Media Expert: Islam’s Coherent Vision Requires Modern Outreach
Al-Zaki, a prominent figure in Islamic media and intellectual circles, spoke in an interview with IQNA about his professional journey, the aims of the television program “Al-Wajh al-Akhar”, and the challenges Islamic thought faces in the global media sphere.
The program, produced by Al-Kawthar International TV, explores intellectual and cultural foundations of modern phenomena in the Muslim world and beyond.
“Islam in its essence offers a coherent view of man and life,” al-Zaki said. “It is built upon lofty moral values and provides frameworks for addressing human crises.”
However, he noted that two key problems hinder its effective global presence: “First, the lack of a scientific discourse that can employ modern knowledge to present Islam’s message accurately; and second, the weakness in choosing suitable formats and tools that align with new technologies.”
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According to al-Zaki, overcoming these challenges would allow Islamic thought to play an influential role in global media. “If these two obstacles are resolved,” he said, “Islamic thought has the capacity to maintain an active and effective presence in the world’s media space.”
Reflecting on his media career, al-Zaki said his interest began in childhood with cultural and Quranic activities, later developing into advocacy work after he became acquainted with the school of Ahl al-Bayt (AS). His engagement with Islamic media expanded through student publications, Quran associations, and public lectures, continuing into his university and seminary years.
He described “Al-Wajh al-Akhar” as “an intellectual dialogue on the ideological foundations of the contemporary world,” focusing on how modern Western thought shapes today’s global realities.
The show, he explained, also examines “the crises the Muslim Ummah faces in dealing with Western cultural and political projects, and its internal weaknesses in using its own capacities to rebuild Islamic civilization.”
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Al-Zaki emphasized that program hosts should be active participants in shaping discussions, not merely conveyors of information. “The presenter should not only be a transmitter of the message,” he said. “He must be a thinker with an analytical vision, guiding the dialogue and contributing to the process of explanation and understanding.”
He also praised the Islamic Republic of Iran for taking “the first conscious and serious steps in redefining Islamic identity on a global scale,” adding that “Al-Wajh al-Akhar” follows the same path by combining constructive analysis with critical reflection on misconceptions about Islam and Western cultural paradigms.
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