In an age where Islamic lectures, Quranic reminders and religious advice are only a click away, are we becoming better Muslims through what we watch, or simply accumulating religious knowledge without putting it into practice?
Every day, millions of Muslims spend time watching Islamic videos, listening to religious lectures, following Islamic scholars on social media and sharing Quranic reminders with friends and family.
From short TikTok videos about Salah to lengthy YouTube lectures on Islamic marriage, patience, modesty, good character and the importance of fearing Allah, religious knowledge has become more accessible than ever before.
With just a smartphone and an internet connection, a Muslim can listen to knowledgeable scholars from different parts of the world without leaving home.
This is undoubtedly one of the benefits of modern technology. It has created opportunities for Muslims to learn about their religion, strengthen their faith and become more conscious of their responsibilities towards Allah.
However, an important question deserves our attention: Are we actually practising what we learn, or have we become Muslims who consume Islamic content without allowing it to transform our lives?
We watch videos about the importance of Salah but continue to delay our prayers. We listen to lectures about avoiding backbiting but participate in conversations that damage people’s reputations. We share reminders about kindness but struggle to treat our spouses, children, employees and neighbours with compassion.
We listen to scholars explain the importance of humility, yet sometimes allow arrogance to influence our behaviour.
We save Islamic reminders, repost motivational lectures and send religious messages to our contacts, but how much of what we consume is reflected in our everyday decisions?
This raises an important concern about the difference between knowing Islam and actually living Islam.
THE PROBLEM OF CONSUMING ISLAMIC KNOWLEDGE WITHOUT PRACTISING IT
One of the greatest opportunities available to Muslims today is access to Islamic knowledge.
However, access to knowledge does not automatically translate into personal transformation.
A person can watch hundreds of Islamic lectures and still struggle with basic responsibilities such as honesty, patience, kindness and fulfilling the rights of others.
Someone may listen to an entire series about the importance of Salah but continue neglecting their daily prayers.
Another person may regularly watch lectures about the dangers of gossip but still participate in conversations that expose other people’s private affairs.
Some Muslims have accumulated so much religious content on their phones that they can hardly remember what they have actually implemented in their lives.
The issue is not watching Islamic videos. The issue is when watching becomes a substitute for practising.
Islamic knowledge should influence our actions, decisions, attitudes and relationships. It should help us become more conscious of Allah and more responsible towards the people around us.
The purpose of learning about Islam is not simply to know what is right. It is also to make sincere efforts to live according to what we learn.
WE WATCH VIDEOS ABOUT SALAH BUT STILL NEGLECT OUR PRAYERS
Consider how many Islamic videos are available online about the importance of Salah.
Scholars regularly explain why Muslims must observe their five daily prayers, the consequences of neglecting them and the spiritual benefits of maintaining consistency.
Some videos are powerful enough to make viewers emotional. Others remind Muslims of the importance of preparing for the Hereafter.
Yet, despite all this content, some Muslims continue to struggle with observing their prayers consistently.
They may watch a lecture in the morning about the importance of Fajr but still find themselves sleeping through the prayer.
They may share a video about the importance of Salah but continue postponing Dhuhr, Asr or Isha because of work, entertainment or social activities.
This raises a question: What is the value of repeatedly watching reminders about prayer if we make little effort to improve our relationship with Salah?
A reminder should inspire action.
When we learn about the importance of Salah, we should make practical efforts to observe it at its appointed times, organise our daily activities around prayer and seek help when we struggle with consistency.
Allah says:
“Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.” (Qur’an 4:103).
Watching a video about Salah can be beneficial, but actually standing before Allah and fulfilling the obligation is what we must strive to do.
WE LISTEN TO LECTURES ABOUT GOOD CHARACTER BUT STILL HURT PEOPLE
Another contradiction is the difference between the Islamic lessons we consume and the way we treat other people.
There are countless lectures about patience, forgiveness, honesty, humility and kindness.
