THE ESSENCE OF IMAN: Islam is the sole owner of true salvation based on its pure and unconfused faith (Q3: 19), the like which cannot be found in any other religion. It is on this premise that one’s faith must not be allowed to wane out but be jealously guarded and strengthened against any corruption and misleading effect attached to phone use.

The Prophet said that Islam is based on five things, the first of which is the Shahadah (testimony)- La ilaha illa Allah Muhammad Rasulullah (meaning, There is no God worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah). A sincere confession and actions upon this statement are the foundation of true success on earth and in heaven. This is so because it is the purest and weightiest of all words which leads to the knowledge of true God and His worship. Iman (belief) in the oneness of God has no equal in existence and only in Islam it is found in its fullness and purest form, which make the faith unique in revealing the name and attributes of true God, and as such carries no other reward than salvation as the Prophet said: “Whoever say, ‘La ilaha illah Allah sincerely will enter paradise”. Allah also vows: “…it is incumbent upon Allah to save those who believe in Him.” Q10: 103

UNDERSTAND YOUR PHONE: Telephones nowadays have combined many functions into it unit. They come with facilities for calculating, searching, learning, browsing and multimedia functions, such as music, video, camera and gaming. This pervasive nature of its technology has forced everyone to be in possession of a Smartphone. The apps on phones are melting pot of evil and good information and acts, they accommodate godly and satanic messages and have platforms for aberration of iman, where promotion of idolatry, polytheism and atheism are not checked, and where bid’a and corruption of faith, worship and moral are celebrated, it prioritizes sport and fun, tantalizing frivolous stories and falsehood and rumor are more promoted than truth, guidance and good morals. Such device cannot have positive effect on ones’ faith and salvation except when carefully monitored! There is tendency for weak mind to lean on any of these when one is addicted to phone, but it is a battle that must be fought and won for ones’ peace and salvation in both worlds. Phones are basically for communication and information purpose and it must be held like that, while other uses should be put under strict control for self-respect and dignity more importantly, Allah’s pleasure and reward especially in relation with worship and believe in Allah.

AND WHAT IS NOMOPHOBIA? The term ‘nomophobia’ is a newly coined word for ‘fear of being without access to a working cell phone’ at one’s disposal. It means ‘NO MObile PHone phoBIA’. It is a psychological condition of people having a fear of being disconnected from mobile phone usage. People become nervous and distress when they lose their mobile phone, run out of battery or credit or have no network coverage. The problem comes with a set of symptoms, such as increased heart rate, high blood pressure, shortness of breath, anxiety, nausea, trembling, dizziness, depression, separation, discomfort, fear and panic. Thus, the more sacrosanct phone becomes to one’s life the more likely psychological health, social and spiritual problems one develops, and only religious guide can cure the ailment.

THE SIGNS TO NOMOPHOBIA: The signs of phone addiction are noted on the people who go to mosques from their homes with phones in their pockets, who when talking to their children, spouses or parents operate phones, people who are at meetings or lectures or discussion still operating phone secretly, who cannot switch off their phones just for few hours in a day even at night, one who constantly opens his/her phone to check for ‘missed’ calls and messages, one who operates phone when eating, walking, or driving, one who often plug-in his/her phone ear-piece without having hearing defect, and that is another bad habit with damaging effect to ear, and one who after taslim (salutation) at the end of every salat takes to phone immediately instead of rosary for the recommended dhikr and supplication. Nomophobia also affects the mind and relationships; it impairs concentration and is detrimental to worship and academic performance. Making one physically present in class or during worship but psychologically and spiritually absent, thus the impact of being glued to phone is terrible.

If you are one of this type of people you may be missing a big chunk of the blessing of your ibadah if a check is not put on yourself, as your iman is no doubt being eroded and weakened, because any of these ‘phone-centric’ habits ordinarily blocks or reduces your sincerity, ability and time of devotion to the rewarding acts of ibadah, it creates confusion of faith and pollutes it and that means losing out gradually. Allah curses such careless people: “Woe to the worshippers who are neglectful of their prayer” Q107: 4-5.

SAFEGUARDING YOUR IMAN: It should be borne in mind that Allah’s mercy, blessing, forgiveness and guidance for sincere worship and guarded faith are for anyone who realizes their importance and gives Allah His due esteem and recognition, not through hands and eyes glued to phones, but through a mind busy with Him; hands stretching out to help others and His cause; a tongue remembering Him often and limbs constantly falling in prostration for Him. True and perfect happiness cannot be found on abuse use of phone against Allah’s will but in His correct and pure remembrance. Allah says: “…it is in the remembrance of Allah that hearts can find comfort!” Q13:28. Thus adkhar is the true solution to your loneliness and distress not phone addiction!

