I’ve worked for many clients before, but none compare to Bayyinah. There is a certain barakah in the organization that subhanallah draws you so deep into your work.

In a recent survey, it was discovered the, least trusted professionals between various markets were found within the media profession; this included journalists, people in advertising, public relations and marketing. Six out of ten people said they don’t trust people in these professions. Ouch.

There’s this notion out there that if you’re in one of these fields, you’ll do anything to help your client, even if it means becoming a “spin doctor, a “deceiver” or even a “liar.” It’s that idea that says a person in one of those fields will say just about anything to serve their own interests. I guess it goes triple for someone like me who is in three of the four fields listed above.

I remember an article I wrote a little while ago that was posted on Muslim Matters about Bayyinah and the “Divine Speech” class. I’m sure anyone who has taken any classes with Bayyinah attest there is something different about this organization than others; something that you can hold dear to your heart.

Someone commented by saying, “Has anyone attended one of the classes? Please honest critique, I don’t want a marketing spin. Jazakum Allah kheir.”

I’m generally not a sensitive person, but I took offense to it. Even though the brother has somewhat a point to be skeptical, I guess I was just so sincerely writing the article out of the love I have for the organization, I indeed forgot I’m the public relations specialist.

This poses a problem for me. Press releases are great, mostly because editors of newspapers take what the want from the release and use their own names to write the article. For blogs and Muslim publications it’s a little different. They usually publish the article as it was sent, and accredit it to the original author. That’s great too, but it somehow tends to put this tint on the glass when people are looking through, so to speak. People now see the articles and see that it’s written by the marketing director and automatically think it’s no good.

When I started my PR firm, Minbar Media, I did so with the intention of only servicing clients I truly believe in and clients I could be proud to help out and bring with me on the day of judgment.

I’m going to remain true to my intention, inshaAllah.

The staff is so sincere and the volunteers I work with are all amazing, subhanallah. Currently, I’m working on a campaign to better acquaint the public with our other two instructors, Sheikh AbdulNasir Jangda, an Imam in Dallas, TX and AlHafidh Wisam Sherif who is currently studying in Egypt until the end of summer.

If people knew their work/style, they would love it. So be on the lookout for that campaign, inshaAllah.

More later, bi’ithnillahi ta’ala. I’m definitely extremely busy, but I’m hoping to update my blog often.

I think I might have to watch some of the things I write from now on, now that I’m not only representing myself but others who are pretty public figures or entities. Wallahu alem.

This article was submitted by Br. Faisal Tabassum, a member of my PR team who is currently studying Journalism at a university in the UK. Jazak Allah khair Br. Faisal for the submission.

Bismillah,

After recent news stories, I felt compelled to show you some typical techniques the mainstream media uses to make Islam look like its teachings belong back in the jungle with Tarzan. Insha’allah (God willing) these totally exposed blunders will make you a bit more perceptive to its ever increasing evil eye. Especially if you are Non Muslim – Here’s something they forgot to teach you in high school…

Number 1 – The Naming Blunder

The article is here.

Firstly I am pretty sure author ‘Mohamed Mohamed’ didn’t go to Islamic school when he was younger, as he definitely wouldn’t have learnt he is an ‘Islamist’. Muslims only found out this word when the media introduced it to us!

As you can see, the Media occasionally likes to create its own words. A bit like a chef who’s experimenting for the first time. Take for example Chef Ramzi:

Chef Ramzi: “Hmm, let’s see what ingredients I have to cook today.”

Ingredients – Extreme + Radicalist + Islam.

Chef Ramzi: “OK, let me see…”

*Chop Chop, Mix Mix, Swirl Swirl.*
*Covers with cling film…*
*Lets it settle for 20 minutes…*

Chef Ramzi: “… Islamist! There you have it! Perfect. No one will notice this!”

…Don’t be fooled.

Amongst other techniques used in this article are:

The Subheadings: ‘Law and Order‘, ‘Fear‘, ‘Death threats‘, ‘Not Islamic‘ – Coincidence? You better believe otherwise! These are there to psychologically scare a person into believing the dreaded Islam is: ‘coming soon to a village near you‘ so to speak, if you don’t do something about it.

At this point I’d like to say that:

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, should not hurt his neighbour and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, should serve his guest generously and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, should talk what is good or keep quiet.(i.e. abstain from all kinds of evil and dirty talk) “

[Narrated by Abu Huraira, Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Number 158]

I guess you should be afraid…

Number 2 – Statistics Show.

Statistics from this article reassure you that this overwhelming focus on Islam in the media isn’t a coincidence. “Where did all this sudden ‘radical Islam’ and terrorism come from?” I hear you cry. The answer is the same place ‘Islamist’ came from – Islam has become a nice target since September 11^th.

