Communication is an Art
Many arguments online between Muslims start with a lack of effective communication. Conveying our points to others in an effective manner is a skill that takes time to acquire. We are all learning and may make mistakes in the process.
It is common for us to lose our tempers, be unnecessarily harsh to each other, and label each other. But none of this benefits the ummah in any way. To master communication, we need to improve our emotional intelligence.
Here are 7 tips for effective communication:
1. Be Precise – Make your point clear and do not hide it under a lot of jargon and fluff
2. Be Concise – It is sunnah to be concise. Say what needs to be said and nothing more
3. Be Gentle – You do not know the other person’s story, trauma, and trials. Convey the message with wisdom and compassion
4. Be sincere to others – If your goal is to score points or put people down, then you are wasting time and causing unnecessary division. The goal should be to call people to the way of Allah for the sake of Allah.
5. Avoid using words or statements that can be misleading – Analyse every sentence for words or phrases that could be worded better. Do not purposely leave ambiguous statements that can be misinterpreted, causing unnecessary drama.
6. Do not communicate when angry or upset – avoid the keyboard when emotionally overwhelmed. Get back into the conversation when you are in control and can convey your point calmly.
7. Understand the other person’s perspective – Understand the other person’s perspective and story, so that you can find common ground. If you fail to understand others, you just speak past them, not to them.
We all can improve how we communicate online. These seven tips can go along way to minimizing drama and building bridges between the divisions in the ummah.
We ask Allah for steadfastness, guidance, and clear speech.