NOMOPHOBIA CHECKER: Studying and understanding Al-Quran and Hadith of the Prophet is the means to be exploited to free oneself from all this addiction and misplacement of priority in the use of phone. One must not fall among the like of people Allah says: “And they do not esteem Allah with esteem that is due to Him…”Q39: 67. As cheap, free and accessible some Islamic publications are on phone, it will be better and safer to print them out or get hard copies most of the time to avoid snares of evil and corrupt sites on the phone.. Even health-wise, reading hardcopy books is better and safer to eye care than soft copies on any kind of screen. Giving priority to hard copies, is a way of gaining control over indiscriminate use and addiction to phone over many other things. The more you browse your phone for good things, the more likely you are strayed into assaulting and abusive cookies, nauseating pop-ups, corrupt and useless websites that are inimical to your morality, spiritual growth and self-respect, which invariably wane down your iman and bastardize your ibadah, aside that you are more exposed to hackers and virus! More importantly, timing of solat is a good way to get over nomophobia if one can respect it-Q4: 103. Very few people are genuinely dependent on phone most others only mimic some handlers and by that become unnecessarily addicted. Be yourself, know what you want on your phone and for what? Every apps is not for you!

THE CRITICAL: Considering the essence of life and value of our destination-Al Janah (Q3:133), It is surprising that the kind of distress and worry, which one suppose to have for one’s weakening faith or committed sins is being entertained for a device like phone! One must always protect and constantly strengthen his/her iman by reading through the details and understanding Islamic teachings through textbooks, not the usual glossing over ‘short-short’ quotes on phones, as well as constantly listening to sermon and tafsir of the rightly guided Ulama.

Iman is achieved only when Allah’s order on the purpose of our existence is observed and that is worship. Allah says: “I have not created the jinn and man for no other purpose than to worship Me” Q51:56. It is in worship that deserved esteem of Allah is given to Him and it is by worship that Iman is strengthened as we display our total submission and humility to the greatness of Allah in order to further carry out His order of dos and don’ts.

Of the 24 hours in a day, an appreciable number of it is used for routine activities including sleeping, studying and worshipping. For one who is not vigilant enough, phone operation may occupy the rest of the day, in fact it has the potential to and do hijack part of the periods dedicated for these activities. If you carelessly or consciously allow that, especially on religious study and worship, then your faith is in jeopardy and full reward for ibadah will be very difficult. Allah says: ‘We have not created heavens and earth for play…Q21:16. Islam calls to mindfulness especially to your essence of existence –Q51:56, it energizes you to self help with wisdom and strengthened with reason-Q91: 7-10, to realize your worth as a man and Allah’s vicegerent and set the precious target of ultimate success, al- Janah! Q3: 185 Muslims must be moderate in everything they do. Allah says: “We have made you Muslims a just balance nation…”Q2: 140.

AND OTHER GADGETS: Aside from phone, there is this bad practice of some people who cannot excuse their pleasure in Radio and TV program for just an hour or less for the pleasure of their Lord. People who when reciting the Quran or even observing salat in their rooms still put on their TV or radio sets. Such people tend to share their attention and respect between Allah and TV/Radio. There is no doubt that the reward of such ibadah cannot be gotten full if at all he/she gets anything. We should learn how to switch off our phones and all the gadgets when praying to avoid disruption of concentration and or make fun and mess of our faith and worship! Allah has warned against prioritizing things that are even greater to phone: “Say, if your father, and your sons and your brethren and your wives and your kinsfolk, and the wealth you have acquired, and the trade whose dullness you fear, and the dwellings which you love are dearer to you than Allah and His messenger and striving in His cause, then wait until Allah comes with His judgment, and Allah guides not the disobedient people” Q9: 24.

Considering how much is used to ‘feed’ a phone daily, weekly or monthly? Yet part of the credit is used for fun, meaningless chart, corrupt video, and part the operators cheat through, service failure, unsolicited messages, excess charge, data loss/expire, among others. But how much do we give to ‘fii-sebilillah’ box in mosques daily, weekly or monthly, deed that purifies our wealth, strengthens our faith and makes ibadah weighty? If there is not going to be any adjustment between one’s phone ‘consumption’/ones’ devotion to phone and ‘fii-sabillillah’ for Allah’s pleasure and improved iman during one’s life, then our earthly success and heavenly salvation are not guaranteed. Allah have said: “All that is in on earth will pass away and there will remain only the person of your Lord, Master of Glory and Honour” Q55: 26-27.