TOP TEN MISCONCEPTIONS

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TOP TEN MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT ISLAM

by : Huma Ahmad

MISCONCEPTION #1: Muslims are violent, terrorists and/or extremists. This is

the biggest misconception in Islam, no doubt resulting from the constant

stereotyping and bashing the media gives Islam. When a gunman attacks a mosque

in the name of Judaism, a Catholic IRA guerrilla sets off a bomb in an urban

area, or Serbian Orthodox militiamen rape and kill innocent Muslim civilians,

these acts are not used to stereotype an entire faith. Never are these acts

attributed to the religion of the perpetrators. Yet how many times have we heard

the words 'Islamic, Muslim fundamentalist, etc.' linked with violence. Politics

in so called " Muslim countries " may or may not have any Islamic basis. Often

dictators and politicians will use the name of Islam for their own purposes. One

should remember to go to the source of Islam and separate what the true religion

of Islam says from what is portrayed in the media. Islam literally means

'submission to God' and is derived from a root word meaning 'peace'. Islam may

seem exotic or even extreme in the modern world. Perhaps this is because

religion doesn't dominate everyday life in the West, whereas Islam is considered

a 'way of life' for Muslims and they make no division between secular and sacred

in their lives. Like Christianity, Islam permits fighting in self-defense, in

defense of religion, or on the part of those who have been expelled forcibly

from their homes. It lays down strict rules of combat which include prohibitions

against harming civilians and against destroying crops, trees and livestock.

NOWHERE DOES ISLAM ENJOIN THE KILLING OF INNOCENTS....The Quran says: " Fight in

the cause of God against those who fight you, but do not transgress limits. God

does not love transgressors. " (Quran 2:190) " If they seek peace, then seek you

peace. And trust in God for He is the One that heareth and knoweth all things. "

(Quran 8:61) War, therefore, is the last resort, and is subject to the rigorous

conditions laid down by the sacred law. The term 'jihad' literally means

'struggle'. Muslims believe that there are two kinds of jihad. The other 'jihad'

is the inner struggle of the soul which everyone wages against egotistic desires

for the sake of attaining inner peace. MISCONCEPTION #2: Islam oppresses

women. The image of the typical Muslim woman wearing the veil and forced to

stay home and forbidden to drive is all too common in most peoples thoughts.

Although some Muslim countries may have laws that oppress women, this should not

be seen as coming from Islam. Many of these countries do not rule by any kind of

Shari'ah (Islamic law) and introduce their own cultural standpoints on the issue

of gender equity. Islam on the other hand gives men and women different roles

and equity between the two is laid down in the Quran and the example of the

Prophet (peace be upon him). Islam sees a woman, whether single or married, as

an individual in her own right, with the right to own and dispose of her

property and earnings. A marriage gift is given by the groom to the bride for

her own personal use, and she keeps her own family name rather than taking her

husband's. Both men and women are expected to dress in a way that is modest and

dignified. The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said: " The most perfect in

faith amongst believers is he who is best in manner and kindest to his wife. "

Violence of any kind towards women and forcing them against their will for

anything is not allowed. A Muslim marriage is a simple, legal agreement in which

either partner is free to include conditions. Marriage customs thus vary widely

from country to country. Divorce is not common, although it is acceptable as a

last resort. According to Islam, a Muslim girl cannot be forced to marry against

her will: her parents simply suggest young men they think may be suitable.

MISCONCEPTION #3: Muslims worship a different God. Allah is simply the Arabic

word for God. Allah for Muslims is the greatest and most inclusive of the Names

of God, it is an Arabic word of rich meaning, denoting the one and only God and

ascribing no partners to Him. It is exactly the same word which the Jews, in

Hebrew, use for God (eloh), the word which Jesus Christ used in Aramaic when he

prayed to God. God has an identical name in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam;

