Using Social Media - A Responsibility

[ummtaalib]

   Social Media Mayhem

 

 

Social networking is everywhere. Nearly everyone belongs to a social network on sites such as Twitter, MySpace, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn etc.

An average user would spend from one to several hours per day, posting photos, instant messaging, tweeting, etc. While social networking has become a staple form of social interaction, it comes with a host of potential dangers.

 

Does social media augur well for society or has it made people insensitive and lethargic? Statistics prove that inconsiderate use of social media has been responsible for numerous crimes, marriage breakdowns, absent mindedness, road accidents, divorces, murders and other social problems stemming directly from indulgence on social platforms.

 

Researchers are of the view that social media affects one's mental health and impacts seriously on the way one thinks, speaks and writes. Many children and teenagers are less likely to leave their houses and interact socially in real life due to their absorption in the virtual life of social media. It has created a generation of 'addicts' to instant feedback.

 

The reality is that the social media platforms are new methods of interaction. They cannot be wished away!

However, when social media is used responsibly it can have beneficial and positive results. Importantly, there has to be a sense of responsibility in the usage of social media which can be harmful and can have an adverse effect on the user.

 

Moreover, for a Muslim, the greatest challenge is to avoid committing sins through this medium. Sadly, it has become so easy and tempting to backbite, slander, spread false information and injure the feelings of innocent people by the mere press of a button.

 

If social media is to be used as a tool for communication the following must be kept in mind:

 

Be conscious of Allah Ta'ala at all times. Using the bounty of Allah for His disobedience is sheer ingratitude.

 

Adults should set an example by responsible usage.

 

Parents need to do regular checks on their children. Allowing children uncensored use of technology is opening the road to various problems.

 

Social etiquette must be adhered to. Texting and showing indifference to one's spouse, or to people in a gathering is disrespectful and a sign of bad manners. It is absolutely annoying when people are involved with texting during social gathering.

 

Do not become addicted to your phone or ipad. Do not enslave yourself to the 'ping ping' sound of a message or email. Control your phone and do not let it control you.

 

Do not communicate with ghayr mahrams, (persons with whom marriage is permissible). This is destructive to one's chastity, Iman and marriage.

 

Darul Ihsan Social Depart Ment

[ummtaalib]

Using Social Media and Technology Responsibly

 

 

By Shaykh-ul-Hadīth, Hadrat Mawlānā Muhammad Saleem Dhorat hafizahullāh

 

A key feature of the era we live in is the rapid development of technology and the continuous impact this has on our lives, both in terms of the way we live and how we spend our time. As Muslims we understand that the purpose of our life is to acquire the pleasure of Allāh ta‘ālā, by spending each moment of our life in accordance with His commands. As Allāh ta‘ālā is the All Knowing, He was completely aware of all material and technological developments that His servants would witness when He revealed the Glorious Qur’ān and showed us its practical application through the blessed life of Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam. Therefore, Alhamdulillāh, Allāh ta‘ālā has equipped the ‘Ulamā until the last day with the tools to guide the Ummah on how it should use any new developments, whilst not forgetting its ultimate objective.

 

A significant phenomenon of our time is the emergence and widespread use of the internet and smartphones which has led to new methods of communication, such as social media and email. Whilst social media and email has led to a revival of reading and writing, often the content and quality is highly questionable. Therefore, one must be mindful not to fall prey to the harmful aspects of these mediums, for example using them to engage in, or even publicise, acts of disobedience to Allāh ta‘ālā.

 

My objective is to outline some guidance for those who use the internet and smartphones, specifically in relation to messaging, email and using social media applications such as WhatsApp and Facebook. By sharing with readers some essential Islāmic teachings in this regard, inshā’allāh, we will be able to use technology productively, safeguarding ourselves from harmful activities.

