A recent report in Quebec highlighted the role of the media in fuelling the present tensions in the debate on accommodating minorities. The use of the media to manufacture anti-Islamic propaganda is an age-old tactic used by the ruling elite to retain their power and control over the people and prevent them from hearing the message of Islam. In our response, we must continue to engage in debate and discussions – to defend Islam and engage with our communities about the true nature of Allah (swt)’s Deen.

Last week the Montreal Gazette published the Bouchard-Taylor report on the question of “reasonable accommodation” of minorities in Quebec. This report highlighted the role of the media in fuelling the present tensions that surround the debate over accommodation. The commissioners stated that in hindsight the accommodation crisis was largely a media phenomenon, “’The media didn’t create the crisis over accommodations, but their message fell on fertile ground.’ Elsewhere, they call on the media to show more “self-discipline” and rigour in reporting on ethnic communities and their representatives, some of whom – like deported Tunisian imam Said Jaziri – got wide coverage despite having little or no credibility.”

While the report has only recently highlighted the media’s slant and bias towards Islam and the Muslim community, this is not something new. Take for instance the excerpt of a book written by Mark Steyn published in MacLean’s. Although the article does not explicitly attack Islam, it instils a fear and distrust of the Muslim community who he claims are, “hot for jihad to provide an impressive support network of mosques from Vienna to Stockholm to Toronto to Seattle.” Why are Muslims singled out and constantly targeted and attacked in the media?

The Role of the Media

The attack on Islam and Muslims should not come as a surprise. The organization of the media is to ensure that the thoughts and emotions of the public at large are aligned with those of the ruling elite. Edward Bernays, an aid to the Woodrow Wilson Administration stated about the media, “Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country. . . . In almost every act of our daily lives, whether in the sphere of politics or business, in our social conduct or our ethical thinking, we are dominated by the relatively small number of persons . . . who understand the mental processes and social patterns of the masses. It is they who pull the wires which control the public mind.” It is well known that the media is controlled by a select few individuals. In Canada, 5 companies alone (CanWest, Bell Canada, Quebecor, Torstar Corporation and Rogers Communication) own the majority of all Canadian media outlets. Vince Carlin, chair of the School of Journalism at Ryerson University, told the Washington Post, “You can fit everyone who controls significant Canadian media in my office. This is not a healthy situation.” These media moguls constitute part of the ruling elite who have the power, wealth and influence to direct the affairs of society.

With the ability to shape the opinion of society, the elite want to ensure that their status is preserved. Any time an alternate way of life is brought forward they will utilize all tools at their disposal to discredit and undermine this alternate ideology. Islam is an ideology that unlike other systems is from the Creator and it not subject to the limited and short sightedness of the human mind rather it is a comprehensive system which not only solves the problems of mankind, but also ensures that justice and dignity will prevail for all of mankind until the end of time. As a result the elite are afraid of losing their power since they understand that they would not have the same opportunity to exploit and rob the masses if Islam was implemented. This is why we see such heavy handed attacks against Islam and Muslims in the media.

The Elite of Yesterday

The elite of today who are in opposition to the message of Islam and who go as far as they can to demonize the Deen are the very same elite (Mala’) that stood in opposition to the Prophets (as). Allah (swt) revealed:

“We sent Nuh to his people. He said: ‘O my people! Worship Allah! You have no other god but Him. I fear for you the Punishment of a dreadful Day!’ The mala’ of his people said: ‘Surely we see that you are in evident error.’” [TMQ 7:59-60]

“To the people of ‘Ad, We selected their brother Hüd, who said: ‘O my people! Worship Allah! you have no god but Him. Will you not fear Him?’ The mala’ of his nation who denied his message said: ‘we can see that you are crazy and we think that you are lying.’”
[TMQ 7:65-66]

“The mala’ who disbelieved from among his nation said: ‘If you follow Shu’aib, you shall indeed be losers!’”
[TMQ 7:90]

“The mala’ of Fir’aun’s nation asked him: ‘Will you leave Musa and his nation free to commit mischief in the land, and to forsake you and your gods?’ He said: ‘We will put their sons to death and spare their daughters; we have irresistible power over them.’” [TMQ 7:127]

Effects of the Media

The media was a tool often used by the Quraysh in an attempt to discredit the message and character of the Prophet (saw) so as to turn the hearts of people away from his message. They knew that they could not engage in a free exchange of ideas with him, as their way of life could not hold up to the challenge that the Qur’an brought.

