Dawr al-Ilam fi al-Tadamun al-Islami
- Author died
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- Editions
- Islamic University of Madinah
Dawr al-Ilam fi al-Tadamun al-Islami (The Role of Media in Islamic Solidarity) is a treatise by Ibrahim Imam, a professor at the Faculty of Da'wah and Usul al-Din, examining the function of mass communication in advancing Islamic solidarity, defending the Muslim world against ideological campaigns, and organizing coordinated media institutions .
Concept and Doctrinal Foundations
The work defines Islamic solidarity as a religious initiative rooted in Islamic doctrine rather than a modern innovation or a transient political slogan . Imam argues that the concept of the Muslim ummah is founded upon shared belief and universal brotherhood rather than territorial borders, ethnic lineage, or place of birth . He cites Quranic verses affirming the oneness of the community, such as إِنَّ هَذِهِ أُمَّتُكُمْ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَأَنَا رَبُّكُمْ فَاعْبُدُونِ ("Truly this community of yours is one community, and I am your Lord, so worship Me") .
Drawing on Islamic history, the author notes that communal cohesion enabled early Muslims to overcome major world empires, whereas division and internal discord led to historical disasters such as the fall of al-Andalus .
Themes and Arguments
Ethical Responsibilities and Countering Division
Imam identifies media as a powerful weapon historically leveraged by ideological adversaries, colonial powers, and missionary campaigns to generate division and undermine Muslim unity . In response, he argues that the Islamic state must direct media toward elevating public moral consciousness, promoting the oneness of God, and eliminating inter-Muslim media hostility, defamation, and polemics . He emphasizes peaceful resolution of disputes among Muslim states, respect for sovereignty, non-interference, and the protection of human rights in accordance with Islamic law .
Institutional Proposals and Communication Methods
The text outlines several practical proposals to implement media cooperation across Muslim countries:
- Cultural and News Institutions: Establishing a unified international Islamic cultural foundation to publish and translate modern Islamic literature, and expanding cultural exchanges between Islamic nations .
- Media Independence: Highlighting the resolutions of the 1970 Karachi Conference of Islamic Foreign Ministers, which studied the creation of an international Islamic bank and the establishment of the International Islamic News Agency in Jeddah to eliminate dependence on Western news services .
- Modern Broadcasting and Satellite Technology: Upgrading Islamic radio stations with multilingual programming, utilizing satellite technology to broadcast globally, and integrating comprehensive political, literary, and scientific content framed by Islamic principles rather than limiting broadcasts to sermons .
- The Hajj Platform: Utilizing the annual pilgrimage season as an international communication forum by deploying qualified multilingual scholars and organizing seminars for opinion leaders .
- Linguistic Unity: Promoting Classical Arabic across non-Arab Muslim populations through dedicated print and broadcast educational programs .
Historical Models of Islamic Journalism
Imam surveys historical efforts in Islamic journalism, citing influential periodicals such as Muhammad Rashid Rida's al-Manar, Abd al-Hamid ibn Badis's Wadi Mizab, and Algerian resistance journals like al-Bayan and al-Shariah . He also notes contemporary resistance publications in Afghanistan following the Soviet occupation, such as al-Mawqif and Sawt al-Jihad, as examples of media engagement in defense of Muslim causes .
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