Q&A: Sharing Islamic Knowledge
Question
“Aslam Aleikum,
I am running an Islamic page on Instagram where I share hadiths, ayas, quotes from scholars and more. I do this anonymously. Would I be considered a hypocrite, if I shared this knowledge, without applying it myself? I read a hadith about this and it scared me, as I always thought I had good intentions with the page”
Answer
“Wa Alaykum Assalam Wa Rahmatullah,
No you are not considered a hypocrite. The hadith in question is referring to someone who preaches something and does the opposite, a real hypocrite in every sense of the word. He would tell people to do good, and then stay away from it himself. And he would tell them to avoid the bad and then engage in it himself. This is the pure definition of hypocrisy. Insha’Allah, this is not your situation. On the opposite, what you are doing is a good and noble effort, and may Allah SWT reward you for it.
Now if you want to completely eliminate these fears from yourself and be an even better Muslim and a good example, try your best to apply what you share, even if it is only but once in your life. Make the intention that whatever you share, you are advising your own self first, and consider yourself the primary recipient of this advice.
Remember this verse:
﴿١٠٥﴾ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْفُسَكُمْ ۖ لَا يَضُرُّكُمْ مَنْ ضَلَّ إِذَا اهْتَدَيْتُمْ ۚ إِلَى اللَّهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ جَمِيعًا فَيُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
105. O you who believe! You are responsible for your own souls. He who strays cannot harm you if you are guided. To Allah is your return, all of you, and He will inform you of what you used to do.
Now in order to break the shaytan from trying to divert you from applying these advices, get up right away and do it yourself, even if is only that one time! That way you will guarantee to yourself that you are not commanding others to do good and ignoring it yourself.
Insha’Allah by making this a habit, you will see that you will fill your days and your time with good deeds of different kinds, and as you apply them, you will be inclined to perform them again and again, leading to a path of piety and righteousness by the grace of Allah SWT.
May Allah SWT bless you for your efforts and continue to make you of benefit to the Ummah of Rasulullah SAAWS, and to yourself primarily, and in that there is success! Ameen!
Wassalam!”