Allah is the same God worshiped by Muslims, Christians and Jews. Muslims believe

that Allah's sovereignty is to be acknowledged in worship and in the pledge to

obey His teaching and commandments, conveyed through His messengers and prophets

who were sent at various times and in many places throughout history. However,

it should be noted that God in Islam is One and Only. He, the Exalted, does not

get tired, does not have a son (i.e. Jesus) or have associates, nor does He have

human-like attributions as found in other faiths. MISCONCEPTION #4: Islam was

spread by the sword and intolerant of other faiths. Many social studies

textbooks for students show the image of an Arab horseman carrying a sword in

one hand and the Quran in the other conquering and forcibly converting. This,

though, is not a correct portrayal of history. Islam has always given respect

and freedom of religion to all faiths. The Quran says: " God forbids you not,

with regards to those who fight you not for [your] faith nor drive you out of

your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them; for God loveth those who

are just. " (Qur'an 60:8) Freedom of religion is laid down in the Quran itself:

" There is no compulsion (or coercion) in the religion (Islam). The right

direction is distinctly clear from error. " (Qur'an 2:256) Christian missionary,

T.W. Arnold had this opinion on his study of the question of the spread of

Islam: " ...of any organized attempt to force the acceptance of Islam on the

non-Muslim population, or of any systematic persecution intended to stamp out

the Christian religion, we hear nothing. Had the caliphs chosen to adopt either

course of action, they might have swept away Christianity as easily as Ferdinand

and Isabella drove Islam out of Spain, or Louis XIV made Protestanism... " It

is a function of Islamic law to protect the privileged status of minorities, and

this is why non-Muslim places of worship have flourished all over the Islamic

world. History provides many examples of Muslim tolerance towards other faiths:

when the caliph entered Jerusalem in the year 634, Islam granted freedom of

worship to all religious communities in the city. Proclaiming to the inhabitants

that their lives, and property were safe, and that their places of worship would

never be taken from them, he asked the Christian patriarch Sophronius to

accompany him on a visit to all the holy places. Islamic law also permits

non-Muslim minorities to set up their own courts, which implement family laws

drawn up by the minorities themselves. The life and property of all citizens in

an Islamic state are considered sacred whether the person is Muslim or not.

Racism is not a part of Islam, the Quran speaks only of human equality and how

all peoples are equal in the sight of God. " O mankind! We created you from a

single soul, male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, so that you

may come to know one another. Truly, the most honored of you in God's sight is

the greatest of you in piety. God is All-Knowing, All- Aware. " (Qur'an 49:13

<http://members.tripod.com/~bimcrot/images/sura49.jpg>) MISCONCEPTION #5: All

Muslims are Arabs The Muslim population of the world is around 1,2 billion. One

out of five people in the world is a Muslim. They are a vast range of races,

nationalities, and cultures from around the globe--from the ines to

Nigeria--they are united by their common Islamic faith. Only about 18% live in

the Arab world and the largest Muslim community is in Indonesia. Most Muslims

live east of Pakistan. Thirty percent of Muslims live in the Indian

subcontinent, 20% in Sub-Saharan Africa, 17% in Southeast Asia, 18% in the Arab

world, and 10% in the Soviet Union and China. Turkey, Iran, and Afghanistan make

up 10% of the non-Arab Middle East. Although there are Muslim minorities in

almost every area, including Latin America and Australia, they are most numerous

in Russia and its newly independent states, India and central Africa. There are

about 6 million Muslims in the United States. MISCONCEPTION #6: The Nation of

Islam is a Muslim group. Islam and the so called " Nation of Islam (NOI) " are

two different religions. NOI is more of a political organization since its

members are not limited to a single faith. Muslims consider this group to be

just one of many cults using the name of Islam for their own gain. The only

thing common between them is the jargon, the language used by both. " The Nation

of Islam " is a misnomer; this religion should be called Farrakhanism, after the

name of its propogator, Louis Farrakhan. Islam and Farakhanism differ in many

fundamental ways. For example, Farakhan followers believe in racism and that the

'black man' was the original man and therefore superior, while in Islam there is

no racism and everyone is considered equal in the sight of God, the only

difference being in one's piety. There are many other theological examples that

show the NOI's teachings have little to do with true Islam. There are many

groups in America who claim to represent Islam and call their adherents Muslims.

