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This tactic of the oppressor—to vilify the oppressed and twist narratives—is as old as time, and alas, it persists even today.

Consider the episode of the Sariyya of Nakhla.

In the sacred month of Rajab, the Prophet ﷺ discreetly dispatched a small group of eight Muhajirun, led by his cousin Abdullah ibn Jahsh.

Given a sealed letter with specific instructions to be opened after two days of travel, they were to observe the movements of the Quraysh near Nakhla, a strategic location between Mecca and Ta'if.

Upon arrival, they encountered a Qurayshi caravan laden with goods—a seemingly opportune moment to reclaim a fraction of what had been unjustly seized from them.

There were only two hours left of the sacred month, and they thought securing a victory, even a small one, would be a welcomed respite after enduring so much hardship.

Only three men lightly guarded the caravan; seeing an easy chance, they decided to act.

In the ensuing confrontation, one of the guards resisted and was killed, while the other two were taken as prisoners, with one of them converting during his time in captivity.

When news of this reached the Prophet ﷺ, he was displeased and refused to accept the spoils of war, recognizing the gravity of fighting during the sacred month.

His response reflected a deep commitment to ethical conduct, even in the face of provocation and injustice.

The aftermath was a storm of accusations.

The Quraysh, almost reveling in this turn of events, decried the Muslims for violating the sanctity of the sacred month—a grave offense in Arabian custom.

They seized upon this incident to paint the Muslims as mischief-makers, evildoers, and corrupters.

It was as if they were pleased to have found an opportunity to vilify them while completely diverting attention from their transgressions: the persecution, torture, and expulsion of Muslims from their homes; the usurpation of property; and their relentless plotting to extinguish the developing Islamic community.

Allah, in His infinite wisdom, addressed this very situation in the Quran:

"They ask you, O Prophet, about fighting in the sacred months.

Say, “Fighting during these months is a great sin. But hindering ˹others˺ from the Path of Allah, rejecting Him, and expelling the worshippers from the Sacred Mosque is ˹a˺ greater ˹sin˺ in the sight of Allah.

For persecution is far worse than killing. And they will not stop fighting you until they turn you away from your faith—if they can.'" (Quran 2:217)

This divine revelation acknowledges the gravity of the companions' actions but places them within the broader context of systemic injustice perpetrated by the Quraysh.

It is a profound reminder that while certain actions are blameworthy, they must be weighed against the backdrop of continuous and egregious oppression.

The Quraysh, much like oppressors throughout history, magnified the missteps of the Muslims while obscuring their own heinous crimes.

They manipulated narratives to cast themselves as guardians of tradition and morality, all the while perpetrating unspeakable injustices.

This duplicity is not confined to the distant past.

In our modern world, we witness similar distortions.

Malcolm X observed, "The media's the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent."

I mean, Nelson Mandela—a global icon of justice and resistance against apartheid—was labeled a terrorist and remained on the United States terrorist watch list until 2008.

This underscores how easily narratives can be twisted to serve the interests of the powerful.

The events of this past year have made it even more evident that we must be vigilant.

We also need to be aware and revisit past incidents and situations that will arise in the future.

We must apply critical thinking and research topics thoroughly before we fall for clickbait titles and emotionally engaging headlines and pictures.

They say the victors write history, but we must ensure we are educated and grounded in truth, whether that truth supports our current views or forces us to shift our perspectives dynamically.

Indeed, whether we like to admit it or not, if similar tragedies unfolded two decades ago, many of us might have remained indifferent or even believed the oppressed were the aggressors.

It is a sobering thought that challenges us to recognize how easily perceptions can be manipulated.

Today, Muslims and other marginalized communities frequently find themselves painted with the broad brush of extremism, their narratives shaped by those who neither understand nor wish to understand their plight.

Acts taken out of context are spotlighted, while the systemic injustices and provocations that give rise to such acts are conveniently ignored.

The cycle of violence and retribution is stripped of nuance, leaving a one-dimensional portrayal that serves the interests of the powerful.

Yet, as believers, we are called to rise above.

Allah commands us to be bearers of truth and to navigate the complex interplay of actions and intentions with wisdom and fairness.

Indeed, knowledge, awareness, and a united community are the steadfast companions of the oppressed—our most potent weapons against injustice and falsehood.

They empower us to seek the truth, uphold justice, and inspire others to join us in this noble pursuit.