A Study on the Role of the Media and Its Effects on the Identity of Muslims (The 60th and Final Part)
Strategies for Protection from the Harm of Cultural Invasion
C: Increasing Knowledge and Eliminating Ignorance
Another strategy for protection from the harm of cultural invasion is increasing knowledge and eliminating ignorance.
To achieve their goals, cultural invaders exploit ignorance and misinformation, distorting facts and casting doubt in the media space, which causes people to become confused and skeptical of their culture and true values. Therefore, as the knowledge and awareness of members of society regarding true cultures and values, religious texts, divine commands, and the brilliant history of Islamic civilization increase, their vulnerability to cultural invasion decreases. The enlightening religion of Islam condemns ignorance and misinformation, considering them to be the causes of the deviation of many people. As Allah (s.w.t) identifies the cause of the deviation of some of the Children of Israel as their ignorance, He says: “فَأَتَوا عَلى قَوْمٍ يَعْكَفُونَ عَلى أصْنامِ لَهُم قالوا يا مُوسَى اجْعَلْ لَنا إلها كَما لَهُم آلِهَةً قالَ إِنَّكُمْ قَوْمٌ تَجْهَلُون؛ “On their way, the Children of Israel came across a group of people who had gathered around their idols in humility and submission. At this time, the Children of Israel said to Moses: “Make for us a god, just as they have gods and goddesses.” He said, “You are an ignorant people.” (Al-A’raf: 137) Although the Children of Israel witnessed great miracles, such as the splitting of the sea and the drowning of the Pharaohs, some of them deviated shortly thereafter, influenced by the culture of the idolaters, and demanded to accept that false culture. This was, of course, due to their ignorance. According to the above verse, ignorance leads individuals in society to easily accept a worthless culture and to be vulnerable to the cultural invasion of their enemies.
In another verse, the reason for the deviation of the people of Lot is attributed to their ignorance, where it says: “و لُوطاً إذْ قالَ لقومه أتَأْتُونَ الْفَاحِشَةَ وَ أَنْتُمْ تُبْصِرُونَ. أَ إِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ الرِّجَالَ شَهْوَةٌ منْ دُونِ النِّساءِ بَلْ أَنْتُمْ قَوْم تَجْهَلُون؛” And remember Lot when he said to his people: “Do you commit an indecency while you are aware of its ugliness and its evil consequences? Do you go to men instead of women out of lust? You are an ignorant people.” (An-Naml: 54-55)
Therefore, ignorance has been condemned from the perspective of Islam and the Holy Quran, viewed as a cause of deviation from the path of truth and of accepting worthless cultures.
On the other hand, Islam emphasizes the importance of learning, increasing knowledge, and enhancing awareness among members of society, considering education as one of the main purposes of sending messengers and divine prophets. In this regard, the Holy Quran states: “هُوَ الَّذى بَعَثَ فِى الْأُمِّيِّينَ رَسُولاً مِنْهُم يَتْلُوا عَلَيْهم آياته و يُزَكِّيهِمْ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الكتابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَ إِنْ كَانُوا مِنْ قَبْلُ لَفى ضَلال مُبين؛” He is the One who raised up among the unlettered people a Messenger from among themselves, reciting to them His verses and purifying them and teaching them the Book and wisdom, although they were previously in clear error. (Al-Juma’ah: 2)
In this verse, one of the objectives of the mission of the Holy Prophet of Islam is to teach the Book and wisdom, indicating the vital role of education and learning in guiding members of society. Therefore, a lack of education and training leads to misguidance and deviation from the path of truth, while education and training lead to guidance and resistance to deviations. Moreover, true knowledge and a correct understanding of the true religion, religious values, and true beliefs can protect a person from deviation—not just any knowledge and understanding.
In fact, true knowledge refers to the knowledge of the Book and wisdom, as well as understanding true divine values, which, like light, guides a person toward the path of truth and happiness, provided that it is accompanied by purification and action.
In another verse, it is mentioned that possessing true knowledge and understanding enables a person to walk on the divine path, fear Allah, and avoid deviation, as the Holy Quran states: «إِنَّما يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عباده الْعُلَماءُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ غَفُور؛” Among the servants of Allah, only the learned fear Him. Allah is All-Mighty, All-Forgiving. (Fatir: 28)
True knowledge protects a person from harm and deviation, keeping them steadfast on the divine path. True knowledge is that which guides a person to the path of truth, and true scholars are those who walk on that divine path, fear Allah, and do not deviate.
Another verse highlights the significant differences between the learned and the ignorant, stating: “Say: Are those who know equal to those who do not know? Only those endowed with understanding remember.” (Az-Zumar: 9)
According to this verse, the ignorant and the learned are not equivalent, and there are many differences between them. The learned possess the light of knowledge, which protects them from harm; conversely, the ignorant are misguided due to their deprivation of knowledge. Therefore, if accompanied by action, true knowledge can safeguard a person from the harm of cultural invasions by enemies and protect them from deviation.
The aforementioned items are the most important factors and strategies for immunity against the harm of cultural invasion. The application of these strategies can help us become resilient and invulnerable to the cultural invasions of hostile media and enemies.
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