METAVERSE: HALAL OR NOT?
The Metaverse is the subject of a lot of hype, and many businesses have jumped on board intending to make money from this brand-new digital economy that is predicted to completely change how we live our lives. Many Muslims who may be seeing this excitement may be hesitant to participate because they are unsure of how it accords with Islamic law. In this article, we give a succinct explanation of the Metaverse’s devotion to Islamic principles.
WHAT IS THE METAVERSE?
The metaverse is a fictional alternate space that is based on virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), that allows users to interact with one another via an isolated virtual interface. In simple terms, the Metaverse is a virtual environment or a collection of digital platforms that mimic the physical environment in which we live.
The phrase “metaverse” which literally means beyond the universe is derived from Neal Stephenson’s 1992 book Snow Crash, which imagines a futuristic dystopia with comparable technology.
The metaverse aims to bridge the gap between virtual reality and the real world. It will undoubtedly change how we interact with the internet on a daily basis because it offers an alternative strategy for improving virtual events by enabling seamless transitions between the real and virtual worlds and the transfer of objects between them.
WHAT ARE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE METAVERSE
The metaverse functions as a social network where individuals may communicate while using avatars to represent them. Together, these avatars may carry out tasks like working, playing, shopping or simply communicating with each other. Thus, leveraging the metaverse makes it possible to gain access to more interesting and entertaining experiences. The barrier of distance will be removed since people will be able to accomplish work remotely, including attending events in a virtual environment that provides a full VR experience.
Additionally, there are many different ways to make money in the Metaverse. These cover a wide range of jobs, from easy ones like playing games to difficult ones like purchasing and selling assets. There are also options such as buying and selling land, play-to-earn games and hosting metaverse events to mention a few.
The emergence of a fully operational digital economy is arguably the most intriguing and motivating aspect of the metaverse concept. Users are expected to produce, acquire, and sell items. A new kind of decentralized digital asset may now be created, acquired, and monetized thanks to the advent of a fully functional, real-time digital market made possible by the metaverse.
So the question we ask ourselves at this point is; are Muslims allowed to take part in this new digital economy?
To answer that, we need to correlate the Metaverse with Islamic injections.
THE METAVERSE AND ISLAMIC TENETS
Given the current lack of Islamic finance structures for the metaverses, this poses a significant barrier for financial players and investors with an emphasis on Shariah compliance. Whilst Shariah incentivizes us to use creativity and entrepreneurship in commerce and business to meet our material requirements, there is still a framework that controls actual behavior.
Islamic clerics and lawmakers emphasize how not everything can be made into money. Only legal products and services that are assessed to have a reasonable utility should be used to make money as It is abhorrent to spend and squander money on things that provide no justifiable benefit. Hence, any metaverse activity that Muslims must involve in should bring value and be advantageous.
The negative repercussions of the forthcoming metaverse technology have been hotly contested. At first glance, the idea of a virtual environment like the Metaverse could sound exciting, but you might start to reconsider after learning about its drawbacks. The Internet has many negative effects, including problems with privacy, addiction, social problems, etc.
Besides, since the metaverse is a general space, there will be improper stuff, such as sexual content, violent material, illicit gambling, and so on. Additionally, there is the tendency of getting addicted to certain elements on the metaverse amongst other things that are regarded as haram. Muslims are advised to not indulge in such unlawful pursuits. Hence, any transactions carried out on the Metaverse must be according to sharia laws as sharia-based prohibitions also apply in virtual worlds and metaverses.
Nevertheless, Because of the Metaverse’s environment, its content, and the way animated goods are displayed as avatars, you might find that you need to get counsel on Islamic law before using Muslim-branded products there. It must be made known that experts and Islamic clerics disagree on the definition of animated art. Some scholars claim that depictions of the living world in animated artwork should not be considered a violation of Taswir. Regardless, objects like mountains, trees, planes, and other things that aren’t alive can be depicted.
The metaverse is not haram. Nevertheless, Muslims are expected to make significant interactions with the metaverse. Shariah aims to give life meaning, hence each action taken by a Muslim should also have a purpose. It is important to earn money in a moral manner, without hurting or defrauding people. Muslims and non-Muslims alike would profit from a Shariah-based metaverse because it upholds moral principles that are advantageous to all of mankind and the entire planet.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Every Muslim should have a proactive stance toward future technologies like the metaverse, Web3, NFTs, and cryptocurrencies in conformity with the precepts of Shariah. The Metaverse is, in general, halal. It does, however, include certain things that are against Islamic principles, but this does not suggest that everything within is prohibited.
In conclusion, the events in a Shariah Compliant metaverse should be instructive, uplifting, inspiring, motivating, and spiritual. The basic rule every devoted Muslim must remember is that whatever is often acceptable in the real world is typically acceptable in the metaverse and vice versa. Hence, when organizing an event in the metaverse, the event must not portray anything that is illicit in Shariah law. Also when playing games or choosing avatars you must avoid using anything sacred or unlawful to see in Shariah. Also, the use of fake identities is prohibited.
As the Metaverse expands, it’s conceivable that additional virtual venues will be created for Muslim online activities and even income possibilities.
