Is following someone on social media shirk?
Q: Is it permissible to follow someone on instagram or twitter or facebook or any social media platform except pornography as we should only follow ALLAH. If we follow someone on social media, will this be shirk?
A: This is not shirk. There are different types of following. Like you follow the imaam in namaaz, nobody considers this to be shirk. A child follows and imitates his father; this is not considered as shirk. The wife obeys and follows the husband's command; this is not shirk. The Quraan Shareef has clearly instructed that we enquire and take the cue from those who are learned and righteous. Yusuf (alaihis salaam) had announced that I follow the ways of my father, Ebrahim, Ishaaq and Yaqub (alaihimus salaam). Shirk is to follow someone and obey him believing him to be god and having the rights of a deity.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
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