The modern day media battle depicts Islam and Muslims as inherently threatening and issues a challenge to Muslims; how will we rise to the challenge in the age-old struggle between good and evil, truth and ignorance?
Will we choose aggression and meet oppression with oppression or will we opt for the way of the Prophet (peace be upon him)?
Islam: Profound Way to Peace
The media has become the stage to discuss all things related to Islam and being Muslim, and while the masses are bombarded by various forms of media each with its own distinct message. Many Muslims feel unsure of what it all means and how they should respond to this attack.
History is full of accounts of man’s inhumanity to man, and even in today’s world there is conflict. The irony is that, despite what the media portrays, Islam is the way to peace, the way to manage and lessen conflict and protection for the innocent.
Contrary to Islam’s intrinsic message of peace, today’s Muslims are dealing with a media campaign designed to instill fear of Islam into the hearts of the masses and this is happening while ignorance of Islam in both the Muslim and non-Muslim arenas has peaked.
Some Muslims react by going head to head with the media, often resulting in further misconceptions and misunderstandings. Others are overcome with frustration and try to hasten change by all means, even if those means are immoral and counter to Islam’s principles and aims.
Other Muslims opt to create their own media, providing images of Muslims in everyday life situations; the human side that everyone can identify with and relate to.
Keeping in mind that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said:
“Speak to people according to their mentality”
Muslims must learn how to touch the hearts of people who are at the mercy of whatever media they are fed, as passive observation has become the norm.
Positive Examples
We cannot all be stars on a Muslim sitcom, nasheed singers or performers, but on an individual, family and community level we have to ask ourselves how beautiful are our words? Our actions? Our responses to people and situations?
In the heat of the moment; a discussion, a confrontation, wherein we think we are defending Islam, we can easily lose sight of our ultimate aim; for the sake of Allah and following Prophet’s path. The Prophet was sent by Allah the All-Merciful as {…a mercy to all the worlds}
If we are true followers of the Prophet of Mercy, we will be constantly striving to exemplify mercy in our everyday lives and that includes how we respond to anti-Muslim rhetoric.
We are not alone in this great endeavor for the Quran and the Sunnah to light the way and show us how to combine mercy, wisdom, strength and honor.
How to Win Hearts
Everything he did was in moderation, without excess or contrariness. With humility, eloquence and calmness, he faced hostility, threats and degradation, trusting in Allah and remaining steadfast. People came to know him for his compassion and were never disappointed.
The Prophet won the people’s hearts by his exemplary conduct; no raised voices, no depraving speech, no dishonoring women and a dignified overlooking of human error.
People’s hearts inclined to him even though they had been his outspoken enemies. With gentleness, humility, strength, and kindness, the Prophet gathered and raised an Ummah.
Muslims today are harassed, downtrodden, and sometimes oppressed. But we should bear in mind that the Prophet and his companions were persecuted and oppressed for years, then were forced to live in a valley, suffering starvation and want for three years. They were evicted from Makkah, forced to leave their wealth behind and when the Prophet and his followers finally returned triumphant to Makkah, and had the opportunity to take revenge if they wanted, he, peace be upon him, forgave his enemies and those who had persecuted him and his followers and told them: “Go, you are free”
Prophet Muhammad faced a war of rumors, but he was patient, wise, eloquent, and forbearing.
Can such an outlook, character and response guide us today as we deal with the ignorance of people and the misinformation pumped out by the media?
