المدرسة
الصحبوية
The Suhba Seminary
practical Steps for A Digital detox
Why a Digital Detox?
Because we were created to enjoy an experiential relationship with Allah and His Messenger ﷺ, transform our inner character (akhlaq), and live a life of true freedom and noble happiness. Free yourself from the harmful effects of technology while still engaging with it productively.
An Extract from Digital Deceptions
The following text has been extracted from the book, Digital Deceptions, to showcase potential steps in a program of digital detox. The book also has levelled recommendations for: Instant Messaging, Social Media, internet use in general, online learning and video games.
The book can be purchased here: https://www.sagetreefoundation.org/store/p/digital-deceptions-islamic-perspective-on-navigating-the-digital-age
One of the co-authors is the Head of Academics and is a teacher at the Suhba Seminary, Dr Amir Abdelzaher.
Specific Recommendations for a Digital Detox (Smart Phones)
Here we offer specific recommendations regarding devices and apps with a layered approach that can be tailored according to your personal situation and stage in your digital resetting journey.
Level 1 recommendations are basic level steps that everyone can take to begin their digital detox journey. For those who may already be implementing these recommendations, they can advance to the Level 2 recommendations. At the most advanced level are the Level 3 recommendations.
Our success is through gradual, consistent change, not sudden impulsive overhauls that fizzle out after a few days. We take a few small practical steps at a time consistently and regularly, we plan for the challenges and sacrifices that may come ahead, and we seek the assistance of Allah throughout. As the Prophet r said, “The most beloved acts by Allah are those that are consistent, even if they are few” (Bukhari).
Smartphones
When we talk about the harms of the digital world (on our health and well-being, relationships, worship, privacy and surveillance), the vast majority of these come down to the ownership of a smartphone. It follows, therefore, that the most effective solution to mitigating the harms is, happily, to not own one. This may be the best decision we ever make.
Level 1
- Delete all apps that are sinful or lead to sinful behaviour.
- Delete all unnecessary apps.
- Do not use a smartphone for games or idle entertainment.
- Activate time limits on all other apps you feel you may be addicted to.
- Use an image blocker to avoid viewing impermissible unintended imagery.
- Do not sleep with your smartphone in your bedroom.
- Make it a rule not to check your smartphone first thing in the morning nor make it the last thing you look at before you go to sleep.
- Turn off as many sound or visual app notifications as possible.
- Do not carry your smartphone with you into the masjid or a class of knowledge, unless absolutely necessary, in which case make sure it is completely silenced.
- Detox from your smartphone every once in a while for a period of time. Give it to someone else, put it out of sight or leave it at
- home when you go out. This time away from your device will help you see what you actually miss and what you do out of habit. This will help you make better decisions going forward.
- Do not provide a smartphone for someone under the age of 18.
Level 2
- Have daily detox periods from your smartphone.
- Use your smartphone for specific required tasks only, or at specific set times. Even then, only use it for what you need it for.
- Try having to sign in with a username and password to your apps every time you wish to use them instead of always having instant access to them. This creates an extra layer of friction and will reduce unnecessary usage.
- Move as many apps as you can from your smartphone to a laptop or desktop computer.
- If you have data on your smartphone, turn it on only at set times or for specific non-frequent purposes.
- Convert your smartphone into a “dumb phone” by limiting as many internet based apps as possible.
Level 3
- Do not own a smartphone.
- Use the unbundling table to replace the functions of your smartphone.
- Use a home phone/landline/”dumb phone” to make local calls.
- Use a landline with an international plan or a computer/tablet based app for international calls. Signal and Telegram both allow users to call one another from a computer and are more secure apps (Signal is the more secure).
- Consider scheduling in more face-to-face meetings.
Recommended Listening
- We highly recommend the Applied Learning Seminary by Dr. Abdelzaher titled Digital Deceptions. The first episode of the series is below. The full playlist can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1NafrfCDW9OcPZfzPoYIhsUY9c9izjno
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May the sacred knowledge that you find here — and, most importantly, the practice of this knowledge — assist you to polish and purify your heart