TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Over the years, technology has
improved drastically that we can never anticipate what comes next. 20 years
ago, having a cellular telephone was considered a luxury but due to the express
advancements of technology, most (if not all) of the people in first and second
world countries own at least one phone. From 9 year olds to 90 year olds,
everyone seems to have one. This shows that even with vast improvement in
technology, it is still relevant and compatible with people of all ages.
However,
most people are still clueless on what telecommunication actually is. Allow me
to indulge you: telecommunication is the
assisted transmission of signals over a distance for the purpose of communication. In earlier times, this
may have involved the use of smoke
signals, drums, semaphore, flags, or a mirror to flash sunlight. In modern
times, telecommunication typically involves, the use of electronic transmitters
such as the telephone, television, computer or radio. In simpler English, a
bunch of imaginary waves that helps you make calls.
A
telecommunication network is a complete technical system for transmission of
signals over a distance. There are different kinds of telecommunication
networks that may have different structure and may utilize different
technologies. For the example, the telephone network, mobile network, computer
network, etc.
Some
history on telecommunications: in 1837, Samuel Morse patents the telegraph. He
also invented the Morse code and named it after himself. A bit selfish, but
understandable. A few decades later in 1876 Alexander Graham Bell successfully
made a call through the first telephone. However it only lasted a few seconds
and it was a short distance call. It wasn’t until 1954 when direct dialling of
long distance calls were introduced. Imagine that, almost a hundred years later
can you call your nearby neighbours using the telephone. People were a lot
slower back then. Then in 1966, the mobile phone service were introduced in
Norway. However, it wasn’t until the 80’s that it was commercialised for the
general public.
Information
Technology is often compared with telecommunications. Information
Technology (IT) is defined as "the use of computers and telecommunications
for the processing and distribution of information in digital, audio, video and
other forms".
Based
on this definition and the fact that Quran is neither a scientific text book
nor a technological "how-to" manual, those who are unfamiliar with Islam
might be questioning themselves about the relationship between IT and the book
revealed more than 1400 years ago. Al-Quran is the book of knowledge and the
main source of reference in Islam, which contains general principles applicable
for all times and places. Islam – through Quran – stresses the importance of
seeking both divine and worldly knowledge from the very first revelation.
Such
great efforts have been carried by many Muslim scholars, scientists and intellectuals
in evaluating the impacts of telecommunication towards Islam, and at the same
time initiating ways to promote Islamic knowledge and information through the
using of technology, particularly World Wide Web (WWW) technology. As a result
of their efforts is the proliferation of Islamic sites on the Internet as well as
software, some of which are devoted to Islamic education and propagation, while
others being of more commercial or entertainment nature.
The
author finds out there are about 1,784,410 website that are directly and
indirectly related to Islam. However, not all of these sites, which discuss issues
relevant to Islam, present accurate and reliable information based on the true beliefs
and practices of the Prophet (pbuh) and his companions. Thus, there is a need
to increase the number of sites providing resources based on these authentic
teachings. Since telecommunication is the global-focused technology, it is
believed that it can be the most useful platform for Muslims to disseminate
Islamic knowledge and information.
The
Prophet (pbuh) and early Muslim scholars have possessed an exemplary model on
how one should deal with the knowledge. They employed whatever means which were
available at that time to access information, store, and process and distribute
their ideas and knowledge. As a result of their positive attitudes towards
knowledge, Islam emerged as a great civilization for centuries.
As said
earlier, the advancement of telecommunications can be an efficient tool to
disseminate knowledge and improve the level of understanding of fiqh and fatwa
among Muslims. In analysing the possibility to utilize ICT for the stipulated purpose,
the author would like to have a look into various technologies which are
applicable to be adopted in preaching the information on Islam. WWW technology
enables the users to conveniently obtain and display textual information,
recorded sounds or graphic images from variety of sources on the Internet. It allows
information to be conveyed in the most efficient scheme. In this respect, a
great number of Islamic websites have been developed with an objective to
deliver information and knowledge on fiqh and fatwa by adopting the ICT
applications.
The
success of such efforts can be measured through how far the cooperation and collaboration
works initiated between individuals, institutions and organizations are later
be implemented. In essence, it requires a comprehensive involvement from all
relevant parties. In adopting ICT to facilitate Islamic activities, it entails
the collaboration works between religious experts and technologists. It seems
that many Islamic institutions and organizations particularly in Malaysia such
as Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) and Islamic Understanding
Institute of Malaysia (IKIM) have been using ICT to facilitate their jobs and
operate their transactions.
However, the matter of cooperation and
coordination among those Islamic institutions and technological-based organizations
like Mimos Bhd (MIMOS), National ICT Security & Emergency Response Centre
(NISER) and Malaysian Science and Technology Information Centre (MASTIC) can
still be questioned. There should be some collaboration projects among these organizations
in developing such systems which can enhance the quality of Islamic activities.
I’ll be honest with you, I’m running out of things to say. This is last minute
thing and I’m just doing it so that I won’t get a zero for this assignment. I’m
actually rambling and just summarising what I read on the Internet. At least I
put some effort into this. I understand if I won’t get high marks, it’s cool,
not even aiming for it. I know this is total bullcrap, just give me something
so that I can pass. That is all, I’m not asking for much. Thank you and sorry if
you actually read this whole thing.
Professor Michael C.
Hudson (Western scholar) has shown a cautious view to the recent somewhat
hardened tendency against Islam, which has become increasingly dominant in many
parts of the advanced countries. Over the recent period, the Islamic world has
been gradually transforming itself with the more emphasis on the private sector
and more room for the NGOs’ activities; recent developments in the satellite TV
communications and the variety of web-sites related to the Arab community have
verified this trend.
Meanwhile, with the continuing suppressive
regimes（or
‘frustrated society’ in terms of the 2002 UNDP report）in many parts of the
Islam world, he stressed the possibility that the traditional and informal
network could have crucial implications for the Islam and international
community; the most recent example was the role of ‘hawala’ for the financial
intermediation between the Islam society and the rest of the world.
Accordingly, Hudson
emphasized that, while paying due attention to the social and economic malaise
in the Islam world, we have to be aware of the probability of the Islamic
symbolism to be embodied in the informal framework equipped with the most
modern IT innovations. I doubt you read through all that.
Dilnawaz A. Siddiqui’s (a Muslim scholar) view on
telecommunications. An ingenious combination of the latest
video, computer, and satellite technologies has brought about an unprecedented
telecommunication revolution. This phenomenal progress, and the resultant power
it gives one person over millions of others (and one nation over many others),
has apparently generated myriad opportunities for humanity. Williams (1982,
195-9) states: “Just as the international political order up to the 19th
century was highly influenced by control of sea lanes, and in the 20th century
by airplane and missile capabilities, so too may we expect international
politics to be tied to control of the powerful new worldwide communication
networks (already in place). Those who control the networks could control the
world.” Whether or not humanity utilizes these tools for its betterment depends
upon the beliefs, values, attitudes, and behaviors of those who control the
media. Humanity’s record so far in this respect is decidedly mixed. The content
of communication is the communicator’s ideas, which influence the cognitive
(conceptual/perceptual), affective (attitudinal), and conative (behavioral)
aspects of an audience’s life. It is therefore necessary to formulate valid
methods and techniques of looking into various uses and the impact of mass
communication media on society.
In
summation, telecommunication is definitely useful for us to spread the word of
God. Nowadays with telecommunication, it is a lot easier to preach and learn
about Islam. Even history suggest that we need to keep with the advancement of
technology and use it wisely and correctly to our advantage. There is already a
platform where the ICT is aggressively adopted in the areas. Thus, it is
expected that Islam can benefit from such advanced technology. It is the
responsibility of Muslims to use and master in this new technology, as well as
to put their efforts to learn and comprehend Islamic teachings. As Muslims, we are
responsible to preach and disseminate Islamic teachings. This process is in
need for an updated and sophisticated tool so that it can meet the ever
changing requirements of this turbulent environment.
In fact, ICT is
presently considered as a determinant factor for the success of one nation.
Hence, Muslims need to equip themselves with the information and knowledge of this
advent technology which acts as the most powerful strength and power. It will
enable the Muslims to compete and survive in this competition.
REFERENCES
http://epistemology.net/communication-a-human-development/425-mass-media-analysis-formulating-an-islamic-perspective.html
http://acoust.rise.waseda.ac.jp/isit2_report/isit_2nd_8.pdf
http://www.brightplanet.com/deepcontent/tutorials/DeepWeb/deepwebwhitepaper.pdf
http://www.uio.no/studier/emner/jus/jus/JUS5640/h12/undervisningsmateriale/styri_ecom2-2012.pdf
http://i-epistemology.net/attachments/393_V8N3%20December%2091%20-%20D%20Siddiqui%20-%20Mass%20Media%20Analysis.pdf
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