Spreading Islamophobia Online

They say Islam oppresses women. That Sharia is cruel. That Islamic punishments are barbaric.

But these claims are rarely examined in the light of truth. The rights Islam gave to women—centuries before any modern constitution—are hardly ever acknowledged. Islam established a woman’s right to inherit, own property, seek knowledge, and live with dignity and safety. These rights were not gifts of the West or of liberal movements, but divine legislation. Still, this history is deliberately hidden or distorted.

Instead, what the world often sees are jokes and mockery—Islam turned into a meme. Skits and viral content portray Muslims as backwards, illiterate, violent. Hijab becomes a target. Salah is mocked. The beard is ridiculed. And to those unfamiliar with Islamic teachings, this content seems funny. But its influence is deeper than it appears. Many young Muslims, exposed to such media without strong foundations in their faith, start questioning Islam subconsciously.

And this isn’t happening by chance.

Behind this digital assault are powerful forces: media lobbies, ideological think tanks, and, at times, state-sponsored campaigns. Their goal? To distort the image of Islam worldwide—and more dangerously, to distort it within the hearts of Muslims themselves. Algorithms on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook are often designed in a way that suppresses Islamic educational content while amplifying material that misrepresents or attacks the religion.

Another dangerous trend is the promotion of "moderate" or "liberal" Islam. This version conveniently removes aspects like hijab, jihad, Sharia, and the structure of the Muslim family. What’s left is a hollow identity that resembles secular ideology but wears an Islamic label. Youth are taught that real Islam is harsh and outdated, while the watered-down version is "enlightened."

This confusion grows when violent groups like ISIS or Boko Haram are allowed to define Islam in the global narrative. When such groups commit atrocities, the religion is blamed. Yet when Muslims are victims of hate—mosques are burned, hijabi women are assaulted, children are bullied in schools—the perpetrators are described as "mentally ill," not terrorists. The hypocrisy is clear.

This bias is not just media deep. It’s systemic. And the question every Muslim should ask is: What are we doing about it?

Often, the answer is disappointing. Our responses are usually emotional, unorganized, and temporary. We post angry comments, we share emotional videos, but we lack consistency. We wait for the next insult to Islam to react—but we are rarely proactive.

Now is the time for a new kind of resistance: intellectual resistance. We need to reclaim the narrative with knowledge, reason, and creativity. Yes, we need scholars. But we also need filmmakers, writers, software developers, poets, designers, and content creators who can tell the story of Islam in a way the modern world can engage with.

We need content that educates, inspires, and strengthens faith. Documentaries that show the contribution of Islam to science and society. Animation that teaches children the Seerah of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Instagram reels that explain the logic of Sharia in 30 seconds. Podcasts that answer modern doubts with clarity and compassion.

We also need better strategies online. Understanding how platforms work, how trends are built, how to use SEO, hashtags, and storytelling to reach people who are searching for meaning. Because people are searching—they just don’t always find us.

But none of this will work without spiritual strength. Alongside content and creativity, we need taqwa, sabr, and dua. This is not just a media war. It’s a spiritual test.

Because Islam is not weak.

Islam is light. And those who oppose it do so because they fear its strength, its clarity, its justice. They fear a system that calls for accountability, modesty, and purpose in life. Their fear proves that Islam is alive. That it still matters. That it still holds power.

And as Allah says:

"And say: Truth has come, and falsehood has vanished. Verily, falsehood is bound to vanish." (Surah Al-Isra: 81)Start writing...