Epigraph:
We call to witness the Fig and the Olive, and Mount Sinai, and this Inviolate City, that We have created man in the best mold; then, if he works iniquity We cast him down as the lowest of the low, except those who believe and work righteousness, for them is an unending reward. After this, what is there to refute thee concerning the Judgment? Is not Allah the Best of Judges? (Al Quran 95: 1-8)
Remain ever inclined to God, not associating anything with Him. And whoso associates anything with God, falls, as it were, from a height, and the birds snatch him up, or the wind blows him away to a distant place. That is so. And whoso respects the sacred Signs of God — that indeed proceeds from the righteousness of hearts. (Al Quran 22:31-32)
Written and collected by Zia H Shah MD, Chief Editor of the Muslim Times
Ashley Madison is a Canadian online dating and social networking service launched in 2002, primarily targeting individuals seeking extramarital affairs. Its slogan, “Life is short. Have an affair,” underscores its controversial mission. Wikipedia
Several high-profile figures were exposed when hackers posted the customer data for all of Ashley Madison’s 37 million then users in 2015.
Netflix’s three-part docuseries in 2024 takes a closer look at the everyday people who signed up for the cheating website — and how the data leak affected their relationships and their lives.
“Rather than berating people who joined Ashley Madison we were much more interested in exploring why they were drawn to the site — what were they looking for? What was going on in their relationships? And crucially — what was their partner’s side of the story?” Toby Paton, the series director, wrote in a statement, per Variety.
Business Model and Membership
Unlike traditional dating platforms that operate on monthly subscriptions, Ashley Madison employs a credit-based system. Users purchase credits to initiate conversations, with men typically paying to start interactions. The platform also offers features like real-time chat, which consume credits over time. As of 2019, Ashley Madison reported having over 60 million members across 53 countries.
2015 Data Breach
In July 2015, a hacker group known as “The Impact Team” infiltrated Ashley Madison’s systems, obtaining sensitive user data, including emails, names, home addresses, and credit card information. They threatened to release this information unless the site was shut down. When their demands were not met, the hackers publicly released the data in August 2015, exposing millions of users and leading to significant personal and legal repercussions.
Controversies and Criticisms
Beyond facilitating infidelity, Ashley Madison has faced criticism for its operational practices. Investigations revealed the creation of fake female profiles and the use of bots to engage male users, misleading them about potential matches. Additionally, the platform charged users a fee to delete their profiles; however, the 2015 breach revealed that deleted data was not entirely removed from their servers.
Current Status
Despite the controversies, Ashley Madison remains active. The platform has reportedly increased its user base, with claims of over 70 million members. It continues to attract individuals interested in extramarital relationships, adapting its marketing strategies and platform features to maintain relevance in the online dating industry.
Conclusion
The breakdown of family structure and its underlying psychology raises serious questions about our morality and its foundation. Traditionally, Christianity has been the guardian of morality in the West. As the landscape changes with almost half of Europe becoming atheists and at least a third of the American young generations unaffiliated with religion, it is time to examine the third Abrahamic faith, namely Islam. Can it hold sway on the imagination of humanity in the 21st century? We cannot and should not ignore Friedrich Nietzsche’s warning:
And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.
The Glorious Quran and Science 
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