Someone posts a picture, you don’t like it, you type an insult, everyone laughs maybe you delete the comment later.
But does deleting it mean the harm disappears? Not necessarily.
The internet has made it incredibly easy to say things we might never have the courage to say face-to-face.
Islam, however, teaches Muslims to be careful with their words—whether spoken offline or typed behind a screen.
WORDS CAN HURT
Allah says: “O you who believe, let not a people ridicule another people; perhaps they may be better than them…”
Qur’an 49:11
Mocking people, insulting them, humiliating them and making fun of their appearance or weaknesses are not characteristics of a believer.
“I WAS ONLY JOKING”
This is one of the most common excuses.
“I was joking.”
“It was just banter.”
“Everybody laughed.”
But a joke can still hurt someone.
Islam does not teach us that something becomes acceptable simply because we call it a joke.
Before posting something about another person, ask:
Would I say this if they were standing in front of me?
Would I be comfortable if someone said it about me?
Would Allah be pleased with these words?
DON’T SHARE SOMEONE’S HUMILIATION
Sometimes cyberbullying doesn’t begin with the original insult. Someone’s embarrassing video gets posted.
You download it, forward it, repost it, tag your friends Suddenly, thousands of people are laughing at one person.
You may not have created the original post, but you still participated in spreading the humiliation.
WHAT ABOUT GOSSIP AND BACKBITING?
The digital world has also made gossip incredibly easy.
WhatsApp groups, private chats, voice notes, comment sections and screenshots.
Islam teaches us to guard our tongues—and that principle also applies to our fingers when we type.
Allah warns against backbiting in Qur’an 49:12. So before sending that message about someone, pause.
BE THE PERSON WHO STOPS THE BULLYING
If you see someone being bullied online, you don’t have to join the crowd.
You can report harmful content.
You can refuse to share it.
You can privately encourage the person being targeted.
You can remind your friends to stop.
Sometimes one person refusing to participate can change the entire situation.
YOUR KEYBOARD IS PART OF YOUR ACCOUNTABILITY
A screen can make you feel anonymous.
But Allah knows what is done privately and publicly.
Your comments are not outside the knowledge of Allah simply because they were typed on a phone.
So use your social media accounts to spread something good.
Encourage people.
Share beneficial knowledge.
Make someone smile without humiliating someone else.
HEART CHECK
Before you press SEND, pause. Your words may take only three seconds to type, but they can remain in someone’s heart for years. Don’t use your screen to become someone else’s source of pain. Use your words in a way that you will be happy to meet Allah with.
3SIXTYISLAM
At 3SixtyIslam, we believe Islamic knowledge should reach every generation. From Hajj and Umrah guidance to practical Islamic lessons for everyday life, our goal is to help Muslims learn, grow and strengthen their connection with Islam.
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