Islam is the religion of peace and humanity but for few of the westerns it is a religion reduced to fanaticism, polygamy and fatalism. The facade of Islam has grotesquely distorted by Western Media, rendered facts and the misconceptions they have instilled in the minds of their people. Any man with a gun and beard is not a Muslim Terrorist, any woman with Hijab is not a conservative Muslim woman and any preacher of a mosque is not a facilitator of Taliban. These are all stereotypes and myths that have no actual grounds but are lost labyrinths.
Islam The Largest Yet Most Misunderstood Religion:
Islam is projected to grow twice as any other religions in the world because it is the only religion that is accepted near Allah and which prevails the message of unity, love, tolerance and respect. In Quran Allah says
“Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam.” [Quran 3:19]
Muslims around the world have divided into different sects that make them intolerant to the others and they have quit the true teachings of Islam. These sectarian differences have been cashed by the western media and have propelled against Muslims. For and to them Muslims are only conservative, terrorist, impatient, barbaric, male dominating and women suppressing people which in fluke in aggregate and bear no truth.
Misconceptions Prevailing In Western Society:
Misconceptions about Muslims range from Islam-a-terrorist-religion to misunderstandings about the teachings of Quran. Those non-Muslims who buy these misconceptions haven’t studied Islam properly or either have a blindfold believe in their media that propagates falsehood. There are many misconceptions associated with Muslims but the few major ones are
- Islam promotes Violence
- Muslim women are oppressed entity
- Muslim men are polygamist
- Must be Muslim or you will rot in hell
- Islam Promotes Violence
Had Islam promotes Violence not 93% of the Muslim people would have been in state of war. Be it Syria, Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, or North Waziristan, they are all Muslim men
women and people who have been engulfed by the fire of savagery and indeed not any Muslim had initiated it. It is just a reflection of Western media forcing their people to think in such a way and to defame Islam as religion of barbarism and violence. In no way Islam enjoys killing nor enrages its followers for violence rather it is a complete code of life. A single preacher attacking a mosque or a catholic attacking church does not represent their religion because Islam is not in a pursuit of single individual but in their actions, modesty and piety. The religion that was prescribed for all, how it could promote violence, Quran says:
“We have believed in Allah and in what was revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Descendants, and in what was given to Moses and Jesus and to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims [submitting] to Him.” [Quran 3:84]
- Muslim Women are Oppressed Entity
Women are the most beneficiary in Islam but their status and rights have rendered in Western media just because of some cultural stereotypes that the west has attached to Muslim women. To understand the status of women one must think out of the box from cultural perspectives. Islam allocates different roles to men and women but imbues all the rights to women that it has granted Muslim men with. It is narrated that
“The most complete of the believers in faith, is the one with the best character. And the best of you are those who are best to their women” [Tirmidhi]
Western people consider Muslim women as oppressed entity who has no rights and are forced to marry anyone but this is not true. Muslim women can enjoy the freedom of choosing her life partner when reaches to womanhood as it is narrated in Hadith that clearly neutralizes this negative image
“A woman came to the Prophet and complained that her father had married her to his nephew without asking her consent first. She stated that the purpose of that marriage was that her father wanted his reputation enhanced through that marriage. The Prophet annulled that marriage. When he had done, and the woman was free again, she said to the Prophet: “Now I am free. I willingly consent to this marriage. I only wanted it to be known that men have no say over women in their marriages.” [Ibn E Majah]
Women have equal rights be it in education, inheritance orother social premises. To western Media Muslim women are not allowed to go unless chaperoned but this again is wrong. Look at all the Muslim women who are in the parliaments, in politics and mayors in Western society and are enjoying the perks of being Muslims. Henceforth it is clear that the conservativeness of Muslim women is a cultural thing not religious otherwise if it comes to Islam, it says:
“(Women) have rights similar to those (of men) over them in kindness, and men are a degree above them.” [2:228]
- Muslim Men Are Polygamist
The grossest misconception that is related to Muslim men is their polygamist attribute that means they are allowed to marry four wives at a time. According to western thinking, Muslim men can marry as many wives as they want and Islam promotes it, this again is a misconception that has paved its feet in non-Muslim’s mind. Islam only promotes monogamy and allows polygamy to marry orphans or the divorced ones in order to take care of the oppressed beings. Entire globe is surrounded by war that left behinds many widows, orphans and suppressed women. Islam appreciated to marry those women to prevail justice and rights in community to stop vulgarity. As said by Prophet (PBUH)
“O young men! Those among you who can support a wife should marry. “[Ibn Majah]
In Islam, monogamy is compulsory as it has declared half Deen but polygamy is exceptional and is allowed if Muslim man can justify it, as stated in Quran
“And if you fear that you will not deal justly with the orphan girls, then marry those that please you of [other] women, two or three or four. But if you fear that you will not be just, then [marry only] one or those your right hand possesses. That is more suitable that you may not incline [to injustice].” [Quran 4:3]
- One Must Be Muslim Or Will Rot In Hell
In the minds of mostly non-Muslims it has imprinted that all Arabs are Muslims and Allah is their God rest all will face the day of resurrection and the non believers will rot in hell. A myth that has no weight because Allah is the sustainer and creator of this whole universe who Himself says in Quran
“Surely those who believe, and those who are Jews, and the Nazarenes*, and the Sabians, whoever believes in God and the Last day and does good, they shall have their reward from their Lord, and there is no fear upon them, nor shall they grieve.” [Quran 2:62]
Allah is for all and Islam is for anyone who wants to embrace this peaceful religion, hence Quran refutes the concept of non-Muslims to be the sole people to rot in hell.
- Islam has Prevailed by Sword
Non-Muslims consider Islam as a religion that has spread by means or force of violence via sword. Forcing people in name of Islam and asking them to embrace it is one of the farfetched myth that has got no roots in Islamic system. Allay says in Quran
“There is no compulsion in Islam. The right decision is distinctly clear from error” [Quran 2: 256]
Then how come a Muslim violates the teachings and asks someone to enter in the religion through sword? It is one of the characteristic of Islam to protect the minorities and let them preach their religion in their full capacity. Islam is against no other religions rather it entitles Muslims to abandon hatred and to establish justice. Indeed the life of Muhammad (PBUH) is a clear example of it. Quran says
“O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.” [Quran 49:13]
Despite being all allegations Islam has never ordered/asked any Muslim to kill any human being, to deprived his wife of her equal rights and has never forced any Muslim being to be hard towards his fellow beings. These are all misconceptions that are intertwined with religion Islam after 9/11 and can only be alleviated if practiced the true code and conduct of Islam.
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