Control the narrative, or it controls you.

SAMNET encourages members of the Muslim community to write to, and respond to, misleading letters in the press and in online media.

A lie repeated over and over comes to be believed — unless it is challenged and disproven. Until we speak up and counter the narrative, the only account on offer is the one that gets accepted.

Practice and persistence

We call on our Ummah to speak for themselves, within the guidance of our Nabi ☵ — with kindness, respect and tolerance, but holding to the steadfastness of Al-Ameen and As-Siddique.

It takes practice and persistence to get a letter published. First attempts rarely are. Try, tweak, and try again. And even where your letter is not published, editors who receive a volume of responses on a topic feel more inclined to publish something on it, because it demonstrates public interest.

Maximise your reach: instead of one letter, write two or three variants and send them to different outlets.

History looks back at what was written

Without the truth on the record, historians will have only the false narrative to work from. As under colonialism and apartheid, if we do not write our own story, others will write it for us, from their perspective.

Ten minutes a day

While we consume content, others are creating it. Many of us spend hours scrolling, or commenting inside echo chambers of people who already know the truth. We need to reach past the like-minded to the undecided and the misinformed.

Five to ten minutes a day — or a week — spent responding to articles and letters is enough to put the truth into circulation.

How to improve your writing

• Read other letters for style and content.
• Use AI to edit and shorten — 200 to 300 words is usually the limit. There is plenty online on how to get letters published.
• Build a profile with a pen name. Write under the same pen name consistently. Note that you must still give your own name after the end of the letter, or it cannot be considered for publication, for legal reasons.
• Ringfence yourself from abuse. Create a separate “activism” email account for sending letters.
• Use plain English, with simple facts and evidence — links and expert references, not conspiracy theories.
• One issue per letter, to stay short, focused and purposeful.
• Work in groups. Share the load and build a network of family, friends and community who help each other.

Strength is action, not just feeling bad

The Prophet ☵ said: “Whoever among you sees an evil action, let him change it with his hand; if he cannot, then with his tongue; and if he cannot, then with his heart — and that is the weakest of faith.” (Muslim 70)

Let us not settle for the weakest, feeling the pain only in our hearts. It is time to act by using our words.

We are not helpless or voiceless, unless we choose to be.

Where to write, and what we are responding to

Business Day letters: letters@businesslive.co.za

Examples of the narrative being countered, all from Business Day’s letters page: 24 September 2024 · 26 September 2024 · 26 September 2024 · 14 April 2024

Related

Social Media Is Powerful — When Used Effectively · Our Media Need to Report the Critical Findings

Shared by the South African Muslim Network (SAMNET) in the interest of increasing activism, truth and justice.