Sufis, scientists, and ‘thinking like a journalist’ 

Beneath three apparently different pursuits lies a remarkably similar philosophy, outlined in Global Southasia’s ‘Ten Pillars of Journalism’ 

A recent newsletter from Sapan, the Southasia Peace Action Network, caught my attention for two reasons. One was a Brown Pundits’ report about Beena Sarwar’s talk on ‘How to Think like a Journalist’ at the Stockholm Mela Nordic Southasia Peace conference. The second was about the Sufi poet Amir Khusro’s poem welcoming the monsoon season, explained by the composer Arshad Mahmud.  

Both got mixed up in my head — great Sufi poetry from Southasia and journalism. And following Beena Sarwar’s lead, I began mulling over the idea of thinking like Sufi, a scientist and a journalist.  

At first glance, a Sufi mystic, a scientist in a laboratory, and a journalist in a newsroom seem to inhabit entirely different worlds. One seeks spiritual truth; another investigates the laws of nature, and the third uncovers facts that shape public understanding. Yet beneath these different pursuits lies a remarkably similar philosophy: Truth demands humility, discipline, and a willingness to question oneself before questioning the world. 

The principles that define ethical journalism are also the foundations of scientific research, and Sufi thought. A journalist investigates events without prejudice. A scientist tests ideas without bias. A Sufi strips away ego to perceive reality.  

Each follows a path where truth is not inherited or assumed — it is discovered. Beena Sarwar’s ten pillars of journalism provide an ideal framework to understand this shared pursuit of truth.  

The first one is: ‘Observe without judgement’ 

That is where the journey begins. A reporter reaches the scene before writing the story. A scientist studies nature before proposing a theory. Charles Darwin spent nearly five years aboard the HMS Beagle sailing around the world, filling notebooks with observations of plants, animals, fossils, and geological formations, long before he developed the theory of evolution by natural selection.  

Likewise, Sufi masters have long taught that clear perception begins when the ego stops rushing to judge. A line from the 13th-century Persian poet Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi’s poem, “Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and right doing, there is a field,” is less about abandoning morality than about suspending premature judgment until deeper understanding emerges. Whether in journalism, science, or spirituality, observation must precede interpretation.  

The second principle is “Don’t assume”. Every breakthrough begins by questioning what the wider public accepts. For centuries, physicians believed cholera spread through foul air. During London’s 1854 cholera outbreak, physician John Snow challenged this assumption by mapping infections and tracing them to the Broad Street water pump, demonstrating that contaminated water, not “bad air” was responsible.  

Similarly, Sufi poet Bulleh Shah challenged inherited religious and social identities through his famous line, “Bulleya, ki jaana main kaun” (“Bulleh, I know not who I am”), reminding us that wisdom begins with questioning certainty. Journalists, too, resist assumptions by asking difficult questions before accepting popular narratives.  

The third pillar, “Verify information”, separates truth from speculation. A responsible journalist relies on multiple sources, just as a scientist depends on reproducible evidence rather than a single experiment.  

The discovery of DNA’s double-helix structure illustrates this principle perfectly. James Watson and Francis Crick developed their model by building upon years of research, including Rosalind Franklin’s X-ray diffraction images. Scientific knowledge advanced because evidence was independently verified.  

Sufism echoes the same lesson from another direction: Spiritual truths should be experienced rather than accepted blindly.  

All three traditions insist that repetition alone does not make something true.  

The fourth principle is to “Provide context”. Facts isolated from their circumstances can be misled.  

Journalists explain the historical, political, and social background behind an event. 

Scientists interpret observations within broader theoretical frameworks. Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity transformed physics because it explained observations that Newtonian mechanics could not, including the orbit of Mercury and the bending of light around massive objects. British astrophysicist Arthur Eddington’s observations during the 1919 solar eclipse placed Einstein’s ideas in their proper scientific context and forever changed our understanding of gravity.  

Sufi thinkers similarly remind us that every individual carries an unseen story. 

Compassion grows when context replaces quick judgment.  

Just the facts 

The fifth principle is “State facts, not opinions”. Science asks not what researchers hope is true, but what evidence demonstrates. Austrian scientist Gregor Mendel patiently counted thousands of pea plants over many years, allowing facts, not expectations to reveal the laws of inheritance. Journalism follows the same discipline by separating verified facts from commentary. Sufi teachings also caution against confusing the voice of the ego with reality. Truth is discovered through disciplined observation, not personal preference.  

