The paradigm of the 'can' and the 'should', introduced in a previous article to illustrate the Muslim community’s general concern (or rather, lack of concern) towards organic food, provides a convenient framework to showcase another widely neglected issue: the illegal downloading of entertainment or computer software. A deeply insightful brother recently questioned if it’s really worth the time writing about such a menial issue when, indeed, the Muslim community has a plethora of other concerns which need to be addressed. By and large, I fully agree with the brother’s criticism; nevertheless, although illegal downloads may well sit on the bottom rung of the ladder of needs, I would argue that the underlying mentality which steadily encourages the activity ranks it near the top, for it highlights once again how Muslims would rather neglect self-reflection (the should) in favor of scholarly dependence of cans and cannots.
Indeed, the prevalence of illegal downloading among Muslims appears to reflect that of wider society and so - in the same light of the ‘cans’ and the ‘shoulds’ - I would like to discuss the mentality which underlies its popularity. The keyword, mentality - i.e. the attitudes and philosophies which promote illegal downloading – will be the primary focus of this article; thus, rather than discussing the scholarly traditions that allow or prohibit illegal downloads (for which I’m not suited), we’ll examine instead why illegal downloads have become so prevalent. Specifically, we'll examine how the dismissal of the ‘should’ develops blind conformism in thought and action – to no relinquishment of personal responsibility, unfortunately.
Indeed, the prevalence of illegal downloading among Muslims appears to reflect that of wider society and so - in the same light of the ‘cans’ and the ‘shoulds’ - I would like to discuss the mentality which underlies its popularity. The keyword, mentality - i.e. the attitudes and philosophies which promote illegal downloading – will be the primary focus of this article; thus, rather than discussing the scholarly traditions that allow or prohibit illegal downloads (for which I’m not suited), we’ll examine instead why illegal downloads have become so prevalent. Specifically, we'll examine how the dismissal of the ‘should’ develops blind conformism in thought and action – to no relinquishment of personal responsibility, unfortunately.
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