A Study on the Role of the Media and Its Effects on the Identity of Muslims (Part 53)
Social Harms of Media
Cultural Invasion from the Islamic Perspective
From the perspective of the manifest religion of Islam, cultural invasion is rejected, and no one has the right to impose or force their culture and values on others, even if they are deemed correct. This is because imposing coercion and compulsion is prohibited in the acceptance of true values. Members of society must choose the path of truth with their own free will and follow it as the preferred option of their hearts. As the Holy Quran says in this regard:
“There is no compulsion in religion; the right path has become clear from the wrong path.” (Al-Baqarah: 256)
The above verse is interpreted to mean that what is considered important in the cultural field from the perspective of Islam is enlightenment, explaining the truth, conveying divine messages, propagating true values to others, and familiarizing them with the teachings of the true religion. However, imposing one’s values and beliefs on others is not permissible and carries no intrinsic value.
If we assume the imposition and coercion of attitudes and beliefs, perhaps a superficial success may be achieved, and the black line of armies may be long, but such success will be devoid of quality, acceptance, and true enlightenment in the hearts. In times of need and sacrifice, no one will be willing to shed blood or part with even a particle of their wealth and possessions for an ideal that has been accepted by force and pressure. The boiling sense of sacrifice ignites from within the believer and flows throughout the entire body, manifesting itself in the form of self-sacrifice. This can lead to extraordinary and rare incidents that fill the annals of history. Hearing and reading about such bravery may raise doubts about whether such events are truly possible; yet these unique events are a clear truth formed and shaped in the light of voluntary acceptance.
In another verse, Allah Almighty states that if He willed, He could compel all people to believe. However, Allah’s will, is that people choose the path of truth of their own free will and accept the truth as it is. As Allah says: “وَ لَوْ شَاءَ رَبُّكَ لَآمَنَ مَنْ فِي الْأَرْضِ كُلُّهُمْ جَمِيعاً أَفَأَنْتَ تُكْرِهُ النَّاسَ حَتَّى يَكُونُوا مؤمنين؛” Translation: And if Allah had willed, all those on earth would have believed by force; would you then compel people to believe? (Yunus: 99)
On this basis, the revealed religion of Islam has condemned cultural invasion and the imposition of one’s culture on others, even if it is done with benevolent and guiding intentions. Moreover, cultural invasion that is carried out to achieve materialistic goals is condemned even more severely. Such actions will not hold a proper and worthy position—they will be like a sandcastle in the rays of the sun, destined to collapse in an instant.
Characteristics of Cultural Invasion
Invasion can be military, economic, political, or cultural, and cultural invasion has unique characteristics compared to military, economic, and political invasion. For example:
1. Cultural invasion is a quiet and subtle activity.
2. It is often invisible and imperceptible to most people.
3. It is carried out with precise plans combined with extensive tools; for example, it employs political, military, psychological, propaganda, and economic tactics.
4. Its scope is comprehensive; unlike military aggression, which targets only a portion of the adjacent borders.
5. It is effective, lulling sensitivities and silently advancing and infiltrating.
6. It is a gradual activity that occurs over an extended period, with consequences that are long-lasting. The effects of cultural aggression usually appear gradually and are not as immediate as those of military aggression.
7. It is deep-rooted and targets the minds and hearts of people.
Given these exclusive characteristics, the destructive and biased effects of cultural invasion are of particular importance among the various types of invasions. Confronting this threat is an acute necessity; it should not be ignored while waiting for its effects to establish and for traces of its destructiveness to become apparent in society and within hearts. Instead, it must be tackled from its very initial stages; interventions should aim to prevent it and nip its operations in the bud.
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