We listen to scholars explain how Muslims should treat their neighbours, respect their parents, honour their spouses and fulfil their responsibilities.
However, some people who regularly consume this content still engage in gossip, dishonesty, arrogance and unnecessary hostility.
Some are polite in public but harsh towards their families at home.
Others share Islamic reminders about compassion but treat domestic workers, junior employees and people with little financial influence unfairly.
There are also Muslims who constantly post about forgiveness while refusing to acknowledge their own mistakes or apologise to those they have hurt.
Islamic knowledge should make us more conscious of our conduct.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“The best of you are those who are best in character.” (Sahih al-Bukhari).
This teaching reminds us that good character is an important part of Islamic life.
If we regularly listen to lectures about kindness but remain deliberately cruel to others, we need to examine whether we are allowing the knowledge we acquire to influence our behaviour.
SHARING ISLAMIC REMINDERS IS NOT THE SAME AS PRACTISING ISLAM
Social media has made sharing religious content extremely easy.
A Muslim can come across a beautiful Quranic verse, an emotional Islamic lecture or a powerful reminder and immediately share it on WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram or TikTok.
Within minutes, the message can reach hundreds or thousands of people.
There is nothing wrong with sharing beneficial Islamic knowledge. In fact, encouraging others towards good is a valuable act.
However, we must be careful not to allow sharing religious content to become a substitute for personal responsibility.
Sometimes, we are more interested in ensuring that others see our Islamic reminders than in examining whether our own behaviour reflects the message.
We share posts about avoiding arrogance while looking down on people.
We publish reminders about speaking the truth while engaging in dishonest business practices.
We post about respecting parents but remain unnecessarily disrespectful to them.
We share messages about the importance of maintaining family relationships while allowing pride to prevent us from resolving disagreements.
A reminder should not only be something we send to others. It should also be something we apply to ourselves.
Before sharing an Islamic message, we should take a moment to reflect on its meaning and ask how it can improve our own lives.
HAVE ISLAMIC VIDEOS BECOME ANOTHER FORM OF ENTERTAINMENT?
One issue worth examining is whether some Muslims have gradually turned Islamic content into another form of entertainment.
We scroll through religious videos for hours, moving from one lecture to another without taking time to reflect on what we have heard.
A video about repentance appears, and we watch it. Another about death comes up, and we watch that too. A lecture about the Hereafter follows, and we continue scrolling.
We may even become familiar with the styles of different scholars, recognise popular Islamic speakers and know which lectures are trending.
But when the videos end, our daily routines remain unchanged.
We continue the same habits, repeat the same mistakes and postpone the changes we know we should make.
This does not mean that watching multiple Islamic videos is wrong. The problem arises when the consumption of religious content becomes passive and disconnected from meaningful action.
Islamic reminders should encourage reflection, accountability and positive change.
Sometimes, instead of watching ten lectures in one day, it may be more beneficial to watch one carefully, understand its message and sincerely apply what we have learned.
The objective should not be to measure our religious development by the number of videos watched but by our efforts to practise beneficial knowledge.
THE DANGER OF KNOWLEDGE WITHOUT ACTION
Islam places great importance on beneficial knowledge.
However, acquiring knowledge also comes with responsibility.
When we learn that something is obligatory, we should make sincere efforts to fulfil it. When we learn that something is prohibited, we should strive to avoid it. When we understand that we have wronged someone, we should take appropriate steps to correct our behaviour.
Allah says:
“O you who have believed, why do you say what you do not do?” (Qur’an 61:2).
The following verse warns against saying what we do not practise.
This is a serious reminder about the importance of consistency between our words and actions.
We should not become people who constantly advise others about religious obligations while deliberately neglecting our own responsibilities.
Similarly, we should not use the knowledge we acquire to appear superior to others.
Knowledge should produce humility, greater awareness of Allah and a sincere desire to improve.
It should never become a tool for arrogance or self-righteousness.
