|
IslamOnline Cyber Counselor Providing Praiseworthy Services
by Shaikha Al-Saadi
Doha (IslamOnline) - “Recently [sic] your cyber counseling section answered a question about something that I have gone through. I lived with this a long time and am grateful to those giving me the answer I have waited so long for. You changed my life and gave me strength in your words,” commented “Alladiana”, an IslamOnline cyber counselor visitor.
Alladiana’s message is one of many constantly sent to IslamOnline from visitors who do not hesitate to express their feelings of gratitude for what the sections, especially Cyber Counseling, provide in terms of services and solutions.
On September 20th, Cyber Counselor staff on the Arabic page received a question from a visitor who was looking for an answer to a family problem. The visitor started his message by expressing his thanks to the staff for the advice and the ways of guidance they provide in the section.
But the most distinctive expressions of praise mentioned by the visitor was his belief that the advice, provided by the working staff in the section, not only benefited the one who asked for help, but also all visitors to the site. He says that he prints out some of the problems and solutions regularly and discusses them with some of his friends in order for them all to benefit from these experiences.
This visitor is only one example of many visitors who find some comfort in the answers they can get to any sort of problem they face in their everyday life. And his comment suggests that Cyber Counselor has become not only a social service offered for those sending inquiries or asking for help, but also a reference library for other visitors to the site. The service enables them to search previous questions submitted and discuss them with each other, so that they can benefit from the expertise of problem solving specialists.
Visitors react to the service in different ways, as in an example from November 26th. On that day the section received a message from a visitor to the Arabic page saying that he thanked Allah because the answer he received eliminated all his doubts. He added that he read the answer ten times and felt so happy while reading it that he even broke down into tears of delight in response to the honesty he found in the answer, and the competence in analyzing his problem.
Moreover, it has been noticed that the site, and especially the Cyber Counselor, has attracted, and is still attracting, many non-Muslims, new converts and even those who intend to convert but are still in need for guidance and support.
A visitor called “Rae” from the U.S. sent a question asking about the possibility of marrying an Egyptian Muslim man who has never been married, and who is younger than her. Furthermore, he is telling her that Allah has chosen her for him.
Another visitor called “Leyla” from Australia said that she has just converted, and her Christian husband is making her life prison-like. She has no assets of her own, though she is the sole income earner, so she feels desperate and hopes to get a divorce.
There is also another problem sent from a visitor called “Sara” from the U.S. telling us that she is engaged to a devout follower of Islam. But one condition of their marriage is that she should convert. She said that she was raised as a Protestant Christian but is awakened by the teachings of Islam, and now she has a great fear of changing her life so drastically and is in need for some words as advice or reassurance.
By dealing with people’s problems, the site has hopefully developed a new entry point through which to introduce Islam. However, IslamOnline has also been criticized for using people’s social and emotional problems to preach Islam.
|
