I like to write blogs on topics that are playing on my mind, writing about it gets it off my chest and I forget about it, whether topics I see online or I see or experience in my life. Maybe I’m a bit psychoanalytical, I try to understand people and the root cause of things and what makes things the way they are.

I’ve noticed on Twitter, coming across tweets from non-Muslims mainly and maybe Muslims that are not practising or don’t have much of an understanding of Islam, that are interesting, inspirational, motivational, agenda driven, linguistically astute that garner a following from people who are a little lost, let me explain.

In the time of the prophet Muhammad (peace be up him) in Arabia, people could raise their social status and position in society by reciting eloquent poetry. Poetry and the use of words and language was that revered in the society, poetry was the equivalent of our social media today.

It was no coincidence that the Quran was revealed in the highest form of literary excellence which grabbed the people’s attention at that time “And we have not taught him (Muhammad pbuh) poetry, nor is it suitable for him. This is only a reminder and plain Quran”, chapter 36 Ya-Sin, verse 69.

Tweeting, social media and the digital age has given everyone who use them platforms.  Before, this was reserved for celebrities only and you had to be somewhat talented but there has been a whole cultural shift with social media and reality TV. This allows everyone to garner a ‘following’, some a very large following and this following is not just reading a persons posts nowadays but buying into their words and even the person, why? I believe this is because there is a massive spiritual void and vacuum going on in people’s lives and social media has now stepped into this vacuum that has been created.

People are lacking in guidance, religious guidance and we need it whether we like to admit it or not. Guidance is being dished out left and right on SM from people’s own whims, desires and experiences on everything from relationships, politics, religion, money, health, the whole shebang and those that are in need are following because words have an affect. Don’t get me wrong there’s some we can definitely take and I always take the good from whomever regardless of religion, sex, race.

Not only that but the people are being revered as someone to ‘follow’ because they are believed to possess qualities that can guide, such as wisdom, confidence, insight, intelligence, whatever, this also creating a massive narcissism because they are believing themselves to be somewhat correct if so many people agree, even if it’s not correct. People are loving and craving attention more than ever now, this is all a knock on effect when something is lacking.

But I still see a lot of people searching for the spiritual, I see them talking about meditation. It is our fitra (natural pattern on which Allah/God made mankind and urged them to follow). We are created to worship the creator and if people don’t they will look elsewhere. People have been doing this with celebrities for decades, following their every word and look, trying to imitate them, referring to them as my “God/goddess”, remember Michael Jackson before he even came on stage to perform people would be screaming, freaking out and fainting, yeah nuts.

There is nothing that can fulfil the void we feel within except for worshipping the creator and having a connection with him. It is the peace and solace that is needed by mankind especially in these times that are fast paced, work centric less family orientated, destruction all over the world fed to our eyes, ears and minds everyday. You cannot find it in material items or these distractions of TV, social media and entertainment that people have turned to to do that.

Let’s not get caught up in other people and personas on social media because of their great use of words and buy into them or the hype of ourselves. Trying to keep up with the latest celebrity/news gossip, chasing after it will make you crave it more, trying to keep in the know will make you want to do it more. People are fallible and a lot of this is entertainment and distraction that we use just to get through our day, keeping us away from the one thing where we will truly find comfort and happiness, worship of the true creator.

So tell me, if you are non-Muslim, what is the purpose of your life?