Islam and Media

The Media age of television, cinema, satellite and computer has made this world more accessible and information more available. The ‘1960s’ brought change to the whole world with marketing and commercialisation through television. However in the last fifteen years, there has been the growth of the multi-media age driven through the Internet. Today the news, views and opinions can be telecast through the globe with colour, sound and power. This has benefited us and also harmed us in equal proportion, it has been used and abused in equal measure.

Lifestyle and taste are controlled largely by media perceptions and propaganda is sold as the truth. All great leaders have used the media for self-promotion and have often manipulated situations to build profiles leading to widespread support and gain. The reality of the media world is simply that if it isn’t being shown or sold, then it doesn’t exist.

The rise of Islam in the great age of the Prophet (saw) came through conveying the message in the only medium available of the day. The Seerah - Life and times of our Prophet (saw) portrays how the people of Makkah were invited to Islam by the moral and pious conduct of the Prophet (saw) and by his rightly guided followers. The melodious and inspiring recitation of the Qur’an also changed the hearts of even the most fiercest opponents as many mediums were used to make the non-believers aware of the truth of this divine Message. The Prophet (saw) lived the life of the Qur’an and was tested to show the non-believers the exalted position of Allah’s (swt) religion. The Prophet (saw) also sent his messengers on horseback to the rulers and kings of the neighbouring lands with scripts declaring his Prophethood and inviting them to Islam.

The late and great Sheikh Ahmed Deedat wrote in his book ‘Al-Qur’an-The Miracle of all Miracles’ how the Prophet (saw) appealed to the people of previous books (Jews and Christians) by reciting ayats from the Qur’an, which told the stories of Moses(as) and Jesus(as). This was also using the mediums of communication and appeal to portray a message. We must realise that the beloved Prophet (saw) is the perfect role model, the one who is the advertisement of the Qur’an and Islam and as the famous nasheed singer Sami Yusuf explained that the Prophet (saw) was the greatest celebrity.

This choice of term may offend some but if we reflect on his example and status, it is obvious. We should follow his way, by being like him and copying him to attain complete faith. Even in the time of the Prophet (saw) people would travel far just to meet this man in Arabia who called himself a Prophet. Hasrat Abuzar Ghifari (ra), a great Sahabi-companion travelled across the lands just to meet Prophet Muhammad (saw). He had no idea where to find him, he slept on the street and even risked his life in Pagan territory.

                    A man who will enter Paradise

One day the Prophet Peace be upon him looked at a man and said: Whoever likes to look at a man who will enter Paradise, let him look at this man.

Abdullah Ibn Abbas, who was present and heard this comment, followed the man who was favoured with this promise. He asked his permission to be his guest which the man accepted.

After observing him for three consecutive nights, without seeing anything extraordinary about him, Abdullah Ibn Abbas said: I don’t see anything about you which qualifies you to enter Paradise more than the rest of us. Can you remember one special thing you do of which I may not be aware.
After thinking for sometime the man said: Nothing is outstanding in my life except one thing, may be, that I go to bed with a pure and sound heart towards my friends (meaning to forgive others of their bad qualities and to think good of everybody).

Then Ibn Abbas exclaimed: This is exactly what qualifies you to enter paradise.

                                        “Luminaries of Islam”

                    GOLDEN PERIOD OF MUSLIM UMMAH

Narrated Ibrahim bin Sad from his father from his grand-father:

Abdur Rahman bin Auf said, "When we came to Medina as emigrants, Allah's Apostle established a bond of brotherhood between me and Sad bin Ar-Rabi'. Sad bin Ar-Rabi' said (to me), 'I am the richest among the Ansar, so I will give you half of my wealth and you may look at my two wives and whichever of the two you may choose I will divorce her, and when she has completed the prescribed period (before marriage) you may marry her.' Abdur-Rahman replied, "I am not in need of all that. Is there any market-place where trade is practiced?' He replied, "The market of Qainuqa." Abdur-Rahman went to that market the following day and brought some dried butter-milk (yogurt) and butter, and then he continued going there regularly. Few days later, 'AbdurRahman came having traces of yellow (scent) on his body. Allah's Apostle asked him whether he had got married. He replied in the affirmative. The Prophet said, 'Whom have you married?' He replied, 'A woman from the Ansar.' Then the Prophet asked, 'How much did you pay her?' He replied, '(I gave her) a gold piece equal in weigh to a date stone (or a date stone of gold)! The Prophet said, 'Give a Walima (wedding banquet) even if with one sheep .' "

(Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 34, Number 264)

                                   Dealing with the LOST-Found Things

Narrated Zaid bin Khalid Al-Juhani:

A bedouin went to the Prophet and asked him about picking up a lost thing. The Prophet said, "Make public announcement about it for one year. Remember the description of its container and the string with which it is tied; and if somebody comes and claims it and describes it correctly, (give it to him); otherwise, utilize it." He said, "O Allah's Apostle! What about a lost sheep?" The Prophet said, "It is for you, for your brother (i.e. its owner), or for the wolf." He further asked, "What about a lost camel?" On that the face of the Prophet became red (with anger) and said, "You have nothing to do with it, as it has its feet, its water reserve and can reach places of water and drink, and eat trees."

(Sahih Bukhari Volume 3, Book 42, Number 609)

Pillars of Islam

Pillars of Islam

Narrated Talha bin 'Ubaid-Ullah:

A bedouin with unkempt hair came to Allah's Apostle and said, "O Allah's Apostle! Inform me what Allah has made compulsory for me as regards the prayers." He replied: "You have to offer perfectly the five compulsory prayers in a day and night (24 hours), unless you want to pray Nawafil." The bedouin further asked, "Inform me what Allah has made compulsory for me as regards fasting." He replied, "You have to fast during the whole month of Ramadan, unless you want to fast more as Nawafil." The bedouin further asked, "Tell me how much Zakat Allah has enjoined on me." Thus, Allah's Apostle informed him about all the rules (i.e. fundamentals) of Islam. The bedouin then said, "By Him Who has honored you, I will neither perform any Nawafil nor will I decrease what Allah has enjoined on me. Allah's Apostle said, "If he is saying the truth, he will succeed (or he will be granted Paradise)."

(Sahih Bukhari Volume 3, Book 31, Number 115)