Any serious student of Islam has a duty to investigate and find the true Islam.

The only two authentic sources which bind every Muslim are 1) the Quran and 2)

authentic or sound Hadith. Any teachings under the label of " Islam " which

contradict or at variance with the direct understanding of fundamental beliefs

and practices of Islam form the Quran and authentic Hadith should be rejected

and such a religion should be considered a Pseudo-Islamic Cult. In America there

are many pseudo-Islamic cults, Farrakhanism being one of them. An honest

attitude on the part of such cults should be not to call themselves Muslims and

their religion Islam, such an example of honesty is Bahaism which is an

off-shoot of Islam but Bahais do not call themselves Muslims nor their religion,

Islam. In fact Bahaism is not Islam just as Farrakhanism is not Islam. Read

about Malcolm X <http://members.tripod.com/~bimcrot/alkisah/x.html> in relation

to this misconception, where he found the true Islam, realizing that it is much

different than NOI. MISCONCEPTION #7: All Muslim men marry four wives. The

religion of Islam was revealed for all societies and all times and so

accommodates widely differing social requirements. Circumstances may warrant the

taking of another wife but the right is granted, according to the Quran, only on

condition that the husband is scrupulously fair. No woman can be forced into

this kind of marriage if they do not wish it, and they also have the right to

exclude it in their marriage contract. Polygamy is neither mandatory, nor

encouraged, but merely permitted. Images of " sheikhs with harems " are not

consistent with Islam, as a man is only allowed at most four wives only if he

can fulfill the stringent conditions of treating each fairly and providing each

with separate housing etc. Permission to practice polygamy is not associated

with mere satisfaction of passion. It is rather associated with compassion

toward widows and orphans. It was the Quran that limited and put conditions on

the practice of polygamy among the Arabs, who had as many as ten or more wives

and considered them " property " . It is both honest and accurate to say that it

is Islam that regulated this practice, limited it, made it more humane, and

instituted equal rights and status for all wives. What the Qur'anic decrees

amount to, taken together is discouragement of polygamy unless necessity for it

exists. It is also evident that the general rule in Islam is monogamy and not

polygamy. It is a very tiny percentage of Muslims that practice it over the

world. However, permission to practice limited polygamy is only consistent with

Islam's realistic view of the nature of man and woman and of various social

needs, problems and cultural variations. The question is, however far more than

the inherent flexibility of Islam; it also is the frank and straightforward

approach of Islam in dealing with practical problems. Rather than requiring

hypocritical and superficial compliance, Islam delves deeper into the problems

of individuals and societies, and provides for legitimate and clean solutions

which are far more beneficial than would be the case if they were ignored. There

is no doubt that the second wife legally married and treated kindly is better

off than a mistress without any legal rights or expermanence. MISCONCEPTION

#8: Muslims are a barbaric, backward people. Among the reasons for the rapid

and peaceful spread of Islam was the simplicity of its doctrine-Islam calls for

faith in only one God worthy of worship. It also repeatedly instructs man to use

his powers of intelligence and observation. Within a few years, great

civilizations and universities were flourishing, for according to the Prophet

(pbuh), 'seeking knowledge is an obligation for every Muslim man and woman'.

The synthesis of Eastern and Western ideas and of new thought with old, brought

about great advances in medicine, mathematics, physics, astronomy, geography,

architecture, art, literature, and history. Many crucial systems such as

algebra, the Arabic numerals, and also the concept of the zero (vital to the

advancement of mathematics), were transmitted to medieval Europe from Islam.

