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The media is the today’s
way of communicating. Whoever is unable to use the media well is
effectively mute. There is no doubt that people spend more time in front of
their television screens than they do at school or at work or interacting
with their families.
One of the ways in which
the West is dominant is in their use of the media. The great media empires
succeed in promoting the flimsiest of values while the Muslim world fails
miserably in promoting its noble history and culture.
One of the reasons for this
failure is that we do not succeed in putting forth a clear message. We
often expend great efforts, lay out considerable sums of money, and spend
endless hours to put forth an idea. Our efforts might result in anything
from an appearance on a talk show, a magazine article, a book, a video, or
a television program. The topic might succeed in becoming the main theme
for a lot of media activity, exposing it to a large sector of the
population of various ages and income levels. Thousands of air hours might
be consumed by it.
Alas, however, some
critical weaknesses are often present.
The first of these
weaknesses has to do with verifying the correctness of the information that
we present.
We had needed to ask
ourselves: Did we look into the idea well enough? Do we know to what extent
what we are presenting is correct? Have we investigated the matter
thoroughly in light of our broadest objectives? Have we verified our facts?
Will our ideas be able to stand up to scrutiny or to being challenged and
opposed?
Many ideas are flung around
without first having their veracity put to the test with potentially
disastrous consequences. Such untested ideas are simply begging to be
refuted and overturned, since they are easy targets for our opponents. This
is the plight of our ideas that if we have not properly verified them.
The correctness of an idea
might be with respect to Islamic teachings. Is it supported by clear and
authentic textual evidence that can neither be dismissed nor refuted?
Allah tells us: “This then
is Allah, your rightful Lord. And what is there after the truth but error?
How are you then turned back?” [Sûrah Yûnus: 32]
He says: “Nay, but We hurl
the true against the false, and it doth break its head and lo! it vanishes.
And yours will be woe for that which ye ascribe (unto Him).” [Sûrah
al-Anbiyâ’: 18]
He also says: “Say: The
Truth hath come, so falsehood does not show its face and will not return.”
[Sûrah Saba’: 49]
The correctness of an idea
might be analyzed with reference to its intellectual soundness and its
logical integrity. It might be with reference to historical accuracy. It
depends on the idea in question.
What matters is that the
first step we take is to verify the truth and the strength of the ideas we
wish to publish, broadcast, and promote. We should make sure that the ideas
are not just passing fancies or gut responses to outside pressures.
It is not sensible for us
to casually accept anything presented the media that we feel serves our
interests simply because it seems to tend in the direction that we like. We
must first ascertain its accuracy, its suitability and its freedom from
contradictions.
How can we accept
falsehoods, half-truths, and doubtful matters for ourselves when we feel
that they serve our interests, and then when our opponents present
falsehoods, we pounce on them for it and show glee in the easy opportunity
their falsehoods provide us with to get the upper hand?
Where have all the grand
speeches and heated exchanges gotten the Arab media in the last fifty
years? Would it not have be better for the media to stress objectivity and
critical thinking for its audience instead of always assuming them to be
simple-minded buffoons and seeking only to play upon their emotions?
The second point of
weakness that can prevent us from delivering a clear message is a failure
to prioritize. Though it is absolutely imperative that what we present is
true and correct, that alone is not enough, since there are many things
that are true and correct. There are choices to be made.
Allah tells us: “Those who
hear advice and follow the best thereof, such are those whom Allah guides,
and such are people of understanding.” [Sûrah al-Zumar: 18]
He says: “And follow the
best that has been revealed to you from your Lord.” [Sûrah al-Zumar: 55]
He also says: “And We
ordained for him (Moses) in the tablets admonition of every kind and clear
explanation of all things; so take hold of them with firmness and enjoin
your people to take hold of what is best thereof.” [Sûrah al-A`râf: 145]
What is “best” includes
what is most important. Pivotal issues and broad principles are more
important than secondary matters. It is not just that secondary matters are
more open to disagreement, to being accepted and rejected; it is also that
general principles are the basis upon which the solutions to secondary
issues are built.
Therefore, teaching people
the basics is far more important than preoccupying them with all sorts of
endless details, many of which they will be unable to understand or accept
without first having the proper background. This is especially true when
those secondary issues are not presented in the context of a coherent
general framework.
We can see this
prioritization in the advice the Prophet (peace be upon him) gave to Mu`âdh
b. Jabal when he sent him to Yemen: “You are going to a people from among
the people of the scripture, so the first thing towards which you should
call them is to testify that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is
the Messenger of Allah. If they obey you in this, then teach them that
Allah has made compulsory upon them five prayers. Then if they obey you in
this, teach them that there is charity to be taken from their wealthy
people and given to their poor people...” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî and Sahîh
Muslim]
Muslims today – those
living in the West as well as those living in Muslim lands – are constantly
engaged in vicious disputes about minor points of disagreement in Islamic
Law. The disagreements that exist in these matters is not going to go away.
They waste their strength on these fruitless arguments and are blinded by
them from what is really important.
What is “best” also
includes what is most appropriate. Not everything that is true is suited to
be uttered all the time to everyone.
When al-Bukhârî compiled
his Sahîh, he included in it a chapter entitled “One who refrains from some
options fearing that some people will be unable to understand the and fall
into more serious difficulties”.
In this chapter, he relates
the famous statement of the Rightly Guided Caliph, `Alî: “Address the
people with what they can understand. Would you want then to put the lie to
Allah and His Messenger?”
Allah commands us to use
wisdom in calling people to Islam: “Invite to the way of your lord with
wisdom and beautiful preaching.” [Sûrah al-Nahl: 125]
A part of wisdom is to put
everything in its proper place.
This comes as a consequence
of properly understanding Islamic teachings and the objectives behind those
teachings, which enables a person to make intelligent choices between
various issues and rulings.
The attitudes and level of
understanding of the audience being addressed must be taken into
consideration. They need to be approached in a suitable way so that the
truth can be explained to them. If we offend people’s sensibilities or put
them on the defensive, they will erect barriers to the proper understanding
of what we are saying to them.
In order to understand our
audience properly, it is imperative to know their circumstances and the
concerns that preoccupy their minds.
Before we focus our time
and money on media efforts promoting our local concerns, Islamic matters,
and Arab issues or on refuting the claims of others – before we write a
book, produce a video, or hold a conference – we need to carefully
scrutinize our message to ascertain its accuracy and correctness. We also
need to determine how important it really is, so that we do not squander
our resources to the wind or achieve the opposite of what we intend.
Part of success is good
timing. Bad timing can indeed be blameworthy. If we make the time that we
bow or prostrate in pray an occasion to recite the Qur’ân, we are doing
something wrong. It would be ill-advised and unwise to talk about divorce
during a wedding, or about business when visiting the bereaved, even though
what we say may be true.
The time spent in studying
our approach and acquiring understanding is far better than the time wasted
on fruitless efforts.
Allah says: “Whoever is granted
wisdom has been given great good. And none will take heed save people of
understanding.” [Sûrah al-Baqarah: 269]
By
Sheikh Salman al-Oadah (IslamToday)
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