The world is in the midst of a digital revolution and with it the way we think about value is changing. One of the most fascinating manifestations of this new perspective is the application of non-fungible symbols (NFTs) to represent and convey religious values and principles.
NFT is a very new technology, but there is a lot of excitement about its potential. There is also a lot of enthusiasm for the possibilities that NFTs offer in various sectors, including education and religion. The ability of NFTs to help teach and transmit religious values and beliefs is particularly remarkable.
Cointelegraph met with Dibali Shukla, founder and managing director of MetaDee, a new NFT marketplace in London that has just launched exclusive handwritten scripts dating back to the beginning of Islam. The unique Qur’an manuscript, which is believed to have been composed between 632 and 1100 AD, is now preserved in the Al-Haris family in Saudi Arabia. The copies were documented and verified by the Oxford University Research Laboratory of Archeology and Art History (RLAHA) after a thorough investigation.
Shukla, a long-time collector and fan of art, told Cointelegraph that she is compelled to connect the physical and virtual worlds. She noted that in the world of NFT, a digital art token functions as the equivalent of an actual artwork. While explaining the role of NFTs in Muslim societies, she highlighted the following:
“The sacred books of antiquity, for example, are often heard but rarely appreciated in their full essence. Today, technology allows access to new treasures from its exclusive realm, while at the same time demonstrating its goodness to the common people.”
In the context of whether NFTs are halal or haram, Shukla replied that Islam is usually taught with the aim of adapting to the ever-changing demands of the world. She points to crescentwealth.com.au, which states that NFTs can be used as a high-tech financial cure against inflation. She noted that Muslims, on the other hand, should keep in mind that the NFT must adhere to halal principles.
Digitizing sacred art allows it to be easily available to the general public as well as to Muslims who follow Islamic culture, according to Shukla. She added that it helps spread important messages from Muslim scholars and poets and the timeless teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
“With access to non-Muslims and other institutions, the NFT is easily accessible using a mobile phone, laptop, and a variety of tools.”
Shukla is a believer in the ability of blockchain to provide value and distribute Islamic knowledge. She said universities may maintain it on their own cloud or network while users can access the information across platforms, adding that:
“Digital learning and project sharing are inherent features of NFT technology. Education technology lowers the cost of education, making inclusive learning easier for the disadvantaged.”
When asked about the potential benefit of using NFTs properly for the Muslim community, Shukla said the NFT era appears to be good times for the Muslim community. She cited MetaDee’s NFT version of 1,500-year-old manuscripts of the Holy Qur’an. She called it “equivalent to entering a goldmine of cultural history” and noted that it would not have been possible had it not been numbered and symbolized.
