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 Omar 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 Phillipines 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 Gabriel. This revelation, which continued
for 23 years is known as the Quran. As soon as he began to recite the words he
heard from Gabriel, 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 'Mary'),
and Mary 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 Mary, God gives
you good news of a word from Him whose name shall be the Messiah, Jesus son of
Mary, 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 Mary 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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