So You Want to Be a Journalist?

Question and Answer Details

	Name of Questioner	Muhsin
	Title	Islamic Code of Practice for a Muslim Journalist
	Question	Respected scholars, as-salamu `alaykum. Can you please enlighten me with the code of practice for Muslim journalist with details on the following: (1) What kind of photographs and pictures can be published? (2) What kind of news, like exposing weaknesses of the members of society as individuals and as leaders of the community, can be published? You can answer this both from fiqh point of view and as a social issue. Jazakum Allahu khayran.
	Date	02/Nov/2006
	Name of Mufti	Muhammad Iqbal Nadvi
	Topic	Morals & Values

Answer

Wa`alaykumAs-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Brother, we really appreciate your forwarding this important question to us, and we commend your keenness to become well-acquainted with the teachings of Islam. May Allah help us all keep firm on the right path. Ameen.

Muslim journalists are supposed to be honest, truthful, and with good intention. They have to support truth and justice, and discourage corruption and bad thoughts. They have a great role to play in helping to spread good values and morals and to discourage vices, evil, and corruption in the society.

In his response to your question, the prominent Muslim scholar Sheikh Muhammad Iqbal Nadvi, director and imam of Al-Falah Islamic Center, Oakville, Ontario, Canada, states the following:

The basic principle that Muslim journalists are supposed to follow is to present the truth by verifying the information to the best of their ability. Muslim journalists are supposed to help spread good values and discourage evils and corruption in society. Almighty Allah says [And pursue not that of which thou hast no knowledge; for every act of hearing, or of seeing, or of (feeling in) the heart will be enquired into (on the Day of Reckoning)] (Al-Israa' 17:36) and [Help ye one another in righteousness and piety, but help ye not one another in sin and rancour: fear Allah: for Allah is strict in punishment] (Al-Ma'idah 5:2).

Therefore, Muslim journalists should never be a tool in promoting immorality or corruption of any kind. Almighty Allah says [Those who love (to see) scandal published broadcast among the Believers, will have a grievous Penalty in this life and in the Hereafter: Allah knows, and ye know not] (An-Nur 24:19).

Muslim journalists should also play a significant role in resolving conflict and patching up differences, rather than aggravating them. Almighty Allah says [The Believers are but a single Brotherhood: so make peace and reconciliation between your two (contending) brothers; and fear Allah, that ye may receive Mercy] (Al-Hujurat 49:10).

Keeping this in mind, Muslim journalists could play a very important role in enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil, and therefore converting their job to be an act of `ibadah (worship).

As far as pictures are concerned, scholars have accepted pictures describing events and incidents to help understand the situation. However, pictures showing indecency, pornography, and the like MAY NOT be shown because they help spread evil and immorality.

Regarding criticizing and exposing the weaknesses of some members of the community through journalism, this depends on the maslaha or interest that is meant to be realized and the harm that could happen as a result. If there is no benefit or need for such criticism, then it will be like backbiting. However, when there is a great need for such criticism in serving a greater cause, then it is needed, but Muslim journalists are supposed to abide by the etiquette of giving advice in Islam. For example, publishing some wrong actions of some person or an organization in order to allow people see the truth and take precaution, is a valid ground for it allows pubic criticism.

The bottom line is this: Journalists are to serve as witnesses to the truth and not to falsehood.

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