 

Forwarding Messages Requires Precaution

A common trend upon receiving a message is the thoughtless and endemic usage of the ‘forward’ button. Messages are instantly forwarded to others, without proper understanding of its content nor consideration for the recipients. Many messages received are vague in nature; the truth behind them being seldom known. To spread a message without substantiating its content is very detrimental and could lead to sin, as to forward a lie is to spread a lie and be in support of it. Messages should never be shared until the content is verified and authenticated. False news or incorrect information regarding any matter can cause others unnecessary worry and concern, and will be tantamount to spreading a lie. Our Nabī sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam said:

 

To narrate whatever one hears is enough for an individual to be considered a liar. (Muslim)

 

More Precaution for ‘Islāmic’ Messages

Messages of an Islāmic nature demand even more precaution. Verses of the Glorious Qur’ān and ahādīth of our beloved Nabī sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam with their translations are often carelessly miswritten or many times are sheer falsehood; yet are haphazardly forwarded and shared on social media. Messages promising fabricated virtues for baseless actions are shared with a caption to forward to as many as possible. At times emotional blackmail and false threats are also included, ‘if you do not forward this message to at least x amount of people then such and such shall happen to you’, naturally all such messages are a complete sham. Our Nabī sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam warned us:

 

Whosoever speaks about the Qur’ān without knowledge should take his place in the Fire. (At-Tirmidhī)

 

In another hadīth he sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam mentions:

 

A lie against me is not similar to a lie against any (normal) individual; whosoever lies regarding me should take his place in the Fire. (Al-Bukhārī)

 

One should be precautious when forwarding messages with seemingly Islāmic teachings without being completely sure of their authenticity or else such grave warnings await us. Once authenticated, messages maybe thoughtfully shared.

 

Permission to Share?

At times, messages are of a personal nature; information or news regarding a certain individual or institution or even a country. One should contemplate before forwarding whether the sender or those whom the information is regarding would consent for the details to be shared with others? Has specific permission been granted to forward and spread the message? If not, then it would be totally unethical and in many cases a sin to do so.

 

A Beneficial Message?

If we stand back and objectively reflect, we will conclude that a large percentage of emails and messages received on social media applications are of a futile nature. Our Dīn encourages engagement in prosperous activities and to avoid spending invaluable time and energy on any endeavours which are of no avail or in some instances harmful. Our beloved Nabī sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam said:

 

It is from the excellence of an individual’s Islām that he leaves Lā ya‘nī (those things which do not benefit him). (Abū Dāwūd)

 

The Islāmic teaching regarding futility is eloquently set out in the hadīth above. One must contemplate before writing or forwarding any message, “Is it of any benefit in this world or the hereafter?” If the conclusion is negative, then this is a futile action which every Muslim should abstain from. Furthermore, sending or forwarding messages of such a nature may become the cause of others engaging in futility as well. Futility is in essence a waste of time and energy. Whilst one may ask what is the harm if a futile action is mubāh (permitted); it is akin to receiving a gift of £100 and thereafter throwing it down the gutter. Any reasonable person would be shocked and amazed at such an action, as whilst no apparent harm was suffered, the benefit that should have been achieved wasn’t and so in reality there has been a loss. Futility also brings one to the boundary of sin and therefore it is best to avoid, as it can easily lead to disobedience directly or indirectly through other actions which may follow. May Allāh ta‘ālā save us.  

 

A Clear Message?

If all the above guidelines are dutifully met, then one should finally consider whether a message will cause any misunderstanding or misconception amongst those who receive it? After all it is an Islāmic principle and also a general etiquette of life, to always consider whether sharing information has the potential to cause a misunderstanding. Ibn Mas‘ūd radhiyallāhu ‘anhu mentions:

 

Whenever you speak to people regarding something which is beyond their intellect, it will surely be a means of fitnah (tribulation) for some of them. (Muslim)

 

If one is unsure or even has the slightest doubt whether a certain message could cause a misunderstanding, then it should not be shared. We should be extremely careful and considerate in this regard, as this will bring peace and comfort to all.

 

Recording or Taking Photos without Permission

The use of technology to record private conversations of people without their permission is against the teachings of Islām. A person is generally informal when in private with one’s close associates and generally the topics discussed are within a specific context and with the relevant background known to those present. If excerpts from such conversations are shared, it can become the means of causing immense misunderstanding and result in serious consequences. One should respect the privacy of others when in private environments and only record their voices when clear permission is granted. The same principle applies to taking photography or video filming at a private or an informal gathering.

 

Photography & Video Filming: Respecting the View of Others

It is widely known that there is a difference of opinion amongst the ‘Ulamā regarding video filming and photography; some adopt the view of permissibility whilst others take a precautious stance. To make a video of or to take a picture of someone who holds the latter view is extremely unfair and discourteous. This is tantamount to open disrespect for the personal view of that individual and gravely inconsiderate.