When Islam became a discussion point among the people of Makkah and the Arabian Peninsula, it was at this point that the Mala’ of Quraysh sought the help of the media mogul of their time – Al-Waleed bin Al-Mughirah. They agreed that they needed a strategy to win the ‘hearts and minds’ of the Arab pilgrims who would potentially accept the new way of life preached by Rasulullah (saw). Al-Waleed invited them to agree on a unanimous resolution that they could all agree to. Some suggestions were to describe him as a soothsayer, others proposed to claim he was possessed by jinn, while others suggested calling him a poet, and others suggested the accusation of practising sorcery. Al-Waleed pointed out that none of these descriptions fitted the Prophet Muhammad (saw) and that, therefore, their designation of him as belonging to any of these categories would not be very convincing to the public. In the end, however, they agreed to identify him as a sorcerer who would break up families, separating sons from their fathers, brothers from their brothers and wives from their husbands.

When the Quraysh spread this propaganda and slander throughout the Arabian Peninsula it pushed people not to listen to the Prophet (saw) for fear of the effects of his “sorcery”. Some went as far as putting cotton in their ears for fear of hearing the words of the Prophet (saw) and being “affected” by his “magic”.

The constant vilification of Islam by the media today has produced similar results as in the time of the Prophet (saw). The minds of the public have been bombarded with negative images of Islam that have resulted in many wanting nothing to do with Islam – a religion seen as hateful and oppressive. In the Bouchard-Taylor report, a woman described, “In 2007, in Quebec, when a Muslim women wears the veil, I tremble.”

Keep Going Forward

Even though the attacks on Islam and Muslims continue, we must persevere in our call to Islam like the Prophet Muhammad (saw) and the Prophets (as) before him, and expose this falsehood with the truth of Islam. We must have confidence in Islam as Allah (swt) revealed:

“Nay, We fling (send down) the truth (this Qur’an) against the falsehood (disbelief), so it destroys it, and behold, it (falsehood) is vanished.” [TMQ 21:18]

The Muslims today have fallen upon trying times; we can not pick up a paper, turn on the television or surf the internet without being exposed to accusations and lies levelled against our Deen, our Prophet, or even our Ummah. This has resulted in some turning away from the Deen while others try to explain Islam in a manner that appeases its critics. We must not fall into these traps; rather we must defend Islam by explaining its basis, i.e. its Aqeedah, and explain the truth we have been entrusted with by inviting people away from the darkness of ignorance to the light of Islam without compromise. No matter what test befalls us, we must remember that we can not simply say that we are believers without being expected to be tested regarding this claim.

Allah (swt) revealed:

“Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: ‘We believe, and will not be tested. And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allah will certainly make (it) known (the truth of) those who are true, and will certainly make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars, (although Allah knows all that before putting them to test).” [TMQ 29:1-3]

Whatever trial we may be afflicted with we must endure and remain steadfast by continuing the duty we have been entrusted with – calling to Allah (swt) and Islam. Whatever a believer endures he is never at a loss as he is working for the reward that is eternal and with his Creator – Jannah. The Prophet (saw) said:

“The affair of the believer is amazing! The whole of his life is beneficial, and that is only in the case of the believer. When good times come to him, he is thankful and it is good for him, and when bad times befall him, he is patient and it is also good for him.” [Muslim]

If we look to the Sahabah we will find in them excellent examples of persistence in carrying the Dawah of Islam regardless of the obstacles they faced. Many of them were tortured and beaten for carrying the Dawah yet it only strengthened them in their resolve. For example, when the Prophet (saw) and the Sahabah were living in Makkah (i.e. before the Hijrah), Abdullah bin Masud said that he would make Quraysh listen to the Qur’an. So one morning he went to the Kaaba and read the Qur’an aloud, whereupon the Quraysh began to hit him. When he returned to the Sahabah they said: “This is what we feared would happen to you.” He said, “Allah’s enemies were never more contemptible in my sight than they are now, and if you like I will go and do the same thing before them tomorrow.”

Allah (swt) eventually made them victorious over their enemies in this world and granted them His pleasure in the Hereafter:

“Allah is well pleased with them as they are well pleased with Him.” [TMQ 9:100]

If we desire Allah’s (swt) pleasure we must follow the example of the Prophet (saw) and those of his companions and Insh-Allah we will be amongst those whom Allah (swt) is pleased with.

May Allah give us the strength and resolve to endure the tribulations of our times and always be at the forefront of carrying the mission of Islam and bringing the Deen of Allah back to our world. Ameen