“The Ice Bucket Challenge” has become the new epic activity, reaching millions of audience these days. Recently, there has been a bombardment of numerous videos by various ethnic backgrounds regardless of age or gender, on social media sites all over. But, before becoming a part of this extremely thrilling (and freezing!) challenge, we need to know whether it is bringing about any benefit or is a downright waste of time and resources. Sometimes, the original cause is good, ethical and upright but the way it is executed is faulty.
Islam also encourages us to support good causes, in fact Islam has valued the person who supports a noble cause. Allah
says in the glorious Qur’an:
“Whoever supports or recommends a noble cause shall be a partner therein.” ( Surah Nisa 4:85).
However, the Islamic approach to creating awareness is better and more pragmatic than the current one being followed for ALS awareness by throwing an ice water bucket on oneself. How?
Every bucket of ice water dumped on someone’s head in the name of “ALS Awareness” leads to about 4 gallons of water going down the drain. Multiply that by the 1.2 million videos currently circulating in the Internet, and it adds up to almost 5 million gallons of wasted water! And, that’s not even including the ice cubes. The Ice Bucket Challenge is taking a hefty toll on the environment and we should be asking ourselves if it’s ethical to be throwing away so much water? (Estimated by the US Environmental Protection Agency, via Washington Post)
The supporters of this “Ice Bucket Challenge” claim it to be an awareness movement for a good cause, but the reality is – it neither promotes the cause nor helps the victims in any way (morally or financially).
Our human intellect fails to understand how we can fight against a disease by throwing water on ourselves? Several people taking part in this cause are unaware of ALS and the causes of this disease altogether! For them, it is just fun and entertainment.
If we see, in reality, “Ice Bucket Challenge” is nothing more than a reflection of societies’ slavery which is in the hands of a few artificially glamorized celebrities (Hollywood, Bollywood actors, Politicians, Sports persons, etc.)
This clearly shows the influence certain people have on the masses even without meeting them in person, or giving them any money or perks. The way this cult started is something we all need to contemplate upon. The media controls the world; the hearts and the minds of people.
This also exposes the truth that our dresses, hair styles, walk and talk are not actually the product of our own free choice, rather, an outcome of other people’s choice. Freedom? Definitely not! Some people get so heavily influenced by glamor that they start picturing themselves as heroes of some movie in this real life.
Another failure of this movement is the women who are seen wearing wet clothes and the wetness of water makes them see-through. Talk about spreading immorality! Some people recorded the challenge at sea shores, almost naked! Allah says:
“Satan threatens you with poverty and orders you to immorality, while Allah promises you forgiveness from Him and bounty. And Allah
The bottom line is: Islam never condemns any good cause, entertainment or joy but at the same time we should reflect on whether our cause is good or not? And by making us conscious humans, Islam liberates us from all forms of worldly slavery. We don’t just go with the flow, we do what is right, even if it means walking against the crowd.
