّ حَمِيدٌ۬ (١٢) وَإِذۡ قَالَ لُقۡمَـٰنُ لِٱبۡنِهِۦ وَهُوَ يَعِظُهُ ۥ يَـٰبُنَىَّ لَا تُشۡرِكۡ بِٱللَّهِ‌ۖ إِنَّ ٱلشِّرۡكَ لَظُلۡمٌ عَظِيمٌ۬ (١٣) وَوَصَّيۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ بِوَٲلِدَيۡهِ حَمَلَتۡهُ أُمُّهُ ۥ وَهۡنًا عَلَىٰ وَهۡنٍ۬ وَفِصَـٰلُهُ ۥ فِى عَامَيۡنِ أَنِ ٱشۡڪُرۡ لِى وَلِوَٲلِدَيۡكَ إِلَىَّ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ (١٤) وَإِن جَـٰهَدَاكَ عَلَىٰٓ أَن تُشۡرِكَ بِى مَا لَيۡسَ لَكَ بِهِۦ عِلۡمٌ۬ فَلَا تُطِعۡهُمَا‌ۖ وَصَاحِبۡهُمَا فِى ٱلدُّنۡيَا مَعۡرُوفً۬ا‌ۖ وَٱتَّبِعۡ سَبِيلَ مَنۡ أَنَابَ إِلَىَّ‌ۚ ثُمَّ إِلَىَّ مَرۡجِعُكُمۡ فَأُنَبِّئُڪُم بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ (١٥) يَـٰبُنَىَّ إِنَّہَآ إِن تَكُ مِثۡقَالَ حَبَّةٍ۬ مِّنۡ خَرۡدَلٍ۬ فَتَكُن فِى صَخۡرَةٍ أَوۡ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ أَوۡ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ يَأۡتِ بِہَا ٱللَّهُ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَطِيفٌ خَبِيرٌ۬ (١٦) يَـٰبُنَىَّ أَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَأۡمُرۡ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِ وَٱنۡهَ عَنِ ٱلۡمُنكَرِ وَٱصۡبِرۡ عَلَىٰ مَآ أَصَابَكَ‌ۖ إِنَّ ذَٲلِكَ مِنۡ عَزۡمِ ٱلۡأُمُورِ (١٧) وَلَا تُصَعِّرۡ خَدَّكَ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَمۡشِ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مَرَحًا‌ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخۡتَالٍ۬ فَخُورٍ۬ (١٨) وَٱقۡصِدۡ فِى مَشۡيِكَ وَٱغۡضُضۡ مِن صَوۡتِكَ‌ۚ إِنَّ أَنكَرَ ٱلۡأَصۡوَٲتِ لَصَوۡتُ ٱلۡحَمِيرِ (١٩) أَلَمۡ تَرَوۡاْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَخَّرَ لَكُم مَّا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَأَسۡبَغَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ نِعَمَهُ ۥ ظَـٰهِرَةً۬ وَبَاطِنَةً۬‌ۗ وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يُجَـٰدِلُ فِى ٱللَّهِ بِغَيۡرِ عِلۡمٍ۬ وَلَا هُدً۬ى وَلَا كِتَـٰبٍ۬ مُّنِيرٍ۬ (٢٠) وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ ٱتَّبِعُواْ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ قَالُواْ بَلۡ نَتَّبِعُ مَا وَجَدۡنَا عَلَيۡهِ ءَابَآءَنَآ‌ۚ أَوَلَوۡ ڪَانَ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنُ يَدۡعُوهُمۡ إِلَىٰ عَذَابِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ (٢١) ۞ وَمَن يُسۡلِمۡ وَجۡهَهُ ۥۤ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَهُوَ مُحۡسِنٌ۬ فَقَدِ ٱسۡتَمۡسَكَ بِٱلۡعُرۡوَةِ ٱلۡوُثۡقَىٰ‌ۗ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلۡأُمُورِ (٢٢) وَمَن كَفَرَ فَلَا يَحۡزُنكَ كُفۡرُهُ ۥۤ‌ۚ إِلَيۡنَا مَرۡجِعُهُمۡ فَنُنَبِّئُهُم بِمَا عَمِلُوٓاْ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمُۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ (٢٣) نُمَتِّعُهُمۡ قَلِيلاً۬ ثُمَّ نَضۡطَرُّهُمۡ إِلَىٰ عَذَابٍ غَلِيظٍ۬ (٢٤) وَلَٮِٕن سَأَلۡتَهُم مَّنۡ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ لَيَقُولُنَّ ٱللَّهُ‌ۚ قُلِ ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ‌ۚ بَلۡ أَڪۡثَرُهُمۡ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ

