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Religion and technology: What will happen this year Hajj in Mecca, is unprecedented


What will happen in the next Hajj is a perfect example. The activity most likely will be shared and followed by millions of times through social media, although in previous years, as cameras were not allowed. 

It is offering an unprecedented window to the Muslim world - its beauty, its diversity, and how it is developing over time, in the digital space

When Snapchat-published an article on Mecca (live) during Ramadan in 2015, it was the first time that the world viewed closely, what happened in one of the leading countries for 1.6 billion Muslims in the world.

Worshipers were busy posting pictures that express who they are and what is important to them, combining many physical rituals of Ramadan, the pilgrimage to the virtual spaces of social media.


Millions of Muslim pilgrims are gathering again in Mecca, as is expected to begin hajj.

It highlights the Islamic concept of the ummah, the global Muslim nation, where all Muslims, regardless of wealth, race, language or culture are bound together as one body.

This has historically been an emotional and spiritual connection, expressing love and solidarity distances.

It was a matter of the heart and of those less fortunate who can not travel.But for today's generation of young Muslims, through social media, "Ummah" is made real in a way that was never before.


I allowed them to cross geographical borders, family and community, to connect with Muslims around the world, to hear the news, to exchange ideas about what it means to be a Muslim, through values joint, and to build a community of purpose.

The role of the internet in the emergence of this new segment, which believes that religion and modernity can go hand in hand, has been especially true for women. It is a space where they can ask questions, build solidarity with the larger Muslim movement for women's rights.

These young Muslims do the shopping here.

In their aspiration to preserve and express their faith, they have made great strides, and when they saw that was missing were returned to the Internet, where they set up their new businesses.

Cyberspace has given access to a wide audience, and internet economy has allowed their businesses to thrive.

And in the same way, access via the Internet to a large array of products and services tailored specifically to their hope for a life full of Muslims were allowed to buy these products and to reinforce identity their common Muslim.

The democratization of knowledge that provides internet has opened new avenues for Muslims to learn from the scholars and religious teachings in a way that had never before been possible.

This has had many positive effects, including religious academies on the Internet, a researcher who once sat on pedestals, and today make sermons in Snapchat.

This has led to the emergence of scholar famously, whose lectures shared online with tens of thousands of times, and whose quotations become "meme". New music, bloggers and influencers ave with footage ranging from rogue fashion designers, was given a platform.

The challenge lies in the fact that the volume and quality of the internet can be a cover for religious misrepresented information. And we know that his risk lies precisely in corners of dark sleeper.

But this is a small part of a much bigger story, where Muslim youths have found a space for them is as powerful as the real world.

They use social media campaign, which oppose stereotypes prevalent, to create and disseminate materials to express themselves on their own terms, and use - as happens with Hajj - as an integral part of their religious devotions.

What will happen in the next Hajj is a perfect example. The activity most likely will be shared and followed by millions of times through social media, although in previous years, as cameras were not allowed. It is offering an unprecedented window to the Muslim world - its beauty, its diversity, and how it is developing over time, in the digital space./ShikoNews

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