WHY DO SOME MUSLIMS STRUGGLE TO PRACTISE WHAT THEY LEARN?
There are several reasons why people may consume Islamic knowledge without translating it into consistent action.
1. Lack of personal discipline
Some people genuinely want to improve but struggle with consistency.
They become inspired after listening to a lecture, make promises to change and gradually return to their previous habits.
Without deliberate effort and practical routines, inspiration may not lead to lasting transformation.
2. Treating religious reminders as temporary motivation
A powerful lecture can make someone emotional for a few minutes or hours.
However, when the emotional feeling disappears, the person may return to the same behaviour.
Religious growth requires more than temporary motivation. It requires sincerity, commitment and continuous effort.
3. Social media distractions
Some Muslims spend hours consuming religious content but spend even more time engaging with entertainment and activities that distract them from their responsibilities.
The challenge is not necessarily a lack of information but the inability to manage time and prioritise beneficial activities.
4. Fear of change
Sometimes, people know what they need to improve but are unwilling to leave familiar habits.
They may understand the importance of honesty but continue dishonest business practices because they believe it benefits them financially.
Others know they should apologise but allow pride to prevent them from doing so.
Knowledge alone cannot replace the willingness to change.
5. Lack of a practical plan
A person may listen to a lecture about improving their relationship with Allah but have no clear plan for implementing the lessons.
Without practical steps, religious inspiration can quickly fade.
HOW CAN WE TURN ISLAMIC KNOWLEDGE INTO PRACTICAL ACTION?
The solution is not to stop watching Islamic videos or listening to religious lectures.
Rather, we must develop a healthier relationship with Islamic knowledge by making deliberate efforts to practise what we learn.
Here are practical ways to achieve this.
1. Practise One Lesson Before Moving to Another
Instead of watching numerous Islamic lectures without reflection, choose one beneficial lesson and identify how you can apply it.
For example, after listening to a lecture about the importance of Salah, make a commitment to improve your prayer routine.
After watching a lecture about backbiting, make a conscious effort to avoid conversations that damage people’s reputations.
The objective is to turn knowledge into action.
2. Make Personal Accountability a Daily Habit
At the end of each day, examine your actions.
Ask yourself:
- Did I observe my five daily prayers?
- Did I treat people fairly?
- Did I speak badly about anyone?
- Did I fulfil my responsibilities?
- Did I apply anything beneficial that I learned today?
- What do I need to improve tomorrow?
This simple exercise can help you become more conscious of your behaviour.
3. Stop Using Religious Knowledge to Judge Others
One danger of consuming large amounts of Islamic content is becoming overly concerned with correcting other people while neglecting personal improvement.
We may quickly identify the mistakes of friends, relatives and strangers but fail to examine our own shortcomings.
Whenever we learn something beneficial, we should first consider how it applies to our own lives.
Advising others is important, but it should be accompanied by humility and personal responsibility.
4. Develop a Practical Islamic Learning Routine
Create a realistic routine that combines learning with worship and action.
For example:
- Read a portion of the Quran and reflect on its meaning daily.
- Listen to beneficial Islamic lectures from reliable scholars.
- Learn about one aspect of Islamic character each week.
- Apply the lessons to your everyday relationships.
- Ask knowledgeable people questions when you need clarification.
Consistency is more important than consuming large quantities of content without understanding.
5. Choose Reliable Islamic Sources
Not every Islamic video circulating on social media contains accurate religious information.
Some videos may present incomplete explanations, unauthenticated narrations or opinions without sufficient context.
Muslims should therefore be careful about the sources they follow.
Learn from qualified scholars, verify religious claims and avoid sharing information simply because it is emotional or popular.
When dealing with complicated religious matters, seek clarification from knowledgeable and qualified people.
6. Measure Your Progress Through Your Actions
Instead of measuring your religious development by the number of Islamic videos you watch, examine the positive changes in your life.