We get so much coverage that even Hindus’ and Sikhs’ are now complaining we get all the air time. Jeez guys – you can have it all back!

Number of faith programmes since 2001 the BBC has produced for:

Sikhism: 1
Hinduism: 5
Islam: 41

Seems like a much clearer pattern don’t you think?

Number 3 – Muslims get terrorised too – you just don’t hear about it.

Try and find this article in the mainstream newspaper. Yes you’ll be searching all year!

I know the person who wrote this article personally, so it is no fake. He also confirmed he attended all the court hearings. This very month marks the end of an innocent Muslim, Hassan Mutegombwa‘s first of 10 years in prison. Simply for saying “Insha Allah” (God Willing).

Please note his brother, Yassin Mutegombwa, does have some connection to terrorist activity, but he himself has done nothing and has no relation to what his brother does.

(You can find more information on this case by reading the report issued by Metropolitan Police.)

The above report shows no real evidence to prove he was guilty, just suspicions.

Note: they say he was going to do ‘hidra’ – It’s actually spelt ‘hijra’ and it means migration, so he was going to Uganda and staying there.

This is what the BBC and CNN should be reporting on – injustice – One of the main topics that makes an article newsworthy. Instead it is found on an American News Website virtually unknown to the UK general public. But maybe we can let them off this time. I mean, maybe they didn’t know about this story?

No way hosé.

The BBC did report on this case, when they were originally charged for terror offences (which later resulted in no proof but still a sentencing for 10 years).

So what does all this mean?

It shows that if you want to know about Islam and you ask someone who has only heard about it from the mainstream Media, they will most certainly tell you what the media has told them (which we have shown is mostly fear and misconceptions) and not what Islam really is.

That’s why we recommend you to ask the knowledgeable Muslims about Islam, and not the media (or Chef Ramzi!).

When you ask a Muslim about his religion, or even read about it yourself from recommended sites, you will be surprised at how much it differs from the jargon the media makes it out to be. So much so, that you may even be bedazzled!

With this approach, I pray you come to appreciate the beauty of Islam.

Faisal Tabassum.

I’ve never seen such dedicated love to an evil person.

Last Tuesday, Muslims went into elections booths justifying their vote by saying their intention is to go out and pick the “lesser of the two evils.” Alhamdulillah, there is nothing wrong with the intention. And It’s pretty apparent Obama is the lesser of the evils and a McCain administration would have probably been horrible fate for Muslims. But even if that’s the case, it does not absolve Obama from the status of evil (even if it is lesser.)

People’s intentions were not reflected by their actions. The intention went from picking the lesser of the evil to becoming a huge fan of the candidate as if he were their idol.

After Obama had been announced the winner, people were so excited as if he was going to be the best thing that happened to the Muslims. I heard Muslims saying slogans like “Barack Mubarack” and “Ba-Rocked the Vote!”

The question is, why are Muslims so happy with a man who does not want to be associated with us at all? What about the “Muslim Smear?” What about the hijabi woman who was removed from one of his rallies?

Honestly, we’re very naive. It’s like an abusive father who hits his children. The child thinks that because the father say he won’t hit him anymore, he’s safe now. But afterward, the child learns of how naive it was trust a man who gave no reason to believe that he would actually be different.

Muslims were of the belief that Obama HAS to praise Israel in order to win the election (which is true.) And after he’s elected president, he’s going to be on the Muslim’s side. How much more obvious can it be that this is NOT TRUE. After all, look at the first thing he did after being elected; he picked a Zionist for his Chief of Staff.

Muslims are humiliating themselves while the world watches. It’s like one of those instances where a person is doing something so embarrassing that no one has the guts to tell the person they are making a fool of themselves. Like a girl walking with toilet paper on her shoe. For those of us who went all Obama crazy, we’re the ones with the toilet paper stuck to our shoes.

I can’t help but cringe at the sheep-like behavior coming from us. As much as we’d like to think that we are different and cannot be brainwashed by media, It saddens me to break the news that if we were of the ones that displayed campaign-crazed behavior, we in essence were brainwashed because followed the herd; we became like the mindless sheep the media wanted us to become.

Persuasion is best done when it is seamless, and Barack Obama had all elements to a successful persuasive campaign. After all, no one can deny he is charismatic; he is the “rock star.”

And let me just say the media is very manipulative.

If anything at all we should look at this from a historical perspective, and nothing more. No one can deny that this is a big step for human rights. And as Muslims, we should be very happy with the progress made.

Be the Black sheep.

Wallahu alem.