 

I would appeal to my readers to pay due attention to the etiquettes mentioned above in relation to certain aspects of using technology and bring them into practice. May Allāh ta‘ālā grant us all the understanding of our beautiful religion and its all-encompassing teachings of pure and considerate morals and ethics. Āmīn.

[ummtaalib]

Social Media

Jumu'ah Talk by Mufti Ebrahim Desai Hafidhahullah

 
Mufti Saheb commenced his talk with the incident of Aadam and Hawa (Alayhimas-Salaam) living in Jannah and being expelled after eating the fruit from the prohibited tree.

Mufti Saheb proceeded to explain we are living in this world of technology. 50% of the worlds population are internet users. An average person spends 5 years of his life on social media platforms.

Mufti Saheb then explained just as in Jannah there are permissible trees and a prohibited tree, that caused Aadam and Hawa to be expelled from Jannah, there are positive aspects as well as negative aspects of information technology.

Some of the negative aspects of information technology are:

 

• It disconnects you with those who you ought to be connected
• Immorality
• Children having cell-phones and challenges to parents. Should parents give children cell-phones and supervise the use or not give them the cell -phone at all?

 

Mufti Saheb concluded by explaining the law of need in Shari'ah. The prohibition of pork is relaxed due to need. To consume more than the need will be a sin. Information technology is a need. To transgress the need will be a sin like consuming pork. If we are averse to pork, why are we not averse to the sins of social media platforms?

Listen to the full talk on http://daruliftaa.net/index.php/resources/audio

taken from Here

[ummtaalib]

How many “likes”?

 

By Sister Sumaiyah Seedat

How many times have we posted a picture that we thought to be something great and to our surprise the picture receives a meager 10 “likes”?...Instant removal !

In our quest to boost our self-confidence, we have become egotistical and as fake as the filters we apply to our pictures on social media. Sadly, our lives have come down to us needing constant validation from others, some of whom are complete strangers to us! This is unhealthy because we build unrealistic views on life and suddenly what Allah Ta’ala has given to us is not enough.

 

We find fault with our complexion, our weight, height even the colour of our hair requires some sort of modification. We are indeed so vulnerable. The filters applied to pictures are deceptive and brainwashing and yet so many of us strive to look that way.

 

"You will never look like the girl on the front page of the magazine, as even that girl doesn’t look like her original self”

The harms of abusing social media are not only the inferiority-complex it gives its users, it also commonly leads to a narcissistic approach to life. One has reduced their self-worth to the amount of 'likes' they accumulate on their 'selfies' and thus feeding their ego's when they have indeed overlooked that "Allah does not like the arrogant, the boastful" (Qur’an An-Nisa, 4:36).

 

Really, our beauty is sacred; we are beautiful because we are the work of Allah! You do not need validation from any human being.

The next time you are about to post a 'selfie' that you are convinced is going to get you many likes, ask yourself 3 things:

 

1. Would I be comfortable showing this picture to my children?

2. Would I be pleased if they grew up to do the same?

3. If I were to take my last breath tomorrow, would my pictures work for or against me in my grave?

Islam is not about doom and gloom, but in fact it’s about being in peace and harmony with our Creator 'Ar-Rahmaan'.

 
"Never despair of the mercy of your Lord" (Qur’an Az-Zumar 39:53)

 

No matter how far you may have strayed, do not let Shaitaan (Satan) misguide you into thinking that there is no way back, the doors of forgiveness are always open.

Always remember, a pretty face is temporary and inner beauty more important than outer beauty. Rather aspire to "be so beautiful that others can't take their HEARTS off you"

 

www.eislam.co.za

[Bint e Aisha]

[Bint e Aisha]

[Bint e Aisha]

SELFITIS

 

Among the greatest qualities of a Believer is humility. Conversely, pride and arrogance are among the worst diseases that can afflict a person. A humble person is beloved to Allāh Ta‘ala and is also loved by people, while a proud person or one who loves to “show off” falls from the grace of Allāh Ta‘ala and is disliked by people as well, though they may appear to respect him.

Pride and vanity are not detected by means of an X-ray or CT scan. Instead they are manifested in one’s utterances, reactions to situations, choices, manner and general conduct. One of the recently discovered symptoms is “Selfitis”.

