Scholars push for positive coverage of Islam, Muslims

Prominent Muslim scholars, media practitioners and Muslim students have graced the launching ceremony of the third and fourth books of the Islam and Media series, written by Rasheed Abubakar, a newspaper columnist. The books, titled: “Media Narratives of Muslims in Nigeria: Facts and Fallacies” and “Islam and Modern Vices: Issues and Concerns in the News” […]

Prominent Muslim scholars, media practitioners and Muslim students have graced the launching ceremony of the third and fourth books of the Islam and Media series, written by Rasheed Abubakar, a newspaper columnist.

The books, titled: “Media Narratives of Muslims in Nigeria: Facts and Fallacies” and “Islam and Modern Vices: Issues and Concerns in the News” were unveiled at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, Lagos.

Chairman of the occasion and former INEC National Commissioner, Prof Lai Olurode, described the books as very apt in correcting the many misconceptions about Islam.

One of the book reviewers, Prof AbdulRazaq Kilani, who was ably represented by Ustadh AbdulWarith Solanke, a veteran journalist, said Islam, a faith professed by over 1.6 billion people worldwide, deserves a better treatment in the media than what currently obtains.

The professor of Islamic Studies at the University of Port-Harcourt, Rivers State noted that Islam, a civilization which has spanned many centuries, is one of the biggest stories in the media.

“Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. It is the last man standing in global spirituality as others have capitulated to the forces of greed and worldly materialism.

Islam has offered the Nigerian public space quality education, social welfare and above all intelligent and peace-loving people.”

The author revealed that more than 100 news stories/features from top newspapers, including some foreign tabloids, were used for content analysis of media reportage of Islam and Muslims in Nigeria during the compilation of Series 3 of the book.

“It covered the period between November 15, 2012 and November 3, 2018, almost 6 years of close media monitoring”, he added.