Issue No: 209
29th August 2014
2nd Dhulqada 1435 A.H.
Salamun alaykum,
For the last couple of weeks, I am sure you will be very much aware of the Ice Bucket Challenge. This has become viral and sweeping the social media and the internet.
What is the ice bucket challenge?
In mid-June, 2014 The Ice Bucket Challenge began in the United States as a means of raising money for research into ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a form of motor neurone disease). Thus the current ALS Ice Bucket challenge sweeping the social media.
This phenomenon has spread across the USA and the rest of the world with celebrities and other public figures popularizing this.Barrack Obama, USA President, and David Cameron, UK Prime Minister, had been challenged, but they opted to decline in favour of a donation.
Interestingly there have been some innovative responses to this challenge including Damon-uses-toilet-water ,Rubble-Bucket-Challenge and Rice-bucket-challenge.
News in the community:
Some members in our community have been caught up in the social media trend of responding to this challenge. There have been mixed responses within our community. A number have doused themselves with ice cold water, donated to ALS Research or a charity and nominated their friends to take up the challenge whereas others have chosen not to tip the bucket of water and instead contributed to charity.
I am being considered:
This week I have received a number of telephone calls from muminin intimating to me that they are considering my name to be nominated for the challenge. Thank you all for your kind thoughts. The question is: Will I do it?
Now, I know it's swimming against the tide and not 'being cool’ to say this but my response is that I will not be taking part. I have chosen to respectfully decline the offer and instead donate for noble causes serving humanity irrespective of background, religion, ethnicity, gender or culture.
Here are some reasons why I WON'T be taking part:
(1) Peer Pressure:
One is too well aware of the powerful influence brought upon one’s life due to peer pressure by striving to imitate lifestyles of celebrities and friends who subliminally occupy the essential position of role models for oneself. This power of influence is being energised through the social media. One is being pressurised to undertake the challenge in ‘obedience’ to the celebrities, friends and role models who have nominated him/her without questioning the need for doing this. Ironically this is not the attitude when it comes to other actions in one’s life.In my humble opinion one does not need to simply respond to what is dictated upon us by social media networks.
(2) Part of Faith:
Being charitable is part of my faith. From the teachings of the Noble Qur’an and Ahlul Bayt a.s.; one cannot help being struck that the care and compassion for fellow humans is absolutely central to the muslim identity. I don’t think that in responding to this challenge and by contributing to charity, this is the best way of doing something for charity. Am I being pressured to do something just because someone close to me has nominated my name? Is responding to this challenge and contributing to charity as such in any way strengthening my faith?
My preference is to humbly contribute to charity in ways other than being obliged to do something. This makes me feel comfortable that I am endeavouring to perform my deeds and emulating my role models; the thaqalayn.
(3) Wastage:
Yes, the Ice Bucket Challenge has brought about a lot of weird fun.This has been possible by the abundant availability of water being taken for granted. One is enjoying this moment of tipping buckets whilst in the under developed regions of the world communities have simply no access to clean water. In some regions taps have dried up, reservoirs are empty and water wastage is being fined. The state of California is currently experiencing one of the worst droughts on record. Henan Province too in China is experiencing its worst drought since 1951. So gestures of dousing in icy water come across as wastage of volumes of clean water. Wastage and extravagance has been severely condemned by our Noble faith. Should one waste clean water as a challenge to raise /avoid raising money for charity? I am struggling to reconcile myself to perform the actions of waste and charity at the same time.
(4) Cheap Publicity:
Raising funds for charity and raising awareness of a cause are both admirable. However this challenge for charity is coming across as cheap publicity and as a wasteful PR exercise than a charitable gesture. This is being called out as such on the social media.
Can there be other pioneering and proactive ways to create awareness and raise funds for a noble cause such as this (the ALS research) and other issues affecting people in need in other parts of the world which will be acclaimed and valued in publicity? I have been impressed by the Rice Bucket Challenge .
Having shared my reasons for not responding to the #IceBucketChallenge let me clarify that this is not a jurisprudential ruling. Rather it is only my personal preference Which I humbly hope that you will reflect upon.
Wa ma tawfiqi illa billah
Fazle Abbas Datoo
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Resident Alim
Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat