Help! Pls

format_quote Originally Posted by Bedouin

Wa alaykum salam,


How does Rashad/Rasheedah affect you or anyone other than Rashad?

It was a prank. Against Aisha. She did not mind it.

Yes, mods can post in member names. They can obviously change settings too.

Just by signing up on this forum, we members allow moderators to access many of our settings. They have the power to alter all settings and this is true for all forums. They can even see what our email addresses are. Mods, by value of their position, have power over us. So by default us members have to give some level of trust to those in charge.

Frankly, I'm disgusted by posts like yours who show such little confidence in the mods and jump to the worst conclusions.

As for your calls to say the prank was unethical abuse of power, that's just nonsense because the prank was against someone they know will take it lightly. If it was against some tightly wound person like yourself who they know would take it negatively, then THAT would be abuse. Not against someone who is a 'friend'.

By the way, have any posts ever been made in your name throughout your entire stay on this forum? No? Yeah, thought so.

The mods have never and will never inshaAllah abuse their power to inflict malicious harm on the members here.


You, as a member, simply cannot be sure of ANYTHING. Just like you cannot be sure the imam leading your salah did in fact perform wudhu! The fact is, you have no option but to trust those in charge of you.

Nobody here except Aisha is affected by this in any serious way. She clearly is not upset nor offended nor hurt.

Just relax and stop trying to be a goody two shoes.

If you don't trust the mods here, then go elsewhere - hopefully the FACELESS, RANDOM and TOTAL STRANGERS on that site will give you more reason to trust them than the FACELESS, RANDOM and TOTAL STRANGERS in charge here(!).

Before feeling "disgusted" at someone's feedback, and telling them to go elsewhere; its important to consider that although you may have been playing part of the prank, others weren't.

format_quote Originally Posted by Bedouin

NOW, she knows it was a prank - so what on Earth is she getting so bothered for? Knowing full well that such 'abuse of power' only happened as a joke? What gives her the right to jump to the worst of conclusions that she did?

I'm disgusted by her accusatory attitude and lack of husn al dhaan and to top it off, her arrogant shouting. Hence why I'm replying in kind to her.

Pranks have limits, and she's pointed out something, which is acceptable- from something which isn't.

I'm sure you know enough basics of Islam, to understand this point; maybe better than I do. If you still feel that, anyone who questions such a prank, shouldn't be on LI; by all means, I'm included in that list. If the staff agree with you; they can ban my account. They're welcome to do so, and I'm not objecting to it.

As for the comment about "strangers"; no, older member aren't much of strangers to me. Especially zAk; he's the only staff member I really know, as an old friend. And I know a former staff member Uthman, who is less active on forums. I have no trouble trusting those I know, and I respect Brother Woodrow; he's wiser than many on the board, and very intelligent, and has earned a place of much respect and trust.

I've even met a few members of LI; I can hardly agree that they're "faceless".

format_quote Originally Posted by Bedouin

Wa alaykum salam akhee,

Someone who questions such a prank for proper reasons without unnecessary accusations and without an arrogant tone, can do so as much as they want and I am sure the moderators will be kind enough to take their feedback into consideration with due attention and humility inshaAllah.

However, there is not how the sister behaved. Shouting and bringing in unnecessary accusations that cast doubt into the minds of other members about the moderators is hardly an appropriate means to approach this matter, not to mention devoid of tact and wisdom.

For what it is worth, the ONLY unfair thing on the members here is that you people were 'fooled' and misled. I'm sure the moderators will be kind enough to apologise for this, if this is what you people want. Although I will say pranks such as the one mentioned have in the past been a means of lightening the forum atmosphere and have always been appreciated by members and mods alike.

There is absolutely nothing new that has arisen from this prank that should affect you guys in any way, shape or form.

The sister's original post starts with a premise: 'mods have the power to change out account statuses and post under our user names and change our settings as well' and from this she comes to the conclusion: "This is clearly an abuse of power and it is downright UNETHICAL".

This does not even make sense. What she is saying here, is that just because mods have the ABILITY to do something unethical, they WILL in fact do it.

I mean big whoop? So the mods have power over us and can do things to our accounts. Isn't that already taken for granted?

She has absolutely NO reason to assume mods will abuse power, unless she in her mind already has mistrust for them.
I wasn't talking to you. I was referring to Manaal who seems to have trouble trusting the mods.

However, if you trust the mods as much as you say you do, then you shouldn't let a little prank get in the way of this trust.

I know the sister's post sounded a bit harsh, but looking at the nature of the situation; its uncommon to find people who enjoy being misled, and made fools of. There's no need for an apology, but those behind the prank should know that such behaviour isn't acceptable, no matter what position of authority is afforded to a person. We must all know our limits. The purpose of this forum, has been Da'wah; at least as I remember it, when it was relatively new.