And (remember) when Luqmân said to his son when he was advising him: "O my son! Join not in worship others with Allâh. Verily! Joining others in worship with Allâh is a great Zûlm (wrong) indeed.[] (13) And We have enjoined on man (to be dutiful and good) to his parents. His mother bore him in weakness and hardship upon weakness and hardship, and his weaning is in two years — give thanks to Me and to your parents, unto Me is the final destination.[] (14) But if they (both) strive with you to make you join in worship with Me others that of which you have no knowledge, then obey them not, but behave with them in the world kindly, and follow the path of him who turns to Me in repentance and in obedience. Then to Me will be your return, and I shall tell you what you used to do. (15) "O my son! If it be (anything) equal to the weight of a grain of mustard seed, and though it be in a rock, or in the heavens or in the earth, Allâh will bring it forth. Verily, Allâh is Subtle (in bringing out that grain), Well¬Aware (of its place). (16) "O my son! Aqim¬As¬Salât (perform As¬Salât), enjoin (on people) Al¬Ma'rûf (Islâmic Monotheism and all that is good), and forbid (people) from Al¬Munkar (i.e. disbelief in the Oneness of Allâh, polytheism of all kinds and all that is evil and bad), and bear with patience whatever befalls you. Verily, these are some of the important commandments (ordered by Allâh with no exemption). (17) "And turn not your face away from men with pride, nor walk in insolence through the earth. Verily, Allâh likes not any arrogant boaster[] (18) "And be moderate (or show no insolence) in your walking, and lower your voice. Verily, the harshest of all voices is the braying of the ass." (19) See you not (O men) that Allâh has subjected for you whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth, and has completed and perfected His Graces upon you, (both) apparent (i.e Islâmic Monotheism, and the lawful pleasures of this world, including health, good looks, etc.) and hidden [i.e. One's Faith in Allâh (of Islâmic Monotheism) knowledge, wisdom, guidance for doing righteous deeds, and also the pleasures and delights of the Hereafter in Paradise]? Yet of mankind is he who disputes about Allâh without knowledge or guidance or a Book giving light! (20) And when it is said to them: "Follow that which Allâh has sent down", they say: "Nay, we shall follow that which we found our fathers (following)." (Would they do so) even if Shaitân (Satan) invites them to the torment of the Fire? (21) And whosoever submits his face (himself) to Allâh, while he is a Muhsin (good¬doer i.e. performs good deeds totally for Allâh's sake without any show - off or to gain praise or fame and does them in accordance with the Sunnah of Allâh's Messenger Muhammad SAW), then he has grasped the most trustworthy hand¬hold [Lâ ilâha illallâh (none has the right to be worshipped but Allâh)]. And to Allâh return all matters for decision. (22) And whosoever disbelieves, let not his disbelief grieve you (O Muhammad SAW),. To Us is their return, and We shall inform them what they have done. Verily, Allâh is the All¬Knower of what is in the breasts (of men). (23) We let them enjoy for a little while, then in the end We shall oblige them to (enter) a great torment. (24) And if you (O Muhammad SAW) ask them: "Who has created the heavens and the earth," they will certainly say: "Allâh." Say: "All the praises and thanks be to Allâh!" But most of them know not. (25)

