A Study on the Role of the Media and Its Effect on the Identity of Muslims (Part 26)
Psychological Warfare and Propaganda in the Light of Quranic Verses
The Holy Qur’an provides examples of propaganda and psychological warfare in its narrative verses. In the confrontations that the wealthy had against the prophets, the propaganda they used against them, the insults they hurled, and their calls for them to be labeled as sorcerers and liars represented various unjustified slanders directed at the believers, shown on the tongues of the people. With such attacks, they aimed to defeat the front of monotheism. All these actions demonstrated methods of psychological warfare.
In this propaganda battle, each front has its own plan, strategy, and tactics, aiming to turn the enemy’s arrows back against them. The principle of “reciprocity” is not only utilized in military operations but is also vital in responding to propaganda attacks. If Pharaoh calls Moses a “corrupter,” the Qur’an responds by wielding the argument that “He himself is the corrupter,” proving his corruption with evidence. Humiliation, slander, and mockery of monotheists and their followers form one of the categories of psychological warfare. It is noteworthy that the Qur’an humiliates the enemy by employing the same weapons that the enemy holds, labeling him a fool and a corrupter. For example, consider the following verses:
(أَلَا إِنَّهُمْ هُمُ الْمُفْسِدُونَ وَلَكِن لَّا يَشْعُرُونَ)
“Be aware that these are the criminals themselves, and they do not know.” (Al-Baqarah: 12)
(أَلَا إِنَّهُمْ هُمُ السُّفَهَاءُ وَلَكِن لَّا يَعْلَمُونَ)
“Be aware that they themselves are foolish and do not know.” (Al-Baqarah: 13)
(اللَّهُ يَسْتَهْزِئُ بِهِمْ وَيَمُدُّهُمْ فِي طُغْيَانِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ)
“It is Allah who mocks them and leaves them to wander in their rebellion.” (Al-Baqarah: 15)
Almighty Allah warns all believers in the verses of the Qur’an against the psychological warfare of enemies, whose goal is to attack Islamic beliefs and culture using tactics of slander, mockery, insults, rumor-spreading, and creating division. Their aim is ultimately the destruction of Islam and Muslims, and believers must remain vigilant against such assaults.
B. Propaganda, Methods and Psychological Warfare Specific to Hypocrites and Disbelievers
1. Impersonation and Hypocrisy:
Hypocrites emphasize their falsehood, making it appear as truth. They do not believe in Allah and the day of Resurrection, but they claim otherwise. They engage in corruption while asserting that they are reformers. They regard themselves as wise and believers as foolish. The Qur’an states: “Be aware, these are the corrupters.” (Al-Baqarah, verses: 12 and 11). Believers enjoin good and forbid evil, whereas hypocrites encourage evil in the guise of enjoining good and forbid good in the guise of forbidding evil (Tobah, verse: 67). They may not openly advocate for people to commit wrongdoings, but they cloak bad actions in a positive light, urging others to partake, while rendering good deeds unappealing. They build mosques, but their intention is not to worship; rather, it’s to sow division. They proclaim, “We had no intention but to serve and do good” (Tobah, verses: 107-110).
2. Creating Doubt in People’s Beliefs and Faith:
The Jews of Medina employed various means to weaken the Muslims’ faith. One tactic involved some of them pretending to believe at the start of the day and then renouncing their faith by the day’s end to sow doubt and discourage other believers (Al-Imran, verse: 72).
3. Spreading Rumors:
Hypocrites or individuals with weak faith, upon hearing news of the Muslims’ victories or defeats, spread information without investigation. However, if they were to refer the matter to their Prophet and leaders—who possess sufficient discernment—they would be informed of the factual basis of those issues (Nisa, verse: 83). The slander directed at one of the Prophet’s wives also took the form of a rumor. Allah reproaches some who, upon hearing it, failed to say that they do not have the right to speak on such matters, advising that they should never repeat such claims (Noor, verses: 17 and 16).
To mitigate the effects of rumors, Muslims should be educated to respond judiciously and understand that all human faculties, including the eyes, ears, and heart, will be questioned (Isra’a, verse: 36). The Qur’an states: If a wicked person brings you news, investigate it, lest you cause harm to a group out of ignorance and later regret your actions (Hujrat, verse: 6).
4. Slander:
During the time of the Holy Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), false accusations of adultery were leveled against an innocent person (Noor, verse: 11). This situation illustrated that the individual was regarded as an important member of society. A group of hypocrites and ostensibly Muslims sought to exploit this incident for their own gain and to the detriment of the Islamic community. Then, verses were revealed admonishing the believing men and women for failing to think well of themselves (and those like them) when they heard this slander. They were urged to question why they did not state that this was a grave and evident lie. They were also reminded that those who failed to produce four witnesses to substantiate the claims were liars (Noor, verse: 12).
5. Creating Division Among Believers:
The polytheists were angered by the unity of Muslims and the absence of conflicts that had persisted before Islam. One Jew named Shas bin Qays, an old man with a dark heart, upon witnessing the friendship between the clans of Aws and Khazraj, decided to incite conflict anew. To this end, he reminded them of past wars, bloodshed, and disputes. This plan succeeded, as they began to quarrel again, nearly leading to violence when news reached the Holy Prophet. Verses were then revealed, warning Muslims that if they followed the People of the Book, they would revert to disbelief (Al-Imran, verse: 100).
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