What a Hoopoe and an Ant Taught Us About Journalism

Honest media is a tool that never hesitates in its pursuit of truth. Media and truth are two sides of the same coin, inseparable, each incomplete without the other.

Media can be divided into three kinds.

Media that reveals only part of the truth. Media that hesitates to reveal the truth. And media that conceals the truth and actively works against it.

The Ethics and Purpose of Media

When it comes to the ethics of media, not everything that is known needs to be said. Not everything that is said is true. And not every truth that deserves to be told has yet found its time.

Media is the letter in the middle of a sentence. Not the full stop at the end of a paragraph.

Through media, distant things draw near. This vast, wide world becomes a small village. Every detail of that village is made visible, rendered clear.

The role of media is a noble one. Its duty is to plant good values and wholesome habits in society, and to encourage them.

Media’s Influence Through History

The importance of media has long been recognised and given its rightful place. Joseph Goebbels, Hitler’s Minister of Propaganda, once said:

“Give me a media without a conscience, and I will produce for you an ignorant people without awareness.”

Allah, the Most High, says in the Holy Quran:

لَّا خَيْرَ فِي كَثِيرٍ مِّن نَّجْوَاهُمْ إِلَّا مَنْ أَمَرَ بِصَدَقَةٍ أَوْ مَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ إِصْلَاحٍ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ

” There is no good in most of their secret talks—except those encouraging charity, kindness, or reconciliation between people.” (Surah An-Nisa, 4:114)

The primary and fundamental responsibility of media is to deliver the truth. At the right time. In the right way.

A person is hidden behind their tongue. What lies in the heart is revealed through the words that slip from the mouth. A good word, as Allah has described it, is like a tree whose roots are firmly planted in the earth and whose branches reach toward the sky. It is what builds nations, heals wounds, and brings peace to hearts.

Lessons From the Smallest of Creatures

Even from the smallest creatures in creation, the craft of media offers its lessons.

Just as Allah sent His prophets with knowledge and wisdom, He also sends messengers among His creatures, beings that might appear insignificant to our eyes.

The crow, for instance. It demonstrated how to conduct a funeral.

And two far more exalted creatures, the ant and the hoopoe, teach us something extraordinary. From them, the art of media and its finest ethics are made clear to human beings.

The Ant’s Address to Her Community

قَالَتْ نَمْلَةٌ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّمْلُ ادْخُلُوا مَسَاكِنَكُمْ لَا يَحْطِمَنَّكُمْ سُلَيْمَانُ وَجُنُودُهُ وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ

“… an ant warned, “O ants! Go quickly into your homes so Solomon and his armies do not crush you, unknowingly.”” (Surah An-Naml, 27:18)

In ten words, the ant deployed ten tools of media communication. Subhanallah. What perfection is this?

The call to attention: (يَا — O). The identification of the audience: (أَيُّهَا — you). The specific recipients of the message: (النَّمْلُ — ants). The urgent directive: (ادْخُلُوا — enter). The advisory and guidance: (مَسَاكِنَكُمْ — your dwellings). The warning of danger: (لَا يَحْطِمَنَّكُمْ — lest they crush you). The naming of a specific individual: (سُلَيْمَانُ — Solomon). The broadening to include a group: (وَجُنُودُهُ — and his soldiers). The indirect reference: (وَهُمْ — they). And the charitable excuse offered: (لَا يَشْعُرُونَ — while they perceive not).

A media message is few words, plain language, delivered with certainty, and in absolute truth.

The Hoopoe: A Reporter in the Field

Alongside the ant’s address in Surah An-Naml comes the story of the hoopoe. When Prophet Sulaiman, peace be upon him, reviewed his army, he said:

مَا لِيَ لَا أَرَى الْهُدْهُدَ

” “Why is it that I cannot see the hoopoe?” (Surah An-Naml, 27:20)

Notice the wisdom in a leader who first questions himself rather than immediately accusing another. He did not say “where is the hoopoe?” which would have presumed absence. He said “why do I not see him?” leaving open the possibility that the hoopoe was present but beyond his sight. This is the justice of a leader who does not rush to judgement.