Sophisticated instruments which were to make possible the European voyages of

discovery were developed, including the astrolabe, the quadrant and good

navigational maps. MISCONCEPTION #9: Muhammad was the founder of Islam and

Muslims worship him. Muhammad (pbuh) was born in Mecca in the year 570. Since

his father died before his birth, and his mother shortly afterwards, he was

raised by his uncle from the respected tribe of Quraysh. As he grew up, he

became known for his truthfulness, generosity and sincerity, so that he was

sought after for his ability to arbitrate in disputes. The historians describe

him as calm and meditative. Muhammad (pbuh) was of a deeply religious nature,

and had long detested the decadence of his society. It became his habit to

meditate from time to time in the Cave of Hira near Mecca. At the age of 40,

while engaged in a meditative retreat, Muhammad (pbuh) received his first

revelation from God through the Angel . This revelation, which continued

for 23 years is known as the Quran. As soon as he began to recite the words he

heard from , and to preach the truth which God had revealed to him, he

and his small group of followers suffered bitter persecution, which grew so

fierce that in the year 622 God gave them the command to emigrate. This event,

the Hijrah or 'migration', in which they left Mecca for the city of Medina,

marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar. After several years, the Prophet and

his followers were able to return to Mecca, where they forgave their enemies and

established Islam definitively. Before the death of Prophet (saw) at the age of

63, the greater part of Arabia was Muslim, and within a century of his death

Islam had spread to Spain in the West and as far East as China. He died with

less than 5 possessions to his name. While Muhammad (pbuh) was chosen to

deliver the message, he is not considered the " founder " of Islam, since Muslims

consider Islam to be the same Divine guidance sent to all peoples before.

Muslims believe all the prophets from Adam, Noah, Moses, Jesus etc. were all

sent with divine guidance for their peoples. Every prophet was sent to his own

people, but Muhammad (pbuh) was sent to all of mankind. Muhammad is the last and

final messenger sent to deliver the message of Islam. Muslims revere and honor

him (pbuh) for all he went through and his dedication, but they do not worship

him. " O Prophet, verily We have sent you as a witness and a bearer of glad

tidings and a warner and as one who invites unto God by His leave and as an

illuminating lamp. " (Qur'an 33:45-46) MISCONCEPTION #10: Muslims don't

believe in Jesus or any other prophets. Muslims respect and revere Jesus, upon

him be peace, and await his Second Coming. They consider him one of the greatest

of God's messengers to mankind. A Muslim never refers to him simply as 'Jesus',

but always adds the phrase 'upon him be peace' (abbreviated as (u) here). The

Qur'an confirms his virgin birth (a chapter of the Quran is entitled ''),

and is considered the purest woman in all creation. The Quran describes the

Annunciation as follows: " Behold ! " the Angel said, " God has chosen you, and

purified you, and chosen you above the women of all nations. O , God gives

you good news of a word from Him whose name shall be the Messiah, Jesus son of

, honored in this world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near to

God. He shall speak to the people from his cradle and in maturity, and shall be

of the righteous. " She said: " O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has

touched me? " He said: " Even so; God creates what He wills. When He decrees a

thing, He says to it, " Be! " and it is. " (Qur'an 3:42-47) Jesus (u) was born

miraculously through the same power, which had brought Adam (u) into being

without a father: " Truly, the likeness of Jesus with God is as the likeness of

Adam. He created him of dust, and then said to him, 'Be!' and he was. " (Qur'an

3:59) During his prophetic mission Jesus (u) performed many miracles. The

Qur'an tells us that he said: " I have come to you with a sign from your Lord: I

make for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breath into it

and it becomes a bird by God's leave. And I heal the blind, and the lepers, and

I raise the dead by God's leave. " (Qur'an 3:49) Neither Muhammad (pbuh) not

Jesus (u) came to change the basic doctrine of the brief in One God brought by

earlier prophets, but to confirm and renew it. In the Qur'an Jesus (u) is

reported as saying that he came: " And I have come confirming that which was

before me of the Taurat (Torah), and to make lawful to you part of what was

forbidden to you; and I have come to you with a proof from your Lord, so fear

Allah and obey me. " (Qur'an 3:50) The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: " Whoever

believes there is no god but God, alone without partner, that Muhammad (pbuh) is

His messenger, that Jesus is the servant and messenger of God, His word breathed

into and a spirit emanating from Him, and that Paradise and Hell are true,

shall be received by God into Heaven. " (Hadith related by Bukhari)

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