- Rights of Blogger under Syariah
2.3 Responsibilities of Blogger under Syariah
Responsibility and morality are closely related to ethic[1]. Ethic is applicable to all life situations and should not be discarded simply because there are differences in what individuals say or do in their life. What is legal is ethical and conversely, whatever is illegal is unethical[2]. Some of responsibilities of human as guided by Syariah which applicable to blogger are spreading the da’wah, no lies and no defame to others, and investigate the information status.
2.3.1 Spreading the Da’wah
Islam is not only for by Arab or Malay but for the whole of human being. In this case, da’wah or propagation of Islam is responsible to all Muslim[3]. They must invite people into good and treat the bad thing, which called as amar ma’ruf nahi munkar[4]. In the past, the allocation of da’wah only through the manual medium such as books, talks and discussion[5]. In the area of Information Communication and Technology (ICT) nowadays, there are various medium offers the opportunity to propagation of Islam.
Muslims must take the advantage from ICT for the sake and in the name of corporation as well as ummah[6]. As Syaikh Abdullah bin Abdurrahman Al-Jibrin wrote in his book “Al-Fatawa Asy-Syara’iyyah Fi Al-Masail Al-Ashriyyah Min Fatawa Ulama Al-Balad Al-Haram”, Islamic scholars and Muslim should benefit the advantages that offered by the Internet in spreading the da’wah for example using Facebook[7], blogs and others.
Allah said: “O believers! Shall I point to you a bargain that will save you from a painful torment? That is, you believe in Allah and His Messenger and you strive to defend and upload the religion of Allah with your wealth and your persons. That would be best for you, if you but knew (the truth)!”. (Al-Quran. As-Saff 61: 10-11).
In Islam, every Muslims are responsible to spreads da’wah and advice to all people, including Muslim and Non-Muslim. In conducting da’wah, the basic laws of communication in Islam must be followed. Some of the basic laws are showing the good behavior in every circumstances, whether by words, body language and the writing. Even though the other party deny or act against the Muslim and Islam, Muslims are forbid to reciprocate in the same manner to them[8].
By the advantages promoted of Internet, blogs can be a good platform or medium to talk on Islamic matter. The researcher found most sites appear in the top rank of search engine (Google Search Engine) are blogs. Hence, Muslims blogger may use blog for da’wah purpose as Shah Kirit (speakers on Comparative Religion and on Islam for non-Muslims in Malaysia) has done.
2.3.2 No Lies and No Defame to Others
Muslims should have the trustworthy and sincerity in themselves[9]. The honesty will make human become a noble believer in the view of Islam, while the dishonest will bring human into injustice and evil. The Prophet condemn bad attitudes such lying, fraudulent and false statement[10]. Such attitudes are included in the part of big sin to Allah[11].
It is true that everyone have the right to speech. However there are several matters that cannot be spoken on must be followed[12]. The words that contain fraudulent also prohibited because it is danger to society. The fraudulent is closely to defamation which forbidden in Islam[13]. Including raving someone with invalid reason and evident[14].
The researcher defined the defamation as saying untruthful word or makes a false statement of others which may cause to their reputation. Defamation may derive from words, writings, advertisement and others[15]. On the other hand, the freedom of speech cannot be misused to incite or to defame any particular person or party.
Allah said: “Indeed those who spread the slander were a group among you. Do not consider it (the slander) as a bad thing for you, in fact it is good for you. Each one of them shall be punished according to the sin he committed. As for him who had the greater share of the sin, his punishment (in this world and the Hereafter) shall be terrible indeed”. (Al-Quran. An-Nur 24: 11).
As said before, Islam prevents Muslims from lying to each other. The other attitudes which disallow are the act of contempt and defamation because it will cause injury and influence to the reputation of the person to be[16]. If the word and even the writing contain defamation to others, the speaker or the writer can be charge.
Bloggers also not exempt to avoid fraudulent in their writing. They must avoid from writing a false statement, lies, fraudulent and especially the defamation which consider as a big sin in Islam[17].