Then Sulaiman said:

لَأُعَذِّبَنَّهُ عَذَابًا شَدِيدًا أَوْ لَأَذْبَحَنَّهُ أَوْ لَيَأْتِيَنِّي بِسُلْطَانٍ مُّبِينٍ

” I will surely subject him to a severe punishment, or ˹even˺ slaughter him, unless he brings me a compelling excuse.”” (Surah An-Naml, 27:21)

The fairness of the leader lies in allowing a defence before passing judgement. That spirit is confirmed in this verse.

Then the hoopoe returned and delivered his report:

فَمَكَثَ غَيْرَ بَعِيدٍ فَقَالَ أَحَطتُ بِمَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِ وَجِئْتُكَ مِن سَبَإٍ بِنَبَإٍ يَقِينٍ

“It was not long before the bird came and said, “I have found out something you do not know. I have just come to you from Sheba with sure news.” (Surah An-Naml, 27:22)

Examine the hoopoe’s work as a correspondent.

Breaking news, delivered without delay: (غَيْرَ بَعِيدٍ — not long away). The report is brought with complete certainty: (أَحَطتُ — I have encompassed in knowledge). He went to the source: (جِئْتُ — I came). This is not lazy journalism. He gathered the truth by going into the field himself. The elegance of his language: (سَبَإٍ بِنَبَإٍ — from Sheba with news), words that rhyme and carry rhythm. And the truth of the report is verified and confirmed: (يَقِينٍ — certain).

The Hoopoe’s In-Depth Report

إِنِّي وَجَدتُّ امْرَأَةً تَمْلِكُهُمْ وَأُوتِيَتْ مِن كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَلَهَا عَرْشٌ عَظِيمٌ

” Indeed, I found a woman ruling over them, who has been given everything ˹she needs˺, and who has a magnificent throne.” (Surah An-Naml, 27:23)

Fact reporting with certainty: (إِنِّي وَجَدتُّ — indeed I found). The eloquence in language: (امْرَأَةً — a woman), reporting without naming her, setting aside her name even while knowing it, because she did not merit honour in that moment. Careful use of words: (تَمْلِكُهُمْ — ruling over them). Thorough information gathering: (أُوتِيَتْ مِن كُلِّ شَيْءٍ — she has been given of all things).

وَجَدتُّهَا وَقَوْمَهَا يَسْجُدُونَ لِلشَّمْسِ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ وَزَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ أَعْمَالَهُمْ فَصَدَّهُمْ عَنِ السَّبِيلِ فَهُمْ لَا يَهْتَدُونَ

“I found her and her people prostrating to the sun instead of Allah. For Satan has made their deeds appealing to them—hindering them from the ˹Right˺ Way and leaving them unguided—” (Surah An-Naml, 27:24)

First-hand verified reporting: (وَجَدتُّهَا — I found her). Exclusive reporting: (يَسْجُدُونَ لِلشَّمْسِ — prostrating to the sun). Zeal for the foundations of truth: (مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ — instead of Allah). Analysis of the scene and exposure of reality: (وَزَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ — Satan made their deeds pleasing to them). Summary of meaning: (فَهُمْ لَا يَهْتَدُونَ — so they are not guided).

أَلَّا يَسْجُدُوا لِلَّهِ الَّذِي يُخْرِجُ الْخَبْءَ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا تُخْفُونَ وَمَا تُعْلِنُونَ

“so they do not prostrate to Allah, Who brings forth what is hidden in the heavens and the earth, and knows what you ˹all˺ conceal and what you reveal.” (Surah An-Naml, 27:25)

The Correspondent We Hope For

A media reporter, a true correspondent, is a wise, aware, and sharp-minded person.

The hoopoe of Sulaiman’s media is the correspondent we aspire to. One who does not delay. Who verifies before reporting. Who goes into the field rather than waiting for the news to arrive. Who chooses words carefully. Who reports with certainty but never without conscience.

That bird delivered ten tools of communication in ten words and a field report that has been studied and cited for a thousand years.

The question for every journalist alive today is simple: what would your report look like beside the hoopoe’s?