The sixth principle, “Avoid labelling, name-calling, and finger-pointing” is equally important across all three traditions.  

Scientific progress depends upon evaluating ideas rather than attacking individuals. Hungarian physician Ignaz Semmelweis faced ridicule when he argued that doctors should wash their hands to reduce maternal deaths, delaying acceptance of a practice that would eventually save countless lives. Journalism similarly serves the public best when it scrutinizes evidence rather than demonizing people. Sufi poets challenged labels of religion, caste, and status, insisting that humanity cannot be reduced to simplistic identities.  

The seventh pillar is to “Respond with reason, not emotion”. Some of history’s greatest scientific discoveries provoked intense emotional resistance.  

Astronomer Galileo’s support for the heliocentric model which placed the sun at the center of the universe challenged deeply held beliefs, but scientific questions could not be settled through outrage or authority — they required evidence.  

Responsible journalism follows the same path by reporting controversial issues with calm analysis rather than emotional reaction.  

Sufism teaches mastery over one’s impulses, encouraging reflection before response and wisdom before anger.  

Closely related is the eighth principle: “Use neutral language and choose words carefully”.  

Scientists distinguish precisely between a hypothesis, a theory, and a law because each carries a specific meaning. Journalists understand that emotionally charged language can influence public opinion before readers examine the facts. Sufi poets treat language with care, using words not to inflame conflict but to illuminate understanding. Precision in language protects credibility and encourages thoughtful dialogue.  

The ninth principle, “Stay open-minded”, lies at the heart of discovery.  

Scientific knowledge evolves as new evidence emerges. German geophysicist Alfred Wegener’s theory of continental drift was dismissed for decades until the discovery of plate tectonics confirmed his insight. Journalism, too, earns trust by correcting errors when better evidence becomes available. Sufi wisdom embraces humility before the vastness of truth. As Rumi advised, “Sell your cleverness and buy bewilderment.” 

Openness is not weakness; it is the willingness to let evidence reshape understanding.  

Talk less 

Finally, “listen more than speak.” The best journalists know that powerful stories emerge through careful listening. Scientists examine data, invite peer reviews, and welcome constructive criticism. In 1967, Irish physicist Jocelyn Bell Burnell noticed unusual radio signals that others overlooked because she listened attentively to unexpected evidence, leading to the discovery of pulsars. Sufi teachings elevate listening into a spiritual practice, urging seekers to hear not only words but also silence, experience, and the quiet voice of the heart.  

Across all three traditions, breakthroughs belong not to those who speak the loudest but to those who listen the most carefully.  

The convergence of Sufism, science, and journalism offers an important lesson for our age of misinformation and instant opinion. Each tradition rejects certainty without evidence. Each values humility over arrogance, inquiry over assumption, and truth over ideology.  

The journalist investigates society. The scientist investigates nature. The Sufi investigates the self. Yet all three are engaged in the same lifelong pursuit: stripping away illusion to arrive at reality.  

The journalistic pillars identified above are therefore much more than newsroom guidelines. They are universal principles of critical thinking that resonate equally in scientific laboratories, Sufi lodges, classrooms, and public life.  

They remind us that credibility is not earned by speaking first or loudest. It is earned by observing carefully, questioning courageously, verifying patiently, listening deeply, and allowing evidence, not ego, to guide the search for truth.  

In a world where information travels instantly but wisdom often arrives slowly, perhaps the journalist, the scientist, and the Sufi are walking the same road. One carries a notebook, another a microscope, and the third a heart refined through reflection.  

Their tools differ, but their destination remains the same: Truth.   

Asadullah Khan is a television producer born and educated in Karachi. A member of the founding team of Geo TV, he has more than 30 years of experience, from studio settings to international war zones and conflict areas including Pakistan, Iraq, and Lebanon. Now based in Islamabad, he heads the current affairs programming of new television channel being launched. 

This is a Global Southasia (formerly Sapan News) syndicated feature available for republication with due credit to sapannews.com. 

Why ‘Southasia’ as one word? Because our histories entangle, our struggles intersect, and our futures are bound together.

This article was written and edited by humans. Click here for the Global Southasia AI policy.

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