The Real War: Truth Against Falsehood

Today’s war is not a war of sects. It is not a Shia–Sunni war. It is not a war between religions, nor between mazhabs, maslaks, or firqas. These factions and Chaos resemble the factions and Chaos that appeared during the eras of the prophets of their times. Their mention is found not only in the Holy Qur’an but also in other divine books and historical records.

In every age, the same conflict returns under a new mask. Sometimes it appears as Shia–Sunni, sometimes as Muslim–non-Muslim, sometimes as East–West, sometimes as left–right, sometimes as black–white, sometimes as rich–poor, sometimes as native–foreigner, sometimes as tradition–modernity. Sometimes it is one language against another, one region against another, one tribe against another, one class against another, one caste against another, one nationality against another, one political party against another, or one economic interest against another.

These labels are not the root. They are the fuel. The real fire is older and deeper: it is the war between truth and falsehood, between justice and oppression, between light and darkness.

In these wars, the opposing sides are approximately five percent and five percent. The remaining ninety percent are neutral, confused, silent, or merely trying to survive. This partisanship or inclination—by joining either of the two five-percent sides—can change the game entirely. The five percent of falsehood are often organized, funded, armed, media-backed, and loud. The five percent of truth are often small, persecuted, mocked, imprisoned, silenced, and killed. And the ninety percent think they are safe because they are neutral. But neutrality does not always mean peace. Sometimes it means surrender to the louder and more organized side.

If an ordinary person, as part of the common masses, is attached to some religion or sect, he should reflect for a while on what is truth and what is falsehood. If even individually this much is done—if people step out of their own localities, identities, prejudices, sects, languages, regions, ethnicities, parties, and personal interests, and understand the real issue—then the situation can change.

From eternity to eternity, this war has been between truth and falsehood. In this war, the common people and the elites have, in their respective times, kept it going in various forms by providing fuel—fuel in the shape of sects, language, region, religion, ethnicity, race, nationality, class, caste, ideology, political affiliation, economic interest, tribal loyalty, culture, tradition, dress, dialect, accent, skin color, gender, generation, profession, education, urban–rural divide, wealth, poverty, immigration status, historical grievances, victimhood, fear, misinformation, propaganda, media narratives, social media algorithms, foreign interference, resource competition, border disputes, leadership cults, personality worship, and other such divisions.

The people of falsehood are firmly and intensely established upon falsehood, and the people of truth are established upon truth. In today’s age, falsehood is openly present. Its supporters are visible as clearly as glass. They no longer hide behind subtlety. And the people of truth are also visible—while having their necks cut, being silenced, imprisoned, mocked, and marginalized.

Today, every human being whom God created and sent to the earth, for the completion of humanity, should realize these things and direct his support and action toward the truth. Truth does not need a majority to survive. It needs witnesses. It needs people who will stand, speak, and act.

So do not ask only, “What can I do?” Ask first: “What is truth? Where does justice lie? What does God require of me?” And then, having understood, do not remain among the ninety percent who watch. Join the side of truth—even if it is small, even if it is costly, even if it is alone.