 

Inflamed Ego and Narcissism

The Psychiatrists have defined “Selfitis” as being “the obsessive, compulsive urge to take photos of one’s self and upload them on social media.” In essence, the victims of this illness are major attention seekers[1]. They further explained that the suffix “itis” by which the word ends generally refers to inflammation. Hence bronchitis refers to inflammation of the lungs and tonsillitis to the inflammation of the tonsils. Thus this disorder was named “Selfitis” as the people who suffer from it are generally prone to having “Inflamed egos” which leads to Narcissism.[2]

 

 Pious Disorder

In Makkah al-Mukarramah, authorities are concerned about people causing serious congestion by stopping to take selfies of themselves in the midst of making tawāf (circumbulation) of the Kā’bah. “We now have people who during the Friday prayers, instead of listening to the Imam, prefer to take pictures of worshippers or to indulge in selfies. The problem is that you cannot talk to them because these are the Friday prayers and worshippers must not speak at all,” authorities said.

Another pilgrim, Khalid Al-Shimrani, a Kuwaiti, said: “The sight of the Kā’bah is truly wonderful and being next to it is an exhilarating experience that I would love to share with my friends and followers on social media,”. [3]

Doesn’t Mr. Shimrani know that the exhilarating experience is that of the heart? A selfie cannot capture a feeling of ecstasy, only an emotion of the face. Can one be so devoid of spirituality at a place when he is supposed to be full of it? Is the Kā’bah an entertainment hot-spot? Can a selfie help one to relive an intensely spiritual moment in which you are drowned in communication with your Lord?

The ahādīth have sounded numerous warnings for people who engage in the sin of photography. Apart from these warnings, when a person is filled with such vanity and conceit that his ego tricks him into thinking that the entire world is simply dying to share every moment of his mundane life with him, and thus he cannot see past his own face, how is he supposed to see the majesty and glory of Allāh Ta‘ala?  

Finally, it’s understandable that all humans have a desire to be recognized and appreciated, or to relive some of their memories, but this is not achieved by photographs or selfies. We need the recognition and approval of our Creator, and not His creation. In our most intense moments of prayer and spirituality, there is no thought of anyone but Him, why destroy this sacredness with a picture? This year, take the best selfie on the day Eid, that of your heart, and present it to your Lord. Wait for the ‘like’ or ‘dislike’ on the Day of Judgment.

 

Footnotes:

[1]- Barry, C. T., Doucette, H., Loflin, D. C., Rivera-Hudson, N., & Herrington, L. L. (2015, June 29). “Let Me Take a Selfie”: Associations Between Self-Photography, Narcissism, and Self-Esteem. “Let Me Take a Selfie”: Associations Between Self-Photography, Narcissism, and Self-Esteem. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281317126_Let_Me_Take_a_Selfie_Associations_Between_Self-Photography_Narcissism_and_Self-Esteem [accessed Jun 22, 2017]. 

[2]- Gwendolyn Seidman Ph.D. Are Selfies a Sign of Narcissism and Psychopathy? Available from: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/close-encounters/201501/are-selfies-sign-narcissism-and-psychopathy [accessed Jun 22, 2017]. 

[3]- http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/saudi-arabia/kaaba-selfies-trigger-heated-online-debate-1.1541422

 

Published by: Naseeha Channel (Telegram)

[Bint e Aisha]

Selfie craze and evil eye

 

New car? Take a selfie. Put it on social media. 

Child's birthday? Take a slefie. Put it on social media. 

New job? Take a selfie. Put it on social media. 

Nice meal? Take a selfie. Put it on social media. 

Got married? Take a selfie. Put it on social media. 

Performed Hajj/Umrah? Take a selfie. Put it on social media. 

New look? Take a selfie. Put it on social media. All done? 

Then we wonder why things go terribly wrong. 

Allah Almighty says 'And from the evil of the envier when he envies'. (113:5)

The Messenger صلى الله عليه وآله وصحبه وسلم said 'the evil eye is real'. (Hadeeth)

A private life, is a safe life. But it's difficult to kill the ego and desire, and not share half of our lives with half the world. 

May Allah Almighty protect us all from the evil eye

Ameen

[Bint e Aisha]

SELFIES AND SOCIAL MEDIA

When a supervisor says “I am watching you”, it is said in a threatening manner. Allah regularly reminds us in the Qur’an that He is the All-Seeing in a loving, merciful and compassionate manner. I was pondering over this, and social media came to mind. 