Setting examples of something, where transgressing limits is seen as "acceptable"; isn't something we as Muslims should take lightly.

If she's not making sense, then nor am I. We're both talking about transgression of limits.

FAQ: Guidelines includes this:

format_quote Originally Posted by Bedouin

I disagree. You both are talking different things.

Your argument is transgression of limits within pranks. I believe what you are saying is understandable and I can accept it.

Manal's argument is that mods are not worthy of trust, essentially because they have 'power' over us.

Anyway, I will leave it here. It's not really my place to comment to begin with.

I apologise for any misconduct in my tone here. Make dua for my guidance please.

The sister clarified her point, in the following post.

format_quote Originally Posted by manaal

Plus, we all knopw that joking and having a good laugh is acceptable in Islam. But there are limits. A joke gone too far can hurt people and the person responsible for it can lose respect. Also, it is haraam to lie even as a joke. Insha Allah I shall say no more until the mods see our posts Bro Ahmed and Sis Yanoorah.

format_quote Originally Posted by Aisha

I would just like to say that the adab in this thread has been appalling. It is disconcerting to see respected senior members behaving so disrespectfully with each other.

Shaytan is an avowed enemy of ours and he will do anything in his ability to sow discord amongst us. May Allah protect us from his ploy, ameen.

We are all brothers and sisters at the end of the day. We should come to an amicable solution to this problem inshaAllah.

This prank has caused considerable upset as is evident by the feedback of members. Knowing the moderators who were behind the joke, I can attest that they would not have done this had it been known it would cause the level of trouble and offense that is has. It was a bit of light-hearted attempt to humour not only the mods, but the members too. Nothing more.

Let us move forward and put this issue behind us. I sincerely apologise on behalf of the staff and hope members will continue to trust in the judgement of the staff.

JazakAllah Khayr

The only solution is, for those behind it to learn a lesson, and not repeat such activities.

And no, its not required to apologise; the requirement is to try to set a good example.

format_quote Originally Posted by Bedouin

She didn't clarify her point. She added to it. Her main point is the first one that was made in this thread.

Moderators are expected to set a good example, yes but you guys are simply blowing this out of proportion. In essence, it was simply a (well intentioned) joke. If you must know, it was intended as part of 'initiation' against Aisha.

i. Aisha's account was banned.
ii. Posts were made in her account.

If you've been around for the last couple of years, actions similar to the above have been done many times in the past and all of those times, we have had APPRECIATION from the members (like I said, it was a means of bringing lightheartedness into the forum).

To be honest, you should just relax.

Appreciation of human beings, doesn't make an action acceptable.

As for the sister's earlier post; it seemed more emotional, while the second was more clarification.

Appreciation of human beings, doesn't make an action acceptable.

The only haram act here is where a lie has been told as part of joke. An easy mistake to make. Don't get confused, I'm not saying it's acceptable, just that of the sins committed daily by people, this one is often and easily 'overlooked'.

I'm sure you wish well for your brethren. Do make dua for the forgiveness of the mods and for their guidance.

As for the sister's earlier post; it seemed more emotional, while the second was more clarification.

Nope. It wasn't a clarification but an ADDITION. This is clear to see when you look at what she started the post with:

Plus, we all knopw that joking....

'Plus' meaning 'in addition'.

That aside, her great 'clarification' does not even correlate with ANYTHING she said in her earlier post.

for those behind it to learn a lesson, and not repeat such activities.

InshaAllah we can all learn a lesson from this.

Are you done?

format_quote Originally Posted by Bedouin

The only haram act here is where a lie has been told as part of joke. An easy mistake to make.

I'm sure you wish well for your brethren. Do make dua for the forgiveness of the mods and for their guidance. Don't get confused, I'm not saying it's acceptable, just that of the sins committed daily by people, this one is often overlooked. Perhaps the

Nope. It wasn't a clarification but an ADDITION. This is clear to see when you look at what she started the post with:

'Plus' meaning 'in addition'.

That aside, her great 'clarification' does not even correlate with ANYTHING she said in her earlier post.

InshaAllah we can all learn a lesson from this.

Are you done?

No matter, how you understand that post; the point of right and wrong is clear. I think we can agree upon that.

format_quote Originally Posted by Bedouin

Are you done?

No.

format_quote Originally Posted by Bedouin

What is it that you want?

The question "Are you done?", isn't one which I'm in any position to answer. Such questions should be directed, to those responsible for the prank; that's not me.

format_quote Originally Posted by Bedouin

When I asked if you were done, that was my way of asking if you had more to complain about.

Looking at your previous post, you said this: 'the requirement is to try to set a good example'.

This is what you want. Fair enough. InshaAllah mods will do this.

Now let's all step back and put this episode behind us. Agree?

Yes, I can agree to that. others may also agree to it.