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Old School Islam vs the Social Media Islam Today
(A message from one of the early Millennials…)
A lot of people wonder why older Muslims—especially Gen X and early Millennials—tend to lean more toward Sufi-influenced, scholar-respecting Islam… while today’s Gen Z crowd on social media is often louder, more opinionated, and sometimes disrespectful to the ulama.
Let me explain the difference we lived:
1. Seeking knowledge back then was a struggle.
We didn’t have YouTube or TikTok da’wah. If we wanted a lecture, we had to buy tapes, order CDs, or wait hours just to download a lecture on dial-up—then burn it to CD. We paid for books, read full texts, and traveled to attend a scholar’s talk. Knowledge was earned, not just swiped.
2. We knew our place.
We respected the scholars and sat with adab. We didn’t correct ulema in the comments. We didn’t act like we knew better because we read a quote card or watched a 1-minute reel. We learned slowly and deeply—not loudly and quickly.
3. Worship was private, not performative.
We didn’t take selfies in front of the Kaaba or post ourselves making salat in public for likes. Our ibadah wasn’t for the algorithm. It was for Allah. Even Umrah photos weren’t a thing. Worship felt real—and often quiet.
4. Islam was holistic, not branded.
We didn’t mix deen with hustle culture, Red Pill ideology, or clout chasing. We weren’t trying to “go viral” off Islam. We were trying to transform ourselves, not market ourselves.
5. The new generation skips the scholars.
Too many now try to become influencers instead of students. They dismiss traditional scholars and start making bold statements as if they’re qualified. But no scholar in history ever became learned through reels and threads alone.
This isn’t hate. It’s naseeha.
We’re not perfect—but we come from a time where sincerity mattered more than visibility.
May Allah guide this generation to balance—and protect us all from ego dressed up as da’wah
