Islamophobia in Global Media Narratives: A Qur’anic and Prophetic Counter-discourse

Islamophobia has increasingly influenced the representation of Islam and Muslims through securitized narratives, cultural othering, and selective patterns of visibility, particularly within Anglophone Western mainstream media and political–media discourse. This article presents a qualitative and conceptual examination informed by Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to explore recurring narrative structures that shape Islamophobic portrayals in contemporary media communication. The study analyzes widely recognized media discourse trends to illustrate how particular framing strategies contribute to epistemic injustice, reinforce suspicion, and attribute collective responsibility to Muslim communities. In response, the article proposes a Qur’anic–Prophetic ethical framework as a normative resource for evaluating media narratives and encouraging responsible communication. The framework highlights key ethical principles—including justice, verification of information, respect for human dignity, and moral witnessing—as evaluative standards for assessing media practices. Building on these principles, the study outlines practical mechanisms through which ethical guidance may be integrated into media environments, such as strengthened verification procedures, editorial review processes that assess stereotyping risks, and language guidelines for responsible reporting. While presenting Islamic ethical teachings as a constructive moral perspective for media critique, the article also recognizes the diversity of interpretive approaches within Islamic thought and engages potential concerns about employing religious ethics in public discourse. It demonstrates that many of the proposed principles align with broadly shared normative values such as truthfulness, fairness, and respect for human dignity. By linking critical media analysis with Islamic normative ethics, the article contributes to contemporary discussions on Islamophobia and offers a practical framework for promoting more balanced and accountable public communication.