Internet Precautions and Guidelines
Internet technology has brought about dramatic advances in communication and information accessibility. The blessings and favours of Allah Ta’ala upon His servants are indeed innumerable. Expressing shukr (gratitude) for these favours by word and deed is incumbent. Internet usage is fast becoming a norm in many a Muslim home. Adults, youth and even children are becoming savvy to the exciting ease of information access. However we need to be extremely cautious that this newly found "connection" should not disconnect us from Allah Ta’ala. Rather it should drive us to strengthen our relationship with our Creator. Hence it is important to formulate certain guidelines and parameters when using the internet. Hereunder are a few points we should keep in mind:
Distraction from salaah (Prayers)
Under no circumstances should our engagement with the internet distract us from observing our salaah. Nothing surpasses the firm establishment of salaah in the life of a Muslim. Allah Ta’ala has not commanded us to merely perform salaah; rather the command of the Qur’an is to firmly establish salaah in our lives.
Confine to Shariah
With the presence of 4.2 million pornographic websites serving 372 million pornographic webpages, the internet is very much a double-edged sword with a razor sharp evil edge. Internet usage should be strictly confined to the Shariah. A suggested method of surfing websites where there is a increased possibility of obscene advertisements or graphics being displayed, is to
turn off the ’showing images’ setting which is a common feature with internet browsers. Using the internet for illicit and haraam purposes is abuse of a ni’mat (blessing) of Allah Ta’ala. There are severe consequences to this. If one is unable to contain himself and his desires he should permanently disconnect from the internet service by unsubscribing. There is great safety in this.
Valuable asset
Time is a most valuable asset. To carelessly waste this valuable asset in trivial activities is contrary to Shariah. The internet should be used as a platform for education and information. Surfing the net
aimlessly should be avoided. Time should be utilised constructively. Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) has said, "Two blessings are such; which many people are in deception with regards to; good health and free time." (Mishkat)
Family duty
Special care should be taken that one does not become so absorbed on the internet that family duties are neglected. Of high importance is the time due to the wife. To spend quality time with the wife, speaking with her light heartedly and keeping her heart happy is imperative. This duty should not be disturbed by excessive internet engagement.
Monitor the children
Parents who allow their children to use the internet for educational purposes should keep a close eye on them. Children seem to be outdoing their seniors in computer literacy. As such there are able to access and explore almost anything from the PC without the parent even knowing. This makes it essential for parents equip
themselves with the necessary knowledge of utilising the internet as well as how to monitor what is being accessed on the internet. Another ideal solution would be to situate the computer in such a place which is an "open" area in the house, where a person cannot be in seclusion. This will be a preventative measure for anyone wanting to abuse the facility. It is also incumbent on parents to employ any other monitoring device or strategy to ensure that children are kept on guard with the internet.
Be careful
Visit only authentic sites. It is very easy to be misled by attractive sites conniving to mislead. These sites pose a major threat to one’s Imaan. Be careful. Do not visit a site for the sake of curiosity. The more hits a site receives the better its chances of survival. If you visit an undesirable or deviated site don’t make it an issue. The more people visit the site the more exposure it gains. Without visitors the site will die a natural death. May Allah Ta’ala grant us the ability to utilise the internet beneficially.
Source: Al-Jamiat
Vision Tips for Heavy Computer Users:
Two in five workers who use computer screens say that they suffer from headaches and over half say that they get tired eyes, with a quarter also admitting that they have ‘difficulty focusing’. One in five workers also say that they suffer from ‘blurred vision’. Eye experts are warning that these conditions could be linked to the increasing amount of time that millions of people all over the country are spending staring at a computer screen.
The alarming statistics reveal that over 9 per cent of people admit to spending more than six hours a day in front of a computer screen on top of time spent ‘working’, with this increasing to over one in ten (14%) of the 18-24 year old age group. At weekends, nearly one in ten (9%) of the population confess to spending over eight hours on the computer, rising to 15% of the younger demographics.
Social networking sites such as Facebook and Bebo occupy the leisure time of nearly eight in ten under 24 year olds, while two in five use their computers to play games, and half download music. Nine in ten (93%) of the older age groups use their computers for ‘researching’ and ‘surfing’.
The majority of people of all age groups (64%) are now spending between one and four hours a day on the computer outside of work, and – combined with longer working days that means that the majority of UK workers who use computers spend seven hours in front of them.
Dr Rob Hogan, President of The College of Optometrists, says: “We are reaching a critical point, with more and more people spending an increasing amount of time in front of a computer screen. At work employees should at least be encouraged to take regular breaks from their screen, but with leisure time now also being spent on computers there’s even less chance that people are looking after their eyes properly.
While using a computer can’t permanently damage your eyes, if you don’t take regular breaks and use the correct vision aids for your eyesight, you can strain your eyes, and may experience headaches, blurriness, tired eyes, and focus problems. This can be painful and uncomfortable, as well as making your time both in work and out of work tiring and inefficient.
It’s crucial for everyone, but especially for those using a computer screen for a significant amount of time during the week or weekends, that you take regular breaks and visit your local optometrist regularly who will be able to pinpoint any problems you may have with your eyes.”
The College of Optometrists has top tips to keep your eyes healthy in front of a screen:
• Make sure that if you need spectacles to look at a screen, you wear them!
• Blink regularly. When focusing on a screen your reflexes will slow down, tear production will reduce, and you will blink less, causing dry and uncomfortable eyes.
• Remember the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds to give your eye muscles a break and help increase the rate of blinking.
• Keep the distance of the monitor from your eyes between 16 to 30 inches. Most people find a distance of 20 to 26 inches comfortable.
• Make sure that the top of the monitor is at a level at or slightly below your horizontal eye level.
• Tilt the top of the monitor away from you at a 10- to 20-degree angle. This will enable you to create an optimum viewing angle.
• Keep your screen free of dust and fingerprints.
• Use an adjustable chair that enables you to sit at a proper angle and distance from your computer monitor screen.
• If your work involves prolonged data entry use document holders to secure any reading or reference material. Placing them close to the monitor and at the same distance from your eyes as your monitor, will enable your eyes to remain focused as they look from the monitor to the reading material.
• Use a character size that is visible. The character size is an important factor since it determines the distance at which you prefer to view the monitor.
• Make sure your workstation is set up comfortably; avoid poor posture which can lead to neck, back, arm or other aches.
