Guest Submission: Typical Treatment of Islam in Mainstream Media
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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 11th.
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?
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.
Muslim Creed Says: 26.11.08 at 7:02 am
And who does more wrong than the one who invents a lie against Allah, while he is being invited to Islam. And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.
They intend to put out the Light of Allah (i.e. the religion of Islam) with their mouths. But Allah will complete His Light even though the disbelievers hate it. [Qur'an 61:7-8]
“islamist”…i wonder what word they will come up with next…
The Muslim Kid Says: 26.11.08 at 7:30 am
Salam,
Just beautiful brother.
You know, everything you’ve written on here is just so true.
Its all about the double standards imposed when it comes to Islam.
In the western world, to be a practicing Muslim is to be an extreme Muslim.
Sign, where has the world come to.
I also blog, check out my blog sometime.
http://themuslimkid.blogspot.com/
-The Muslim Kid-
B Says: 26.11.08 at 11:34 am
Islam and Muslims have been catapulted to the front lines of news and media after 9/11 because of “religious extremists”.
I am sorry to tell you this but you article it the typical self-victimization rhetoric.
Faisal Says: 26.11.08 at 12:01 pm
Assalamou alaikum wa rahmatullah,
Muslim Creed – Yes I don’t know what word they might use next?? Probably Quranist if you teach quran lol.
Muslim Kid – Yes that is so true. It’s quite scary actually, as sometimes Muslims call you extreme for practicing Islam properly! How messed up is that? But we have to combat these misconseptions by teaching Ilm properly hence shareislam.com lol.
Faisal Says: 26.11.08 at 12:30 pm
Salaam B,
Thanks for commenting.
The article explains how in Islam there is no ‘Religious extremism’, as you said. Yet the media tries its best to make you believe extremism is a ‘radical sect’ of Islam – it is no sect at all!
If I’m correct, you claim its ‘rhetoric’ because ‘we’ got ourselves to the front line of the media in the first place with the actions of 9/11. However I’m afraid I have to take ‘we’ out of that sentence, as ‘religious extremism’ has NO basis in Islam. Therefore it cannot be ‘rhetoric’ as Muslims didn’t get themselves to the front line of the media. The media put them there by attributing the extremist actions to Islam. (Thus saying they do have a basis in the religion when they don’t.)
Alima Says: 27.11.08 at 1:40 am
Assalaamu ‘alaykum,
Good article, masha’Allaah. We studied this a while back, the funny thing is that it’s obvious the tricks they are using, as they have been used in the past with IRA etc.
We seem to go through the same vicious cycle and now the main focus is ISLAM. Sad, though it’s nice to see muslims writing about this stuff. Keep it up.
Jazaak Allaahu khayr for the reminder, as sometimes you forget about what the media is doing, in all the busyness.
This helps when giving daw’aah to non-muslims also!
Wa Alaahu alem.
Alima Says: 27.11.08 at 1:41 am
Btw, I haven’t read ‘The Islamist.’
Is it a beneficial read?
shirien Says: 27.11.08 at 1:58 am
“Alima Says:
November 27th, 2008 at 1:41 am e
Btw, I haven’t read ‘The Islamist.’
Is it a beneficial read?”
haha I doubt it… it’s probably an anti-islamic book. I just put that picture there to go with the article.. not promoting the book
Alima Says: 27.11.08 at 3:08 am
Shirien!! Your pic…
lol, I was thinking… Shall I bu it. Hmm, I think i’ll stick to my business books! Which are sooo interesting.
Jazaakillahu khayr for letting me know though.
A Human Says: 30.11.08 at 10:01 am
Is there anything particularly wrong with the word Islamist? Wikipedia defines it in a way that is objective and I have heard it used in a positive light. I don’t really like labels either but sometimes they are used by the media and academics alike in order to define and study the complexities of society, politics, etc.
Also, I have been wondering, if a people that claim to be Muslim does an act that is unIslamic (such as the killing of a girl that has been raped) yet they contend that their acts are in the spirit of Islam and truly believe that, who is to say they are not Muslim? They maybe misguided, but if they believe themselves to be Muslim then how can one question their sincerity, since no one can be certain of that except God?
About the book, it seems like an interesting read and is not “anti-Islamic.” I read some reviews and it seems that the author returns to “true” Islam and does not denounce it. Maybe one should come to terms that there are both good and bad in every religion.
Muslim Creed Says: 01.12.08 at 1:58 am
There is nothing wrong with the word “islamist”, it’s not something abusive. However the enemies of Islam from among the Non-Muslims and the enemies of Sunnah among the Muslims use words like these out of context. E.g. there was a time they used to say “Muslim Fundamentalists”. It’s a pitty that many ignorant Muslims fell for this trap too. You ARE supposed to be “fundamentalist”…as in stick to the fundamentals of Islam. Those who are misguided and commit acts of transgression against other humans clearly do not follow the “fundamentals” of Islam.
And now the same thing regarding Islamists (which obviously means someone who follows Islam). The so-called “modern/progressive” Muslims whenever they see a man having a beard or woman wearing Hijaab…they mock their fellow Islamists (i.e. who follow Islam) more than the Non-Muslim bigots. So what are supposed to do? Completely give up Islam because of what some Dr.Goldberg says?
Or what in the world is “radical Islam”? There is only ONE Islam. And whenever you want to follow the Sunnah some guy name Muhammad bin Muhammad or girl named Faatima will be the first to rise up against you and say you are following “radical” Islam.
The point is – bigots use good words, twist the meanings and ignorant Muslims fall prey to their games.
As for – who is to say they are not Muslim – we don’t go around making Takfeer (i.e. claim someone is no longer Muslim) left and right. Even in the case of this disgusting act where in countries like Pakistan they kill the girl that gets raped – they are liers..they lie against Allah and His Messenger and as a result of their ignorance, Non-Muslims think this is Islamic Law. Such dhaalimeen and others are without a doubt Major Sinners and can be punished by Allah…in fact those who kill a girl for being raped, are murderers and we all know the punishment for murderers in Islam…
There are people in Iran (a very small minority) who say incest is halaal too and they go around dancing and chanting “we’re muslim” – what sane person will think any religion (maybe those who claim the book of Exodus is from God might) allows such sick acts?
**this btw, also points to the disease destroying the Ummah now – there’s always an opinion stating something forbidden by Allah & His Messenger is actually lawful!**
People can make claims but there is a Creator and that Creator also sent a Messenger to explain everything. If someone out right denies (having full knowledge and from his own free will) what the Creator and that Messenger has to say, then yes he does kick himself out of Islam.
There is a difference between the Major Sinner and the one who is out of Islam…some Major Sins like praying to the dead does take one out of Islam while other Major Sins like drinking alcohol/fornication still keeps a person under the tree of Islam…this is a long discussion and there are rules & regulations…
shirien Says: 01.12.08 at 1:45 pm
“About the book, it seems like an interesting read and is not “anti-Islamic.” I read some reviews and it seems that the author returns to “true” Islam and does not denounce it. Maybe one should come to terms that there are both good and bad in every religion.”
that could be true. I didnt research it or anything. It could very well be legit. wallahu alem.
Dawud Israel Says: 05.12.08 at 1:39 am
Salaam aleikum,
Not related but take a look:
http://www.omraneya.net/node/72637
You might wanna consider trying to film the idea at the end of the article and getting it to Islamonline or some media people in Egypt.