A Muslim Response to Dominant Western Media - Assalamu Alaikum

Assalamu alaikum. We live in an age flooded with Western and non-Islamic media: movies, TV shows, music, anime, cartoons, comics, manga, and so on. These art forms, whether we realize it or not, often carry the worldview of their creators. When those creators aren't Muslim, their work can include messages that clash with Islamic values, even if wrapped in appealing stories and visuals. We and our families enjoy them, tell ourselves “it won’t affect us,” and yet over time a whole generation can drift away from its principles. Why don’t we push back? Why don’t we build a creative current that answers this influence - like the moral movements that rose in past eras? I’d love to see more Muslim artists - novelists, illustrators, filmmakers, nasheed performers - come forward using their talents to share Islam, teach its values, correct misunderstandings, and speak to contemporary Muslim lives. Work that a young Muslim can relate to, so they don’t feel drawn only to foreign media. There are some bright spots. Artists like Muslim Belal who creates faith-focused spoken word, or filmmakers putting faith-centered stories on screen, show it’s possible, but they’re few. In the world of illustrated magazines, I know a couple of Arabic ones, and I don’t see many Western equivalents - maybe some think they’re not allowed. I don’t agree with forbidding them outright; like poetry, permissibility depends on purpose. If a believer uses art sincerely to spread good and remind people of Islam, then it can be permissible, and Allah knows best. Novels are another space we need to develop. Too many books, even in Arabic, normalize obscenity and immorality but win praise as literature. We need strong Muslim writers whose works can be translated and reach wider audiences. I admire authors like Ayman al-Atoum and others who combine culture and faith - their voices deserve broader readership. In short, we should raise up Islamic literature and art to offer a genuine alternative to dominant media. This is part of our duty to build and care for society. Those who aren’t artists can still help by supporting, promoting, and encouraging such work - and they share in the reward. What do you think? Where do you agree or disagree? Let’s talk. Peace be upon you. A bit about me: I’m a writer, novelist, and translator. I try to give my work an Islamic character and use it to defend and spread the faith. I write in Arabic and haven’t translated or become widely known yet.