Vlogging for the Modern Muslimah
There is no doubt that the digital age has taken the world by storm, from cancel culture to trends and influencing. BookTok has made one of the biggest impacts, not only for readers but for authors as well. People have taken to vlogging—video blogging—as a way of creating an online presence. Others monetise their vlogging and are paid to advertise on behalf of companies.
Whatever the reason for this surge in online activity, the one thing that a self-published author should not overlook is a hungry audience. Here are some helpful Muslimah tips for starting your journey into the world of vlogging. No amount of likes, comments, shares, or influencer status is worth the price of your Imaan.
- Cover your Auwrah. We do not have control over who watches our vlogs, and we do not have the option of excluding non-mahram men. Ensure that your arms, neck, and ankles are covered when posting pictures or vlogs.
- Ensure that all strands of your hair are covered. Let’s face it, sometimes that rebellious strand of short fringe-like hair wants to be the centre of attention and peeks out of its hiding place. A quick mirror check before hitting record can save the entire vlog.
- Wear a long-sleeved T-shirt under your wide-sleeved abaya. We unconsciously lift our hands to fix our scarves and sometimes uncover our entire forearm in the process. A long-sleeved T-shirt protects our arms from unnecessary exposure.
- Be careful of how you speak. The manner in which your voice carries in the vlog should not be alluring. Stick to the facts and share your information or message. This does not mean sounding robotic or angry.
- Watch what you share. As you ease into the comfort of vlogging, you may become addicted to the likes, views, or shares, encouraging you to share more. Draw a line regarding what you will share and what is not for public view, and stick to it. Set rules regarding your time usage and postings, e.g. posting two vlogs per week.
- Do not expose your sins on a vlog. Watched a movie? Your followers don’t need to know. Be careful of posting your sins on social media, like birthday parties, series you’ve watched, songs you like, etc.
- Do not add music to your vlogs to get more views. Now, this one is precarious because some Nasheeds have musical backgrounds while others have a vocal beatbox background. Sometimes it’s hard to tell them apart, and mistakes can be made—this takes a trial and error phase to get right. If you want to play it safe, choose a vocals-only Nasheed or even Zikr. The reason for this is simply because we accumulate the sins of those who watch our music-filled videos.
- Avoid boasting about your gains or wins. This one is a balancing act. Share your wins as a writer and the wins of your work, but avoid showing off your things like a new laptop or a new car. Avoid showing off the wins of your children and family members as well.
- Shaming, hating, and replying to negative comments. This one is simple—not every action deserves an equal reaction. Do not shame anyone, let the haters hate, and ignore negative comments. Some people thrive on online fights and can change the entire narrative to make you the bad guy. Do not fall into that trap—ignore, ignore, and ignore. It’s not worth your peace.
- There has been an influx of people replying to comments with a video. It may be a trend or a call for attention, but I would advise staying out of it. Also, the negative comment is posted on such videos, thereby exposing someone else’s sins.
- Not every trend needs to be jumped on. You can be different and create Halaal content or even only book content and stay within the laws of Islam. Remember, in a time when every kernel of information is not sacred, you can choose to keep your life details sacred.
- Avoid vlogging in anger. Had a fight with your kids? Your husband or brother is acting like a mentally unstable gorilla? Do not complain to your fans or the world. You will end up with an array of unwanted advice, uncalled-for chastisement, and a duet vlog of someone laughing at you. Keep your vlogs within the parameters of what they are about.
The above are just some points to keep in mind when vlogging. Please feel free to add more points so that we can all learn and strive to attain Jannah together. This post was not written to shame or call out anyone; it is simply here to help. Remember, sharing and supporting each other in real life and online can help us all rise together.
About the author
Atiyya Dawood Karkbelkar
Atiyya Dawood Karbelkar is a self-published author and blogger. She has published two books and has contributed to a few anthologies. She is also a writer for the Muslim Woman Magazine. Atiyya is passionate about telling wholesome stories that move her readers. Her books are available at Uppercrust – Lenasia, M.I Nanabhai – Fordsburg, Darun Nashr – Lenasia, and Cii – Ormonde