Surah Luqman – 13-25

O servants of ALLAH: fear ALLAH and adopt piety and obey ALLAH, O servants of ALLAH, in secret and in private, in times of ease and in times of hardship. Know that ALLAH has bestowed upon us in this modern age the blessings of expanding the means of communication, accelerating its methods, and facilitating the exchange of knowledge, ideas, and other forms of ease. However, this blessing, O noble ones, is not an absolute blessing free from all restrictions. Rather, it is a blessing that requires guidance, vigilance, and proper direction and responsibility; So that it does not turn into a curse and a calamity, especially since it has become accessible to young and old, men and women. Our discussion is not about the means of communication themselves, nor about the manifestations of technology in themselves, but rather about our children with them, and about the position of legal responsibility in dealing with these means within our homes, and in the environment of the family and upbringing; Since these sites have become present in the hands of our children, participating in shaping their ideas, guiding their behavior, and building their perceptions, whether we realize it or not.

O servants of ALLAH: These means, if they are devoid of balance and supervision and guidance is weak, their effects do not stop at the limits of entertainment or passing the time, but rather extend to reach morals, language, family and social relationships, and open the doors to blind imitation, the disturbance of values, and the wasting of time on permissible excesses. And perhaps in falling into forbidden acts, then its effects gradually spread until they touch the hearts before the behavior, and the minds before the actions, especially with the great attachment of the young to phones and screens, without the ability to distinguish and choose appropriate content. And what we have mentioned is but a small part of a much larger problem, and it is a warning sign and an indication of danger, placing every person with a sense of responsibility in a difficult position. A role in its proper place, and every trust placed upon its owner. ALLAH says in Surah At Tahrim:

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ قُوٓاْ أَنفُسَكُمۡ وَأَهۡلِيكُمۡ نَارً۬ا وَقُودُهَا ٱلنَّاسُ وَٱلۡحِجَارَةُ

O you who believe! Ward off from yourselves and your families against a Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones,

Surah At Tahrim – 6-Part

Who is responsible if values are formed outside our homes? Who is responsible if children are raised under the watchful eyes of others? Who is responsible if the compass is lost and standards become confused? Then comes the decisive answer from the words of the truthful and trustworthy one, in a comprehensive statement that leaves no one with an excuse or room for evasion, as he, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Each of you is a shepherd, and each of you is responsible for his flock. The imam is a shepherd and he is responsible for his flock, the man is a shepherd in his household and he is responsible for his flock, the woman is a shepherdess in her husband’s house and she is responsible for her flock, and the servant is a shepherd in his master’s property and he is responsible for his flock. Indeed, each of you is a shepherd, and each of you is responsible for his flock.

Dear fathers and mothers: The responsibility for your children rests with you; no one else can bear it for you, especially if they are young and have not yet reached puberty. This requires you to be proactive, vigilant, and to cooperate and combine your efforts. To guide the use of those sites, to benefit from what is useful and beneficial in them, and to avoid what is evil in them, in accordance with the saying of ALLAH Almighty in Surah Al Maedah

وَتَعَاوَنُواْ عَلَى ٱلۡبِرِّ وَٱلتَّقۡوَىٰ‌ۖ

Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety);

Surah Al Maeda – 2-Part

And know that ALLAH Almighty created children from a young age to be attached to their parents, to follow their example, and to trust what they say and do. Therefore, in this matter, as in all matters of upbringing, parents have a duty to monitor, advise, and guide their children with wisdom and good counsel, not with harshness or rudeness. They also have a duty to raise awareness and pay attention to the good and evil, truth and falsehood, guidance and misguidance found on social media platforms. Furthermore, they have an even greater, more important, and more significant role. With a profound and lasting impact on the children's hearts. Indeed, it is the role of setting a good example in the home in front of the children; so the father and mother must be role models in the use of the telephone. It is not permissible for us to forbid our children from what we do in their presence morning and evening, while we hear the Almighty's words admonishing us as mentioned in Surah As Saff:

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لِمَ تَقُولُونَ مَا لَا تَفۡعَلُونَ

O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do?

Surah As Saff – 2

Indeed, leading by example is an effective and influential method, a proven and successful approach, for actions speak louder and have a greater impact than words.

So fear ALLAH, O servants of ALLAH, and protect your children from what harms them in this life and the hereafter; they will praise you for this deed tomorrow, and you will attain the highest ranks with your Lord because of it.

