Is it possible to declare the internet and text-based chat rooms forbidden (haram), and hold their owners accountable for their sins, based on the hadith: "Whoever introduces a good practice in Islam will have the reward of it and the reward of whoever acts upon it after him, without anything being diminished from their rewards. And whoever introduces a bad practice in Islam will bear the sin of it and the sin of whoever acts upon it after him, without anything being diminished from their sins"?

The aforementioned Hadith is authentic, and its meaning is an urging to hasten to do good deeds so that the doer becomes a role model for those who come after him. This is clear from the occasion of the Hadith's mention when the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, encouraged the Companions to give charity. The first to give charity was a man from the Ansar, and then people followed him. The use of the internet or other unlawful means cannot be inferred from this Hadith, as the ruling on these means depends on how they are used. The first to use them for good establishes a good practice (Sunnah), thus earning its reward and the reward of those who act upon it after him. Similarly, the first to use them for evil bears its burden and the burden of those who act upon it. This applies to the arrow maker about whom the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Indeed, Allah admits three people to Paradise for a single arrow: its maker who intended good in its making, the one who hands it over, and the one who shoots it."