Improving literacy regarding geopolitical developments and the mass media can be achieved through three skills: critical thinking, fact-checking, and strategic reading.

Bogor, W Java (Indonesia Window) – Indonesia’s Sharia economics expert, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Syafii Antonio, urged the public, especially Muslims in Indonesia, to improve their literacy regarding geopolitical developments and the mass media.

"When we look at the media, try not to look too much at Indonesian-language media, unless it's from official sources. If we want to listen to the media, listen directly to English-language media. This way, we will gain concrete knowledge," Prof. Syafii Antonio explained.

The call was delivered during a lecture entitled ‘From Gaza to Hormuz: 7 Practical Steps for the Economic and Geopolitical Revival of the Ummah,’ held at Tazkia University Campus in Bogor district, West Java province, on Sunday.

The developer of the Prophetic Leadership and Management Wisdom (ProLM) model also encouraged the public to seek analysis from international detailed examination using data and statistics.

According to Prof. Syafii Antonio, in addition to the war that occurred in the Middle East, currently the world community is facing a ‘media war, algorithm war and public opinion war.

“So, in order that we are not dragged into wrong information, that gives rise to su'u zhon (bad prejudice) against our brothers, critical thinking is needed when we look at social media," he said.

The sharia economics expert quoted the holy verse of the Qur'an from Surah Al-Hujurat verse 6, which means: 'O you who believe! If a wicked person comes to you with news, then ascertain its truth, lest you harm a people out of ignorance (carelessness), and then you become regretful of your actions.'

From that verse, Prof. Syafii Antonio emphasized the effort of 'tabayyun' (verify the information) or research, while regretting the common habit found among Muslims, who immediately just accept all the news heard or read in the media, and then share the news.

“If we find content, do an analysis first before sharing it," he stressed.

The founder of Tazkia University emphasized three skills that Muslims must have in assessing news in the mass media, namely critical thinking, fact checking (checking facts to verify the truth of a news), and strategic reading.

Prof. Syafii Antonio reminded everyone to always cross-check data from official agencies, including referring back to the original sources of a news item.

"If there is a verse, go back to the Quran. If there is a hadith, check whether it is a sahih or daif (weak) hadith, or a mutawatir hadith (narrated by many narrators), or ahad hadith," he explained.

Regarding strategic reading, the Muslim academic educates people how to read by sorting out important and unimportant parts of a news page.

With these three skills, Prof. Syafii Antonio ensures that Muslims in Indonesia are expected not to be easily provoked by fake or false news that easily goes viral in the mass media and social media.

Reporting by Indonesia Window