In our day and age, technology is considered the way forward and an obsession in our modern era. Whether young or old, you would be hard-pressed to find someone without a handheld device. Though a phone was designed to call and text, nowadays, the camera is a greater selling point. That is how Shaytan has made common the sin of taking pictures of living beings. 

Selfies which were once unheard of, have become very common now. It made me wonder, why do people do it? Why do people who would once upon a time, cycle to simply unwind, now cycle and video their journey? Or keep a log of their activities on social media, which they would have previously kept to themselves? Often it is an act of ostentation or vanity. Our concern lies with impressing people online, thus we share private aspects of our lives to draw attention. But in reality, only a few people may notice, some may be jealous and most people do not care. 

In contrast, Allah cares about what we do, He is the All-Seeing. Even when our cameras are off, His are still on. He is watching even when no-one else can. Technology can fail us. At times the camera dies whilst a person may think it is still on and recording. Allah never fails to watch and record us. 

Therefore, if you desire to show someone, show Allah. Want to impress someone? Impress Allah. If you impress people on social media you may just get a few likes, comments and shares and that is all. However, if you impress Allah He will grant you Jannah, a reward far greater than we can possibly imagine. A seeker will always find what he seeks. Seek people, you will never be able to acquire their pleasure. Seek Allah and you will acquire Him, via His mercy in this life and His honorable presence in the afterlife. 

May Allah rid our hearts of ostentation, vanity and all such evil qualities, Aameen. 

— Hazrat Ml. Dawood Seedat حفظه الله 

Above is an article taken from www.islaahiadvices.com. It is an extract from Hazrat’s talk on 25/09/17. To listen to the full talk, please click here.

[Bint e Aisha]

[ummtaalib]

 

 

[ummtaalib]

[ummtaalib]

Accept responsibility when it’s your's! (From al-Miftah) It has become a common trend nowadays for people to pass on information with the following disclaimer: ‘Retweets are not necessarily endorsements’ or: ‘The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily that of the editor.’ Whilst this may be a legal shield in this world, in no way does it absolve one in the court of Allah! We are indeed responsible for whatever we say, write, pass on or share. One who is sharing information actually assumes the position of a muballigh (preacher). Every preacher is duty bound to verify the information he shares and to ensure he isn’t a carter of falsehood. The gem of the last century, Shaykh ‘Abdul Hay Laknawi (rahimahullah) writes: ‘If the view is baseless, it is not permissible to quote it, but for the motive of pointing out its flaw... ...it is not permissible to remain silent whilst quoting it, which gives the impression of it being correct.’ (Tadhkiratur Rashid, pg.74) Let’s ask ourselves the following questions: • If we do not endorse what we are propagating, then why are we spreading it?! • Why do we want for others what we do not want for ourselves?! • What is the purpose of publicising such information? Whatever the answer to the above, we are still responsible in Allah’s court. Many of us seem to be unaware of this. As Received Some of us have the habit of adding the following disclaimer at the end of text messages: ‘As received’. This may be a legitimate form of precaution, but one should still weigh up the information before passing it on. If it seems legitimate, but one is not completely sure, then one may add this note when sharing it. All of the ‘disclaimers’ discussed in this article are a result of the ill habit of passing/sharing whatever we receive or discover, without verification. One who passes everything he receives, without verification is considered a liar in the Hadith of Rasulullah (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam).   كفى بالمرء كذبا أن يحدث بكل ما سمع

[Bint e Aisha]

What is Dopamine and why is it killing our Imaan. 

Do you recall the days when we would actually read the Quran and other Islamic books or when we even used to make Dhikr. Maybe we still do, but you must admit it's not as much as it used to be. 

Do you remember reading the Signs of the Final Hour - do you remember the feeling of "what else will happen next"? 

Social Media Giants have created this artificial way to increase Dopamine effects in us and they openly admit that this was their idea and plan from day 1! 

This article is about the neurotransmitter and not the medication. 

Are you addicted to social media? Does your heart skip a beat when you receive a Tweet? If the answer is yes, then you can blame your brain, or rather, a particular chemical in it called dopamine. 

And while the world becomes even more engrossed in social media, so do individuals who display addiction tendencies to certain sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, What's App, Messenger and so on. 

