Muslims in the Media

How are Muslims viewed today? Are we addressed with respect, compassion, or hatred? Most Muslims are threatened by their own image put forth by the media. We are mostly represented as a dangerous race which is why non-Muslims are afraid of us. As a united community, we should understand that media plays a powerful role in determining the impact on the Muslim image. We can embrace that we are marginalized but continue working towards reshaping the mindset of people that feel insecure of Muslims. The media isn’t only a source of despair for Muslims, because if utilized correctly, it can prove to be quite the opposite. Regardless of whether we are being misrepresented or not, we are aware that the media has been, and will always remain a powerful force for years to come.

The question that comes to mind is simple: is there possibly a way for the positive aspect of Muslims to be portrayed through the media? The answer might seem surprising but Muslims have been seen as ‘good people’ and spoke up for previously. For example, when Malala received the Nobel Peace Prize she was being valued and her story was covered all around the world. Teens began admiring her bravery and courage and even admitted they probably wouldn’t be able to cope with a similar situation in the Teens React YouTube channel. Although such an event was rewarding to the Muslim community, it proved that social barriers existed in Pakistan; it was also one of the very few actions that were noticed by the media.

 Although such stories aren’t present in the media a lot, it has made a thin population believe in the innocence of regular Muslims. The truth remains, however, that Muslims are continuously being perceived as suspicious people that can’t be treated fairly. Because of media pounding reports of Muslim criminals that engaged in crimes such as the 911 or 2016 Brussels bombing, our reputation has suffered considerably. Islam, as a religion, has been undermined because of a small group of ‘Muslims’ that commit evil deeds in the name of this peaceful religion.  Not only is media communicating negative ideas, it is responsible for producing hatred and violence in larger numbers. According to Maclean’s article, ‘Canadian anti-Muslim sentiment is rising, disturbing new poll reveals,’ depicts the adverse effect of media portrayals on the general public’s mentality.

The same article showed that ‘in Quebec, 48 per cent said they would find it unacceptable for one of their children to marry a Muslim, up slightly from 45 percent in 2009. In the rest of Canada, those who found the thought of a son or daughter marrying a Muslim unacceptable shot up to 32 percent from 24 percent.’ This drastic change has occurred due to the picture being painted by the news and other stories that make headlines. They render Muslims as narrow-minded individuals that are always thinking about jihad and other means to wage war. Movies are also a form of misrepresentation because ‘True Lies,’ released in 1994 was a popular film in the day that gained a lot of views. It sheds light on an Islamic Terrorist group called ‘Crimson Jihad,’ that is responsible for damaging and endangering the protagonist’s life. It is easy to spot that the movies’ foundation was false and was meant to mislead the viewer on the principles of Islam.

Becoming defensive doesn’t make a difference, but acting wisely and appropriately does. Since a strong voice is heard, Muslims need to put in a steady effort to make their voice loud and clear. Leaders like Donald Trump bring a message that strikes a great crowd and forces them to believe in what they say. His campaign and definite opinion have shaken a dense population of people into ‘speaking their mind’ and looking down upon Muslims. Muslims need a stronger support system that will always speak up on their behalf like political leaders that practice Islam confidently. Even though we aren’t always in control of how the world sees us, our identity should be reflective of good character which can ultimately soften even haters’ hearts. Going out into the world every day for our various reasons, we all need to remember that life is a big test. Just as any other test may be difficult, complications will come around every corner of our life. A few lines from the nasheed ‘I believe,’ by Maher Zain and Irfan Makki are a great reminder of this: ‘If you lose your way… believe in a better day… trials will come but surely they will fade away…If you just believe…And now I feel my heart is at peace because I believe…’They indicate that remaining positive can help us overcome the biggest of problems.