Islam in Virtual Worlds: Islamonline.net in "Second Life"
Friday, August 14, 2009 Read more → animation, community, hajj, islam, islamic values, social issue, technology, the diva In the name of God, entirely Compassionate, especially Merciful | Peace be with you
In the name of God, compassionate & merciful بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ | Peace be with you السلام عليكم
(From Maddie's blog)
If you don't know about the most popular virtual world "Second Life", then you are missing out a LOT. Especially if you're Muslim.
I started using Second Life last year and found out about this virtual sim (virtual island or place in there) made and owned by IslamOnline.net . I discovered a hidden gem that most people don't know about!
It's a wonderful community filled with Islamic and Arab culture related projects and events! I was there too, hanging out with visitors, help the managers from time to time with their events and such. May Allah bless them all. They really have done and still do such a special thing for us and others curious about Islam.
What's so special about IOL (islamonline)?
Well it'd take such a LONG post to explain and describe it all..but here's some pictures I took myself while either visiting or assisting the managers in IOL.
These are outdated according to how much better it looks now, plus I usually use LOW graphic settings, so SL looks 100x better than this!
The Virtual Ka'bah (YES!). Looks better now and in high graphic settings.
Arial view of part of IOL's sim. Here you see places for the Virtual Hajj Tours. Such as the Ka'bah, market place, Ramyeh el Jumarat (Stone Casting/throwing) and more but can't be seen unless I went further ahead.
Discussion/Hangout Tent, the IOL main building (which looks like the real life one btw! I've been there), Palestinian Holocaust Memorial Museum (far left), Music hall and clothes vendors (top right).
Gathering people for a Virtual Hajj Tour :). Usually there's more people than this!
Virtual Jumm'ah Prayers :D. I loved this idea so much. I tried my best to help around, but I have to owe it all to Ruuh Cassini who made it possible! :D (Prayers don't count, they are symbolic, but we do listen to a lecture together and exchange thoughts afterward).
The incredible and AMAZING Ruuh Cassini :D. That's Ruuh's "Sheikh" avatar. (superman music plays)
Me demonstrating ramyeh al jumarat with my ol' noob looking avatar lol.
Raymeh Al Jummarat from outside. Note that the graphics look bad because I had them on a low setting. I can't emphasize that enough!
I miss Islamonline.net SO MUCH :(. I wish I didn't quit helping them out...but I had my own problems to sort out and stuff :(. I really do miss the staff there. They were like my friends...<3.oh> 
One of the Discussion events I hosted :D! It was exciting and I loved all the visitors that came. Muslim and Non-Muslim alike :). I think we were discussing about the image of women in Islam or something here.
My hubby and I hanging out in IOL :)
I know, I know, what am I doing dressed like that in the virtual bait-Al'Haram? (Masjid in Kabah). Well, sometimes you tend to take that lightly, since it is a *virtual* world.
Of course it depends on the place there and such. You can build ANYTHING there. But hey, it's not very easy to use at first (but now they have a 'getting started' PDF file for ease); it has so many options and possibilities, there is adult content there (but not in the latest version, they claim), and your avatar won't look THAT good unless you get a really decent "skin" and things like that. Yes there is an economy there as well. Maybe a recession too.
So if you want the best of the best, or land, then you need to pay (VERY little). However there are many other options. I never had to buy anything to get what I need in there, since there's plenty of free malls, so no worries :).
For me to talk about what makes Second Life more amazing...would need plenty of other posts :P.
But it is DEFINITELY NOT A GAME! :))
♥ Madiha M.K ♥
The Diva
(From Maddie's blog)
If you don't know about the most popular virtual world "Second Life", then you are missing out a LOT. Especially if you're Muslim.
I started using Second Life last year and found out about this virtual sim (virtual island or place in there) made and owned by IslamOnline.net . I discovered a hidden gem that most people don't know about!
It's a wonderful community filled with Islamic and Arab culture related projects and events! I was there too, hanging out with visitors, help the managers from time to time with their events and such. May Allah bless them all. They really have done and still do such a special thing for us and others curious about Islam.
What's so special about IOL (islamonline)?
Well it'd take such a LONG post to explain and describe it all..but here's some pictures I took myself while either visiting or assisting the managers in IOL.
These are outdated according to how much better it looks now, plus I usually use LOW graphic settings, so SL looks 100x better than this!
The Virtual Ka'bah (YES!). Looks better now and in high graphic settings.
Arial view of part of IOL's sim. Here you see places for the Virtual Hajj Tours. Such as the Ka'bah, market place, Ramyeh el Jumarat (Stone Casting/throwing) and more but can't be seen unless I went further ahead.
Discussion/Hangout Tent, the IOL main building (which looks like the real life one btw! I've been there), Palestinian Holocaust Memorial Museum (far left), Music hall and clothes vendors (top right).
Gathering people for a Virtual Hajj Tour :). Usually there's more people than this!
Virtual Jumm'ah Prayers :D. I loved this idea so much. I tried my best to help around, but I have to owe it all to Ruuh Cassini who made it possible! :D (Prayers don't count, they are symbolic, but we do listen to a lecture together and exchange thoughts afterward).
The incredible and AMAZING Ruuh Cassini :D. That's Ruuh's "Sheikh" avatar. (superman music plays)
Me demonstrating ramyeh al jumarat with my ol' noob looking avatar lol.
Raymeh Al Jummarat from outside. Note that the graphics look bad because I had them on a low setting. I can't emphasize that enough!
One of the Discussion events I hosted :D! It was exciting and I loved all the visitors that came. Muslim and Non-Muslim alike :). I think we were discussing about the image of women in Islam or something here.
My hubby and I hanging out in IOL :)I know, I know, what am I doing dressed like that in the virtual bait-Al'Haram? (Masjid in Kabah). Well, sometimes you tend to take that lightly, since it is a *virtual* world.
Me, my mom (she's the little girl :P), best friend Su and good friend Noorah hanging out in IOL inside the Haram. Eating Cheetos lol.
Here's what Second Life REALLY looks like in higher graphic settings (It's a virtual world, so IOL is just a needle in the hay stack):Well that's about it I guess. I'll post more if I find andtake any other pictures insha'Allah! :D
Of course it depends on the place there and such. You can build ANYTHING there. But hey, it's not very easy to use at first (but now they have a 'getting started' PDF file for ease); it has so many options and possibilities, there is adult content there (but not in the latest version, they claim), and your avatar won't look THAT good unless you get a really decent "skin" and things like that. Yes there is an economy there as well. Maybe a recession too.
So if you want the best of the best, or land, then you need to pay (VERY little). However there are many other options. I never had to buy anything to get what I need in there, since there's plenty of free malls, so no worries :).
For me to talk about what makes Second Life more amazing...would need plenty of other posts :P.
But it is DEFINITELY NOT A GAME! :))
♥ Madiha M.K ♥
The Diva
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