Muslim Journalism

The first generation of Muslims were moved by a sense of discovery. But present generation Muslims base their efforts on a feeling of loss. This is the basic reason for all the intellectual and ethical differences between latter-day Muslims and the original Islamic community.

For those who became Muslims at the opening of the Islamic era, Islam was the greatest of blessings. But present-day Muslims have no such feeling for their faith. All they have is a feeling that other nations have taken away from them the political supremacy that Islamic history had granted them. It is for this reason that Muslims the world over are today suffering from a persecution complex. They look at other nations as oppressors and themselves as the oppressed. They hold different nations responsible for their problems in various parts of the world.

America, Israel, and Russia are variously the target of their anger and resentment. The Jews, Hindus and Christians are held responsible at different moments for their plight. Because of this attitude, all they have been able to achieve through their efforts has been futile protest.

This has also had an adverse effect on Muslim journalism. There is one thing common to the Muslim press the world over, and that is protest. All Muslim periodicals and newspapers today have adopted this tone. Their sole purpose is to put forward the Muslims’ political case. But the true purpose of Muslim journalism should be to represent Islam; it should be run on the basis of principle, not on the basis of national prejudice.

If one represents a nation’s case, one will spotlight its national issues. But to represent Islam, on the other hand, is to present God’s religion before mankind. The Quran tells us how God sent countless prophets in ancient times and revealed to them the scriptures. Man, however, was unable to preserve these scriptures in their original form. Then the final Prophet came to the world. The Book that was revealed to him would be preserved for all time. It is now our responsibility as Muslims to communicate this authentic book of divine guidance to all nations and all peoples of the world. True Muslim journalism is that which represents the message of Islam in this way.