Why does the media portray Islam negatively?

Today there is systematic negative propaganda about Islam across international media — newspapers, magazines, satellite channels, radio, and the internet. This intensified dramatically after September 11, 2001, but the roots go back centuries.

According to an article in TIME Magazine (April 16, 1979), over 60,000 books were written against Islam in a span of just 150 years, between 1800 and 1950. That is more than one book written against Islam every single day for 150 years. No other religion has faced such sustained, organized intellectual assault.

The media consistently applies double standards when covering Islam versus other religions:

When a Muslim woman wears hijab and covers herself modestly, the media portrays her as oppressed and subjugated by Islam. But when a Christian nun wears a very similar modest dress covering the entire body except the face and hands, the same media describes her as 'a pious woman.' The clothing is practically identical, yet the framing is completely opposite.

When a Sikh man wears a turban and sports a beard, the media celebrates him as 'proud of his identity.' In 1990, a Sikh man in Canada even fought for and won the right to wear his turban while serving in the Canadian Army, and his photograph was featured on front pages with praise. But when a Muslim man wears a cap and sports a beard, the very same media labels him a fanatic, a militant, or a terrorist.

For the media, making black into white is easy. Making day into night is easy. Making a hero into a villain is easy, and making a villain into a hero is equally simple. The power of framing and narrative control cannot be underestimated.

The common non-Muslims throughout the world — whether in Asia, Europe, America, or anywhere else — often become victims of this media propaganda. However, they cannot be blamed for their views unless Muslims take the initiative to clarify doubts and correct misconceptions.

The Qur'an is clear that Muslims must verify information before acting on it. It also teaches that truth, by its very nature, will prevail over falsehood. After September 11, 2001, despite the intense media attacks, 34,000 Americans accepted Islam within ten months. The translation of the Qur'an became a bestseller in America as people sought to understand Islam for themselves. This demonstrates that when people look beyond media narratives and read the actual sources, the truth speaks for itself.

It is the responsibility of Muslims to know how to respond to misconceptions and to proactively engage in educating others about what Islam actually teaches, rather than allowing its message to be filtered solely through hostile media outlets.