أقولُ مَا تَسْمَعُونَ، وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ العَظِيمَ لِي وَلَكُمْ، فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ يَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ، إِنَّهُ هُوَ الغَفُورُالرَّحِيمُ، وَادْعُوهُ يَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ، إِنَّهُ هُوَ البَرُّ الكَرِيمُ

I say what you hear, and I ask forgiveness from ALLAH Almighty for me and for you, so ask forgiveness from Him and He will forgive you, for He is the Forgiving and Merciful, and pray to Him and He will answer you, for He is The noble righteousness

الحَمْدُ للَّهِ الَّذِي جَعَلَ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدْرًا، وَجَعَلَ لِكُلِّ عَصْرٍ تَحَدِّيًا وَذِكْرًا، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ اسْتَخْلَفَنَا فِي الأَمَانَاتِ، وَابْتَلانَا بِالشَّهَوَاتِ وَالشُّبُهَاتِ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ، خَيْرُ مَنْ وَجَّهَ وَرَبَّى، صَلاةً وَسَلامًا دَائِمَيْنِ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ، وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أُولِي التُّقَى

Praise be to Allah, Who has ordained a measure for all things, and has appointed for every era a challenge and a reminder. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, the One, without partner, Who has entrusted us with responsibilities and tested us with desires and doubts. I bear witness that Muhammad, peace be upon him, is His servant and Messenger, the best of those He guided and nurtured. May His blessings and peace be upon him, perpetually until the Day of Judgment, and upon his family and companions, the righteous.

O noble parents: There are methods and approaches to raising and guiding children. Whoever follows them will, ALLAH willing, achieve success and divine favor. These methods, if used with your children to guide their use of communication technologies, will bring much good, ALLAH willing. Among the most important of these is fostering dialogue about the amount of time and effort required to use these technologies. Programs and their methods, instead of absolute prohibition which children may see as arbitrary and authoritarian, and instead of fruitful dialogue: Making agreements about the daily amount of time each child spends on these sites, agreeing on the selection of purposeful, educational, and permissible entertainment content, striving to adhere to this, and offering rewards to those who are most committed and disciplined in managing their time, and among the means is also: instilling the awareness of God's presence in them. The heart should be mindful of the parents' supervision, and one should be mindful of ALLAH's presence and support when participating in those programs, and one should be mindful of His words, may His glory be exalted, says in Surah Al Hadid

وَهُوَ مَعَكُمۡ أَيۡنَ مَا كُنتُمۡ‌ۚ

And He is with you (by His Knowledge) wheresoever you may be.

Surah Al Hadid – 4-Part

If a young man feels that ALLAH sees him in his solitude as he sees him in his public life, he will lower his gaze and guard his heart, acting in accordance with the level of excellence: to worship ALLAH as if you see Him, for even if you do not see Him, He sees you. One of the most beneficial ways to rationalize the use of those sites is to provide useful alternatives that occupy and compete with them in terms of time and thought: Such as reading, sports, family gatherings, learning beautiful hobbies, useful skills, and so on. Nor can we neglect the role of the school, the mosque, and the community, and their effective impact in cooperating in raising awareness and educating, such as providing purposeful programs for youth and children, and holding beneficial competitions for them.

Thus, O virtuous ones, through concerted efforts and cooperation of all parties, we can, with ALLAH's help and guidance, rationalize the use of these programs, limiting our interaction with them to benefit, mutual benefit, strengthening family ties, and spreading goodness, without allowing them to consume our time and minds. In this way, we combine enjoying the modern means that ALLAH has bestowed upon us. The beneficial, and between preserving the time, energies, and morals of the nation's youth. He said, “There are two blessings which many people take for granted: health and free time.” By making the most of these two blessings, everyone will reap the fruits of happiness and enjoy the shade of the good life that ALLAH has promised His believing servants.

So fear ALLAH, O servants of ALLAH, and join forces, complement each other and cooperate to guide the use of these beneficial technologies. For this technology is a test for us and our children, and with wise guidance we will create a generation that is proud of its decisions, steadfast in its values, not tossed about by the waves of temptation, nor seduced by the trivialities of content.