Are you becoming more consistent with Salah? Are you becoming more honest? Have you improved the way you treat your family? Are you more careful about your speech? Are you fulfilling people’s rights?
These are meaningful areas for self-examination.
Remember that spiritual growth is a continuous journey, and nobody becomes perfect overnight.
7. Ask Allah to Help You Practise What You Learn
A Muslim should continually ask Allah for guidance, sincerity and the ability to practise beneficial knowledge.
One beautiful supplication taught in the Sunnah is:
“Allahumma inni as’aluka ‘ilman naafi’an, wa rizqan tayyiban, wa ‘amalan mutaqabbalan.”
Meaning: O Allah, I ask You for beneficial knowledge, good provision and accepted deeds.
This supplication is reported in Sunan Ibn Majah and is recited in the morning after the Fajr prayer.
It reminds us that beneficial knowledge, good provision and accepted deeds are all important things to seek from Allah.
PARENTS AND ISLAMIC SCHOLARS ALSO HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY
The responsibility of encouraging Muslims to practise what they learn does not belong to individuals alone.
Parents, teachers, scholars and Islamic organisations have important roles in promoting a culture where knowledge is accompanied by action.
Parents should teach children that Islamic education is not simply about memorising Quranic verses or attending religious classes. It should also influence how they treat others, fulfil responsibilities and make decisions.
Islamic scholars should continue emphasising the practical application of religious teachings.
Mosques and Islamic organisations can introduce programmes that encourage members to translate lessons from lectures into everyday actions.
For example, a lecture about honesty could be followed by a community discussion about ethical business practices. A lesson about kindness could inspire a neighbourhood support initiative.
Islamic media platforms should also move beyond simply publishing religious reminders and encourage readers to reflect on how those reminders apply to their lives.
The goal should be to develop Muslims who understand their religion and make sincere efforts to practise it.
A MESSAGE TO EVERY MUSLIM: DON’T JUST LISTEN, LIVE THE MESSAGE
There is nothing wrong with watching Islamic videos every day. There is nothing wrong with following knowledgeable scholars, sharing Quranic reminders or listening to religious lectures.
These are valuable opportunities to acquire knowledge and strengthen our understanding of Islam.
However, we must not allow the convenience of consuming Islamic content to make us forget the responsibility of practising what we learn.
Do not simply watch a video about Salah; make an effort to observe your prayers.
Do not simply share a lecture about kindness; treat people with compassion.
Do not merely listen to reminders about honesty; be truthful in your business and personal dealings.
Do not only watch videos about respecting parents; demonstrate that respect in your everyday interactions.
Do not simply listen to lectures about repentance; make sincere efforts to correct your mistakes.
The true benefit of Islamic knowledge is reflected in the positive changes it encourages us to make.
CONCLUSION: LET ISLAMIC KNOWLEDGE TRANSFORM OUR LIVES
We live in a time when Islamic knowledge is more accessible than ever before.
A Muslim can listen to Quranic recitations, attend virtual lectures, follow scholars and learn about different aspects of Islam without leaving home.
This is a tremendous opportunity, but it also comes with responsibility.
We must not become a generation that knows countless Islamic quotations but struggles to demonstrate basic Islamic values.
We must not become Muslims who are quick to share religious reminders but slow to practise them.
We must not allow our phones to become libraries of Islamic videos while our everyday lives remain disconnected from the lessons those videos contain.
Islamic knowledge should influence our prayers, our character, our relationships, our businesses and our responsibilities towards society.
The objective is not to become someone who has watched every Islamic lecture available online. It is to become someone who sincerely strives to live according to the knowledge Allah has made accessible.
The real question is not how many Islamic videos you have watched this week. It is how many of the lessons you have learned have made you a better Muslim.
May Allah grant us beneficial knowledge, sincere hearts, the ability to practise what we learn and the wisdom to become better Muslims through our words and actions. Ameen.
