THE CRISIS OF KNOWLEDGE IN THE AGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

 

FAJR REMINDER: THE CRISIS OF KNOWLEDGE IN THE AGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Jumādā al-‘Ūlā 28, 1448 AH | 8 November 2026

Are We Truly Learning Islām or Merely Consuming Religious Content?

One troubling trend in our time is the growing confusion between acquiring authentic religious knowledge and merely consuming religious content. Almost everyone with a social media account appears equipped to discuss religious matters. Many issue Fatāwā without the requisite knowledge or expertise, circulate unverified narrations without taking the time to authenticate them, interpret Qur'ān verses without adequate understanding, and criticise others readily while showing little commitment to rigorous learning. Some even feel more confident challenging established scholars based on brief video clips than addressing the gaps in their own knowledge.

Interestingly, some attempt to justify their lack of qualifications by saying, “I am also a Muslim.” But does being a Muslim automatically confer scholarly authority? Does identifying with Islām qualify everyone to interpret its teachings independently? Sadly, religious knowledge is increasingly measured by online popularity rather than sound understanding, authentic scholarship and recognised qualifications.

Why Is Religious Knowledge Losing Its Significance?

At the heart of this problem are ignorance, the pursuit of recognition and a disregard for the proper channels of acquiring knowledge. Social media has created an environment in which individuals feel compelled to express opinions on virtually every subject, including matters they barely understand. Some mistake freedom of expression for the authority to make religious declarations, while others prefer sensational religious arguments to the patience, discipline and dedication required for authentic learning.

Consequently, many become more interested in winning debates, attracting followers and establishing online influence than in attaining a sound understanding of their faith. This unfortunate shift has gradually turned the pursuit of knowledge into a competition for recognition rather than a sincere journey towards understanding and practising the religion.

A Different Approach to Acquiring Knowledge

Our righteous predecessors understood the gravity and sacred responsibility of religious knowledge. They were extremely cautious about their sources and the information they attributed to Islām. Muḥammad Ibn Sīrīn (Raḥimahullāh) famously stated:

“Indeed, this knowledge is religion, so look carefully at whom you take your religion.”

[Muqaddimah Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim]

They travelled great distances to authenticate Aḥādīth and establish their reliability. They understood the serious implications of falsely attributing statements to the Messenger of Allāh (ﷺ). They valued accuracy over popularity and recognised the grave responsibility of speaking about Allāh without sound knowledge.

Lessons Our Forebears Understood

Our predecessors understood that acquiring authentic knowledge requires humility, patience, verification and learning from qualified teachers. They never considered themselves authorities merely because they could read religious texts or memorise a few narrations. Rather, they acknowledged the limits of their understanding and were never ashamed to say, “I do not know.”

A well-known account tells of a man who posed forty questions to Imām Mālik (Raḥimahullāh), but the distinguished scholar answered only four. When the man expressed surprise and asked what he should tell the people concerning the remaining thirty-six questions, Imām Mālik instructed him to inform them that Mālik did not know the answers.

It is always safer to acknowledge one's ignorance than to speak about religious matters without adequate knowledge. Although Imām Mālik was a distinguished scholar, he never considered himself obligated to provide an answer to every question put before him.

In contrast, some individuals today would rather offer incorrect answers than admit that they do not know. We must understand that true religious scholarship is not measured merely by the number of questions one can answer, but also by the honesty and humility with which one acknowledges those one cannot answer.

Saying “I do not know” is not a weakness in religious scholarship; rather, it is a reflection of intellectual honesty, scholarly integrity and reverence for Allāh.

Restoring Respect for Islāmic Knowledge

Allāh (ﷻ) says:

“And follow not (O man, i.e., say not, or do not or witness not, etc.) that of which you have no knowledge (e.g., one's saying: ‘I have seen,’ while in fact he has not seen, or ‘I have heard,’ while in fact he has not heard). Verily! The hearing, and the sight, and the heart, of each of those you will be questioned (by Allāh).”

[Sūrah Al-Isrā' (17): 36]

Abū Hurayrah (Raḍiyallāhu ‘Anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allāh (ﷺ) said:

“Whoever travels a path in search of knowledge, Allāh will make easy for him a path to Paradise.”

[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2699]

We must, therefore, return to learning from qualified scholars, reputable Islamic institutions and reliable Islamic resources. We should verify religious information before sharing it, distinguish between genuinely seeking knowledge and merely consuming online religious content, and embrace structured learning rather than engaging in superficial arguments and endless debates.

Above all, we must cultivate the humility to recognise the limits of our understanding and refrain from issuing religious opinions or Fatāwā without the necessary knowledge and qualifications.

A Final Wake-Up Call

Dear brethren, belonging to the Ummah does not automatically qualify anyone to speak authoritatively on every aspect of its religion. Our predecessors travelled great distances to verify a single Ḥadīth; yet today, some Muslims struggle to spare even a few moments to verify the authenticity of a religious message before forwarding it to others.

Let us stop equating social media visibility with Islamic scholarship and online disagreements with authentic religious knowledge. The real question is not how many religious posts we consume or how many debates we win, but how much genuine knowledge we acquire, understand and put into practice.

Remember, discussing religion without proper understanding does not elevate one's status; rather, it exposes one to accountability before Allāh.

I beseech Allāh (ﷻ) to bless us with beneficial knowledge, grant us sound understanding of His religion, protect us from speaking about Him without knowledge, and make us among those who learn, practise and sincerely convey the truth.

Āmīn.