A World Turned Upside Down: Truth in the Age of Deception

It’s hard not to feel the shift. The world feels much darker than before. The rules of right and wrong, once etched into the walls of tradition, seem smeared and rewritten by those who speak loudest rather than truest. In this strange new world, deception has gone mainstream — and truth is treated like worthless fiction.

In fact, telling the truth can be dangerous; 162 journalists were killed in 2023 and 2024 and 1 journalist is killed every 4 days, according to UNESCO. In fact, 1668 journalist were killed in the last 20 years.

We live in a time when those who fabricate stories in families, society and the media are rewarded with influence, while truth-tellers are often cast aside as naive, bitter, crazy or disruptive traitors. This isn’t just frustrating — it’s deeply unsettling. The very fabric of trust seems to fray more with each news cycle, each viral post, each manipulated soundbite, manipulated WhatsApp message and each government statement.

In fact, this time was predicted thousands of years ago. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is reported to have said, "There will come to the people years of treachery, when the liar will be regarded as honest, and the honest man will be regarded as a liar; the traitor will be regarded as faithful, and the faithful man will be regarded as a traitor; and the Ruwaibidah will decide matters," according to Sunan Ibn Majah. The Prophet clarified that the "Ruwaibidah" refers to "vile and base men who control the affairs of the people," according to Sunan Ibn Majah. 

The Bible also warns about deception and false teachings in the last days. 1 Timothy 4:1-2 speaks of some abandoning the faith and following deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Timothy 3:1-5 describes people in the last days as lovers of themselves, money, etc., and not lovers of good. 

The Bible consistently emphasizes the importance of truth and the dangers of deception. John 7:18 states that those who speak for themselves seek their own glory, while those who seek to honour God speak the truth. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 encourages believers to examine everything and hold fast to what is good. 

Personally, as a medium, I believe that many people have lost their way spiritually and for this reason are easily deceived by the growing numbers of people driven by the devil. They are so lost that sometimes they don’t even know they are deceived and driven by the devil.  This is the overarching reason but there are other contributing factors that make it easier for people to be deceived in families, communities and the world.

😔 Other Reasons Why Lies Thrive and Truth Stumbles

• Confirmation Bias Rules: Many people don’t seek truth; they seek validation. They believe what aligns with their preexisting worldview — even if it’s false.

• Truth Is Often Uncomfortable: Lies seduce with simplicity and ease. Truth demands nuance, analytical thinking, knowledge of the past and intelligence.

• Manipulation Is a Profession Now: From PR firms to deepfake creators and governments, whole industries and regimes exist to package lies beautifully.

• Social Proof Over Integrity: If enough people agree, it must be real…right? Wrong. Popularity has replaced credibility.

🧭 Advice for Navigating This Darkness

If you’re one of the few still trying to walk with integrity, here’s how you survive — and thrive.

1.       Strengthen your faith in God (Allah), the divine light of the universe

God will light your way to reveal the evildoers and the path of light. Keep your intentions pure and live a prayerful life. Don’t be swayed.

2.       Sharpen Your Discernment

Train yourself to read between the lines. Question motives. Ask who benefits. Don’t just accept information — investigate it.

3.       Find Your Tribe

You’re not alone. Seek out communities (online or off) where authenticity still matters. Lean on each other to stay grounded. If you need to stand alone, find strength to do so.

4.       Speak With Purpose, Not For Praise

Don’t chase applause. Chase clarity. Your job isn’t to convince the masses — it’s to plant seeds in the minds of those ready to listen.

5.       Protect Your Peace

When the noise gets overwhelming, log off. Disconnect from toxic deceiving or manipulating people. Reconnect with reality through books, nature, music, silence.

6.       Be Strategically Honest

Honesty doesn’t mean handing your truth to people who will only weaponize it. Share wisely. Protect what’s sacred.

The world feels darker and darkness tries cancel light. Sometimes, this means you need to shine your light and stand stronger whereas, at other times, it means stepping back to protect yourself. Stay sharp. Stay smart, Stay kind. Stay real. But most of all stay connected to the divine (God / Allah).