Resetting Hearts & Screens: A Ramadan Journey of Connection & Compassion
As Ramadan draws near, it presents a unique opportunity for spiritual reflection and communal unity for 2 billion Muslims worldwide. It’s often seen as a time to hit the ‘reset button,’ where people reevaluate their habits and strengthen bonds with family and community.
Ramadan is a time for spreading kindness and compassion. It knocks on the doors of hearts worldwide, not just for Muslims but for people of all faiths. It’s a sacred moment not only for worship but also for celebrating our shared humanity.
Within social interactions, Ramadan should serve as a moment to spread love and kindness. We witness positive initiatives like providing ‘iftar’ meals, inviting others to break fast together, and campaigns for charity that thrive during this month. Ramadan unites Muslims and non-Muslims alike in acts of kindness, mutual aid, and support for the less fortunate.
However, expressions of hatred and negativity still permeate social media platforms. Conversations online are not always free from hate speech. This is a collective challenge — how to cultivate digital kindness.
According to the We Are Social report, there are now over 5 billion active social media users globally, underscoring the need to transform social media into a space for comfortable interaction, knowledge sharing, and community empowerment. We can shift our culture of mutual aid onto the internet, where digital platforms managing donations and charity funds show immense potential for community empowerment.
In this context, Ramadan should not only be about strengthening social and ritualistic virtues but also digital virtues. Social virtues are crucial for fostering love and compassion in our daily interactions, while ritualistic virtues serve as a bridge between individuals and their Creator. Ramadan serves as a highway for the furthest journey in a Muslim’s worship rituals.
However, just as we pursue social and ritualistic virtues, we must also cultivate digital virtues. Digital virtue allows us to use social media platforms for constructive interactions and expressions. Social media should not be a space for spreading hatred but rather for fostering connections.
Our digital platforms can be maximized as spaces for learning and accessing knowledge. If we cultivate digital virtue within ourselves, then what we see and hear on social media will always be enlightening. The content we produce will be geared towards spreading positivity and benefit. This is the digital virtue we need to nurture this Ramadan.
Technology, like a knife, is a tool that can be used for good or ill. Ultimately, it’s the user behind the tool that determines its impact. However, we must also acknowledge that technology has its limitations. We must be aware of the weaknesses of social media in certain contexts.
Ramadan can serve as an oasis that restores this momentum as a space for learning, knowledge-sharing, and togetherness to foster love and compassion. Cultivating digital virtue this Ramadan is our collective endeavor. Let’s ensure that the energy of goodness triumphs over narratives of hatred.
