A new social media platform named, Labayk, that describes itself as a “network of moral Islamic values and a respectful online environment” has been launched to encourage users to donate to charitable causes, The Jakarta Post reported.
Labayk which means ‘at your service’ in Arabic was developed by a Muslim investment banker called Tanweer Khan who said: “I created the platform to cater to both Muslim and non-Muslim users, though it expects all users to abide by the moral values of Islam”.
“Over time, I was becoming increasingly frustrated at the way social media networks have become vehicles for abuse, trolling and bullying. Social media platforms are constantly being called out over their response to this, and it’s becoming harder and harder to control,” Khan expressed.
Like other social networks, Labayk allows users to create a profile, update their status, make connections and send messages. Its mobile app is currently available for download on iPhone devices.
“Social media networks have the power to do good and make the world a better place for everyone, both online and offline. However, the culture on most of these networks is driven by profits, allowing bots to shape people’s decisions and opinions,” he continued.
“I wanted to create a platform where people can connect and effectively communicate with others, with similar values, in a safe and non-threatening environment,” Khan added.
The Muslim developer informed that “users who upload content deemed inappropriate or fake news can be immediately removed from the platform.”
“This isn’t a Muslim-only platform, it’s open for everyone. However, Labayk shares and is built on true Islamic values of peace, respect, kindness, truth, and sincerity. And this is what I wanted the platform to be,” Khan explained.
“Hatred and aggressive advertising have been replaced with giving, charitable causes, great communication, and safety. And it’s free, and always will be,” he continued.
Islamic Shari`ah
Values and morals are componeners of the Islamic values which is derived from the religious precepts of Islam, particularly the Qur’an and the Hadith.
The traditional theory of Islamic jurisprudence recognizes four sources of sharia: the Qur’an, Sunnah (authentic hadith), qiyas (analogical reasoning), and ijma (juridical consensus).
Different legal schools—of which the most prominent are Hanafi, Maliki and Shafi’i —developed methodologies for deriving Shari’ah rulings from scriptural sources using a process known as ijtihad.
Traditional jurisprudence (fiqh) distinguishes two principal branches of law, ʿibādāt (rituals) and muʿamalat (social relations), which together comprise a wide range of topics. Shari’ah influences other aspects of private and public life.
Muamalat in Shari’ah aka transactions or dealings include Islamic rulings governing commercial transactions as well as civil acts and in general all aspects of fiqh that aren’t rituals.
The Shari’ah rulings are concerned with ethical standards as much as with legal norms, assigning actions to one of five categories: mandatory, recommended, neutral, abhorred, and prohibited.