Al-Qadiri: The positives of charitable work on social media outweigh the negatives

Associate Professor Dr. Mazen Adnan Al-Qadiri, from the Department of Comparative Jurisprudence and Islamic Policy at the College of Sharia and Islamic Studies, affirmed that showcasing charitable work on social media platforms in Kuwait has many positive aspects that outweigh the negatives. She recommended further keeping pace with technological developments to achieve the goals of charitable work in accordance with Islamic Sharia rulings, and emphasized the urgent need to harness these platforms to serve the Islamic Ummah. Dr. Al-Qadiri outlined the jurisprudential perspectives on the permissibility of showcasing charitable donors’ work via social media, and clarified the ruling on displaying personal images of those in need. For more, see the following dialogue.

What is the impact of using social media on charitable work in Kuwait?

Contemporary technology has drawn new lines for the landmarks of charitable work in Kuwait. The Internet produced a new form of media known as alternative media. The connection between charitable work and technology in Kuwait began with the advent of electronic donations via the Internet, which coincided with the gradual emergence of social media platforms. This helped expand the base of participants in charitable activities in Kuwait, which was previously limited to employees of charitable associations and organizations. This has proven the role of these platforms in shaping public awareness, promoting ideas, values, and behaviors through their charitable activities, forming public opinion among Kuwaiti society members, directing them toward specific charitable goals, increasing their empathy with charitable causes, and striving to find solutions for them.

What are the positive aspects of using social media to showcase charitable work?

Among the positive effects is the creation of close bonds between donors and charitable entities, whether individuals or institutions, and the keenness to follow their news, learn details, and track their achievements. This fosters a sense of trust and credibility toward the charitable organization. Another positive aspect is that social media links donors with recipients, generating a sense of responsibility toward the beneficiaries of charitable work, and transforming donors into a marketplace for charitable giving on social media.

Furthermore, social media has contributed to shifting the trajectory of charitable work from relief-oriented to developmental and awareness-raising efforts. Education has become a priority in charitable work, such as contributing to the education of children who are victims of wars, as seen with Syrian refugees and others. Social media has also revealed a spirit of competition in doing good, as well as innovation and creativity in charitable endeavors. It has enabled donors to interact with posts related to charitable work. Additionally, it has facilitated the encouragement of charitable work, especially during the month of Ramadan. Another positive aspect is the reduction of advertising costs for charitable projects by replacing printed advertisements with electronic ones.

What are the negative aspects of showcasing charitable work on social media?

From a religious and humanitarian perspective, there are certain negatives, such as the fear that those showcasing charitable work may fall into the trap of self-admiration or engage in ostentatious charity (riya), which nullifies the reward. There is also the violation of the privacy of those in need and their humiliation by displaying their personal images and infringing upon the sanctity of their homes by exposing them to the public, which results in severe psychological distress and a breach of their dignity.

This involves exploiting the condition of the poor and needy, consistently portraying them as helpless, broken victims rather than as human beings deserving of dignity and respect, like other members of society. This stems from the social media activist’s desire to evoke sympathy and project an image of neediness. Another negative aspect is the focus on depicting scenes of poverty and soliciting material assistance from others, while avoiding discussion of the economic, political, and social causes behind their plight, in order to evade criticism or confrontation with government authorities.

What is the Islamic ruling on publicizing charitable work on social media?

The ruling varies depending on the circumstances and the individuals involved. If the volunteer’s heart is affected by arrogance and showing off, publicizing the act is not permissible. If there is no significant benefit in making it public, keeping it hidden is preferable. However, if the volunteer’s heart is free from hypocrisy and showing off, and if publicizing the act serves a significant benefit for Islam and Muslims, then making it public is better than keeping it hidden.

What is the evidence for this?

Those who prohibit it argue that publicizing one’s social influence and voluntary charitable work on social media contradicts sincerity of intention and constitutes a desire for fame, based on Allah’s statement: “O you who have believed, do not invalidate your charities with reminders or injury…” (Quran 2:264). The relevance of this verse is that showing off good deeds is a form of harm that nullifies the reward and invalidates the act. Similarly, publicizing one’s charity, whether specific or general charitable work, may involve elements of boasting that nullify its reward.

From the Sunnah, there are hadiths condemning showing off in general, including the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) statement: “Whoever shows off, Allah will show off to him.” Additionally, there are hadiths in the Sunnah highlighting the virtue of secret charity, which can be analogically extended to concealing other acts of goodness and volunteering. Among these is the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) statement: “Secret charity extinguishes the Lord’s anger.”

As for those who permit it, they have argued that publicizing charitable work on social media is permissible, though keeping it hidden is better, based on Allah’s statement: “If you disclose your charitable expenditures, they are good; but if you conceal them and give them to the poor, it is better for you…” (Quran 2:271).

The more sound view is to reconcile between the evidences, recognizing that the ruling varies depending on circumstances and individuals. It is agreed upon that the donor’s intention is decisive. One cannot issue a definitive ruling that publicizing is inherently showing off and therefore permissible but suboptimal. If publicizing and disseminating information serves a benefit for Islam by promoting its laws, and for Muslims by encouraging emulation, inspiring others through the act, awakening the negligent, and mobilizing the sluggish, then making it public is better than keeping it hidden.

Those who view filming the poor as permissible, provided they consent without coercion, argue that the Arabs came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) when they were in need, prompting the Companions to publicly encourage charity for them. This can be analogically extended to filming the needy to motivate others to give charity and do good. Furthermore, filming them helps dispel doubts among donors and promotes goodness.

What is your advice for those working in charitable activities?

I advise activists in charitable work and members of charitable associations to conduct community awareness campaigns targeting various demographic groups. These campaigns should aim to educate people about the importance of respecting the psychological and moral dignity of the needy and recipients of charitable services, through visual and audio lectures, workshops, and training courses. I also advise keeping pace with technological advancements in achieving the goals of charitable work, in accordance with the rulings of Islamic Sharia.