Islamedia book launch: Media is an integral part of Islam – Sheikh Shafi’i

Allow your wards to study media courses

The Grand Mufti, Conference of Islamic Organisations (CIO), Sheikh DhikruLlahi Shafi’i has called on Nigerian Muslims to invest in the media, saying it is an integral part of Islam.

The respected scholar made the appeal at the launch of two books, titled: “Media Narratives of Muslims in Nigeria: Facts and Fallacies” and “Islam and Modern Vices: Issues and Concerns in the News” written by Rasheed Abubakar, the Publisher of Muslim News.

The book launch, which recently held at the Islamic Centre, University of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, saw in attendance Islamic scholars and media practitioners, who extolled the author as one of the soldiers of Islam in the Nigerian media.

Sheikh Shafi’i said early Muslim scholars have written about the subject the author addressed in his books.

“Talking about Islam and the media, the Muslim scholars concluded that journalism started during the time of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). They said journalism is about unveiling things that are hidden and people are ignorant of, or better still, revealing events that people don’t want to be exposed.”

Going down the memory lane, Abu Nusaybah, as Sheikh Shafi’i is fondly called, stated that the first verse that was revealed to the Prophet (SAW) in Qur’an 96 is “Read! In the name of your Lord”.

“That is the basis. There is also evidence in another chapter, Qur’an 5:57. From these verses, the scholars of Islam concluded that media emanated from Islam and developed into what we have today.”

Sheikh Shafi’i however stated that the latter generation of Muslims neglected the potency of the media and allowed non-Muslim evangelists and secularists to control it.

“Our predecessors did not joke with the media, neither did they handle it with levity. It was our negligence that made us lose grip over it and it was taken from us. It is unfortunate that some claimed that its origin is not from Islam. This is not true. Media is an integral part of our religion.

“However, we failed to recognise how powerful it is, but the non-Muslims do. This made them have more media organisations. They also fund and finance the activities of the media.”

Sheikh Shafi’i commended the efforts of the author and called on Muslim parents to encourage their wards to study journalism or mass communication.

“We need more youths to join the author in spreading the universality of the Islamic message through the media”, he concluded.