In the brain, dopamine functions as a neurotransmitter—a chemical released by neurons (nerve cells) to send signals to other nerve cells. The brain includes several distinct dopamine pathways, one of which plays a major role in the motivational component of reward-motivated behavior.The anticipation of most types of rewards increases the level of dopamine in the brain, and many addictive drugs increase dopamine neuronal activity. Other brain dopamine pathways are involved in motor control and in controlling the release of various hormones. These pathways and cell groups form a dopamine system which is neuromodulatory. 

Inside the brain, dopamine plays important roles in executive functions, motor control, motivation, arousal, reinforcement, and reward, as well as lower-level functions including lactation, sexual gratification, and nausea. 

Dopamine is the cause of our ADDICTION to Social Media and the cause of us getting further and further away from Allah! 

 

When Dopamine Meets Social Media 

When someone receives an alert or notification on Facebook, this can be referred to as a "conditioned stimulus," Dr. Delgado says, "because it predicts a potential reward," like a new friend request or "like." 

"Dopamine is involved in responding to this conditioned stimulus because it has learned that the stimulus predicts a reward." 

Dopamine, therefore, could be one reason why many of us can't resist scrolling down and checking Facebook, or indeed setting up the notifications on the device so it "pings" with delight — and that's one reason for why they are addictive — and dopamine knows this. 

"It [dopamine] has learned the association between stimulus and reward — and in this case, it's the reinforced behavior of checking the phone or device," says Dr. Delgado. 

But when that alert turns out to be just an update or an advert, this is called a "prediction error," Dr. Delgado says. "Where the reward is less than expected and it devalues the experience. In this case, dopamine codes the prediction error signal and it helps adjusts expectations." 

Not only are we GLUED to our device, we are moving away from reality. We are creating a fake life, we are selling our information for free, we are selling out soul! 

A very hard hitting video that will prove to you that these GIANTS are doing this INTENTIONALLY 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0oL4MAOku8 

Ask your self Why they're doing this? 

If I said we are being lured by the flute of Dajjal, you'd say I'm stupid. But fact is, majority of these technological advances are nurturing us to become slaves of Shaitan and ready to jump into what will appear as Paradise when Dajjal shows it to the people. 

Source: Muftisays

[Bint e Aisha]

How many "likes"?

 

By Sister Sumaiyah Seedat

 

 

 

How many times have we posted a picture that we thought to be something great and to our surprise the picture receives a meager 10 "likes"?...Instant removal !

In our quest to boost our self-confidence, we have become egotistical and as fake as the filters we apply to our pictures on social media. Sadly, our lives have come down to us needing constant validation from others, some of whom are complete strangers to us! This is unhealthy because we build unrealistic views on life and suddenly what Allah Ta'ala has given to us is not enough.

 

 

We find fault with our complexion, our weight, height even the colour of our hair requires some sort of modification. We are indeed so vulnerable. The filters applied to pictures are deceptive and brainwashing and yet so many of us strive to look that way.

 

"You will never look like the girl on the front page of the magazine, as even that girl doesn't look like her original self"

The harms of abusing social media are not only the inferiority-complex it gives its users, it also commonly leads to a narcissistic approach to life. One has reduced their self-worth to the amount of 'likes' they accumulate on their 'selfies' and thus feeding their ego's when they have indeed overlooked that "Allah does not like the arrogant, the boastful" (Qur'an An-Nisa, 4:36).

 

Really, our beauty is sacred; we are beautiful because we are the work of Allah! You do not need validation from any human being.

The next time you are about to post a 'selfie' that you are convinced is going to get you many likes, ask yourself 3 things:

1. Would I be comfortable showing this picture to my children?
2. Would I be pleased if they grew up to do the same?
3. If I were to take my last breath tomorrow, would my pictures work for or against me in my grave?

Islam is not about doom and gloom, but in fact it's about being in peace and harmony with our Creator 'Ar-Rahmaan'.

 
"Never despair of the mercy of your Lord"(Qur'an Az-Zumar 39:53)

No matter how far you may have strayed, do not let Shaitaan (Satan) misguide you into thinking that there is no way back, the doors of forgiveness are always open.

Always remember, a pretty face is temporary and inner beauty more important than outer beauty. Rather aspire to "be so beautiful that others can't take their HEARTS off you"

Source: eislam

[Bint e Aisha]