A Caution for Elders on Social Media About the Mubāḥāt

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Some youth speak about the social media accounts and phone statuses of some Muslims who have gone past the age of 50. Yet these social media spaces of those whom the youth consider elders are no different from those of the youth, and all this is pursued under the name of “Akhi, don’t be extreme, it is not haram,” or, “There is khilaf in the matter.”

When a young man asks an elder what the need is to place the picture of a Shaikh in his social media status or on his phone status because of what that youth knows regarding the strong Fatawa of the scholars on this matter, such a youth should be commended. This is because even among those people of knowledge who allow pictures in certain circumstances, we do not find them using them without a need.

So, when youth enquire about such matters, they should not be made to feel that they are being extreme because, even if a person, especially an elder, follows an opinion, he should still be cautious of stretching Mubahaat too far until it gives the impression of something similar to an idle mind or something regarding an elder person that a young person is trying to avoid.

In this regard, we share something about Mubahaat and what a careful person, especially an elder, should be cautious of in this subject. Concentrate on page 60 onwards, especially the highlighted sections.