Basira Press

Sayyeda Zaynab (a) played two media roles: a purposeful media role, clarifying and documenting what happened in Karbala, and a counter role against misleading ideas. And misleading ideology today is far more dangerous.

We can speak to people and say: this is how we must be. Sayyeda Zaynab (a) addressed the people, showing them what they should be and what they must do. But she didn’t stop there.

She completed it with the part we are in most desperate need of today: countering the media of falsehood and deception.

There is a lot of media deception, many temptations leading to media downfalls, a lot of distortion, and a lot of people being dazzled by the worldly matters and benefits, doing things that go against religion just to satisfy the ego or to gain financial benefit or attract an audience and get more views.

Especially on social media, some people go out and say things they don’t even believe in just because it brings more views. Or they appear in front of people but don’t speak the full truth, because some parts of the truth might hurt. Not because they want to harm people, but because some people don’t want to hear the word of truth.

Sayyeda Zaynab (a) teaches us that the one who wants to speak the truth in the face of a tyrant should never fear the blame of any blamer for the sake of Allah.

We are in desperate need of decisive words. We must not be unstable. We must not be media that presents what displeases the Prophet (s) and Ahlulbayt (a).

That is why Sayyeda Zaynab (a) remains eternal. Because she stood with the pure, clear truth and removed the deception we see today.

The presenter says: today we see from some media outlets and channels no clear path, no method, no clear message. They are unstable.

The professor replies: and when you ask what the reason is, the reason is always a worldly one. Interest. And this goes against religion.

Sayyeda Zaynab (a) gave the ultimate line of distinction. She left us with no excuse.

As a media person, it is your duty to walk in the path of Sayyeda Zaynab (a). You will not reach the stage where you speak the truth while the heads of your loved ones are in front of your eyes.

You will not reach a pressuring moment where you speak the truth while you are alone, isolated, broken inside, surrounded by oppressors who could cut your head off at any moment because you said the truth. And she said it.

We are not Sayyeda Zaynab. And we will never reach the situation Sayyeda Zaynab reached. But we must ask ourselves, my Sayyeda, my mistress Zaynab (a), you did everything you did to deliver the word of truth. What have I done, as a media figure, to walk in your footsteps?

If I face myself with this question and I find myself trying to justify my actions in front of Sayyeda Zaynab (a), no matter what justifications come to mind, they will shrink to the point where I can’t even say them in front of what Sayyeda Zaynab (a) went through.

This is why Sayyeda Zaynab (a) should be the motivation and the push for every media figure to carry out their role according to her path.