2.3.3 Investigate the Information Status
Defamation by wicked person exists since the period of the Prophet Muhammad. It may exist and happed, furthermore in our advanced time. Every Muslims be required to beware with the word or news they get either verbally or non-verbally. If the word contains mistake or untruth, it is an offence[18].
Allah said: “O believers! If a wicked person brings you a piece of news, inquire first into its truth, lest you should wrong others unwittingly and repent of what you have done”. (Al-Quran. Al-Hujurat 49: 6).
New news cannot be trust totally before identified its status. In accepting news, Islam teach its believers to inquire it first to know whether the news is truth or otherwise. If that accepted news not base to the real facts, it may trap someone into defamation[19].
By the advanced of ICT, everything can be transmit and receive quickly. Files including pictures, videos, articles and can be spread into the whole word just in a second as well uploading and downloading activities. Besides, posting activities in blogs can publish rapidly.
In this situation, when a blogger want to copy any articles or news, he or she be supposed to ensure that information it correct and truth before publish it on his or her blog. This is the most important responsibility that should play by bloggers, to prevent them from disseminate an inaccuracy information.
Author:
Nur Fatimah Zaharah binti Ahmad. 2010. Rights and Responsibilities of Blogger under Syariah and Malaysian Law. (Thesis). USIM. Page 20-24.
Note:
Rights and Responsibilities of Blogger under Malaysian on the next post.
[1] n.a. 19 Aug 2010. “Ethic or know thyself”. Theory of Knowledge: International Baccalaureate. http://www.amyscott.com.
[2] R. K. Suri and friends. 2001. Information Technology Laws: Laws relating to Cyber & E-Commerce. Kuala Lumpur: International Law Book Services. P 7.
[3] Shah Kirit bin Kalkulal Govindji. 15th Aug 2010. “Kewajipan Berdakwah”. ShahKirit.Com. http://www.shahkirit.com.
[4] n.a. 15th Aug 2010. “Kewajipan Berdakwah Walaupun Diri belum Sempurna”. Halaqah-Online. http://www.halaqah-online.com.
[5] Ezry Fahmy Yusof. 2009. “Dakwah menggunakan Facebook”. Majalah i. September 2009. Selangor: Kumpulan Karangkraf Sdn. Bhd. P28.
[6] Norashikin Mohd Yusof. [2002]. 16th June 2010. “Islam in ICT Era a More Active Role is Expected and Promoted”.
[7] Ezry Fahmy Yusof. 2009. “Dakwah menggunakan Facebook”. P28-29.
[8] Norashikin Mohd Yusof. [2002]. “Islam in ICT Era a More Active Role is Expected and Promoted”.
[9] Mohd Abdul Qadir. 1997. Fitrah Muslim Sejati. Johor Bahru: Perniagaan Jahabersa. P 8.
[10] ibid. P 8.
[11] ibid. P 89-90.
[12] Ismail bin Haji Hashim. 2000. “Hak Bersuara Ada Sempadan”.
[13] Shodiq Ramadhan. 15th August 2010. “Berita Bohong”. Suara Islam Online. http://www.suara-islam.com.
[14] Abu Bakr Jabir al-Jazairi. 19st August 2010. “Etika terhadap Muslim lainnya dan Hak-Hak Muslim atas Dirinya”. (Trans.) Fadhli Bahri (Darul Falah). Pusat Kajian Islam. http://alislamu.com.
[15] Zainudin Hashim. 15th August 2010. “Umat Islam dibelenggu Pelbagai Fitnah”. Harakahdaily.Net. http://www.harakahdaily.net.
[16] Mohd Abdul Qadir. 1997. Fitrah Muslim Sejati. Johor Bahru: Perniagaan Jahabersa. P 73-76.
[17] ibid. P 89-90.
[18] Mohd Kamel Mat Salleh. 19th August 2010. “Penyebaran Fitnah Bahaya jika tidak dibendung”. Portal Rasmi JAKIM. http://www.islam.gov.my.
[19] ibid.
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