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Social media should promote unity during Ramadan

WE all know that Ramadan began last week, a holy, month-long observance for Muslim communities around the world, where fasting from sunup to sundown, praying together, holding communal meals and festivities and more are dedication to Alah (God) as a practice of self-restraint intended to bring people closer to the creator.

Though the world has changed a lot in technology and seen the advent of the internet and the proliferation of social media, which have changed how people live their lives. It should be noted that in the Holy Month (during Ramadan), the public, especially the youth, should not spend long hours on the internet engaging in frivolous conversations, because Ramadan should be a time for sober reflection and lots of Ibadah.

In the holy month, it is expected for Muslims to engage in acts of charity by depriving themselves of food and drink as they remember what it is to face bodily and material deprivation.

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In the course, as much as Islam advises Muslims to be active during Ramadan, it does not encourage involvement in baseless activities. Muslims are expected to limit their engagement with things of the world during Ramadan and engage in lots of Ibadah – acts of worship.

Equally, Islam is a religion of peace and it is expected that Muslims should reconcile with people against whom they hold grudges even outside Ramadan. It is doubly so in Ramadan as doing otherwise could invalidate one’s fasting.

With the above background, this is the time the public should be cautious on how they use the social media to communicate. It should not be used to humiliate, provoke, harass or make fun of any faith, because at the end of the day-we are all human being created by God and serve Him through different means, languages and cultures.

In this course, as Tanzanians we must realise that the use of technologies such as texting and social networking to bully, harass, stalk or intimidate one in the Holy Month, should be a delicate thing to embrace.

Those who are not Muslims, should be a source of comfort and live with their counterparts in such a way that peace and tranquility prevail everywhere. Religion should not be the basis to divide us as Tanzanians.

Again, from time immemorial, the communal practice of religion in a house of worship brings people together and allows them to interact and communicate, hence, as Muslims continue to fast in this Holy Month, we expect all Tanzanians to show solidarity with them, reinforce social unity and think of Tanzania as our land of birth. We wish Ramadan Kareem.