Myths About Islam
Sep. 2nd, 2010 01:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kristen999I have many friends who practice many faiths including Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, and Islam. Over the last few days I've found the misconceptions about Islam spreading like wildfire and what's scarier, is how many people are lapping it with a spoon. I know it's a political year, and there are many controversies, but I thought I'd post an easy list of the top misconceptions about Islam.
1. Muslims worship a moon-god
Some non-Muslims mistakenly believe that Allah is an "Arab god," a "moon god," or some sort of idol. Allah is the proper name of the One True God, in the Arabic language. The most fundamental belief that a Muslim has is that "There is only One God," the Creator, the Sustainer -- known in the Arabic language and by Muslims as Allah. Arabic-speaking Christians use the same word for the Almighty.
2. Muslims don't believe in Jesus
In the Qur'an, stories about the life and teachings of Jesus Christ (called 'Isa in Arabic) are abundant. The Qur'an recalls his miraculous birth, his teachings, and the miracles he performed by God's permission. There is even a chapter of the Qur'an named after his mother, Mary (Miriam in Arabic). However, Muslims believe that Jesus was a fully human prophet and not in any way divine himself.
3. Most Muslims are Arabs
While Islam is often associated with Arabs, they make up only 15% of the world's Muslim population. The country with the largest population of Muslims is Indonesia. Muslims make up 1/5 of the world's population, with large numbers found in Asia (69%), Africa (27%), Europe (3%) and other parts of the world.
4. Islam oppresses women
Most of the ill-treatment that women receive in the Muslim world is based on local culture and traditions, without any basis in the faith of Islam. In fact, practices such as forced marriage, spousal abuse, and restricted movement directly contradict Islamic law governing family behavior and personal freedom.
5. Muslims are violent, terrorist extremists
Terrorism cannot be justified under any valid interpretation of the Islamic faith. The entire Qur'an, taken as a complete text, gives a message of hope, faith, and peace to a faith community of one billion people. The overwhelming message is that peace is to be found through faith in God, and justice among fellow human beings. Muslim leaders and scholars do speak out against terrorism in all its forms, and offer explanations of misinterpreted or twisted teachings.
6. Islam is intolerant of other faiths
Throughout the Qur'an, Muslims are reminded that they are not the only ones who worship God. Jews and Christians are called "People of the Book," meaning people who have received previous revelations from the One Almighty God that we all worship. The Qur'an also commands Muslims to protect from harm not only mosques, but also monasteries, synagogues, and churches -- because "God is worshipped therein."
7. Islam promotes "jihad" to spread Islam by the sword and kill all unbelievers
The word Jihad stems from an Arabic word which means "to strive." Other related words include "effort," "labor," and "fatigue." Essentially Jihad is an effort to practice religion in the face of oppression and persecution. The effort may come in fighting the evil in your own heart, or in standing up to a dictator. Military effort is included as an option, but as a last resort and not "to spread Islam by the sword."
8. The Quran was written by Muhammad and copied from Christian and Jewish sources
The Qur'an was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad over a period of two decades, calling people to worship One Almighty God and to live their lives according to this faith. The Qur'an contains stories of Biblical prophets, because these prophets also preached the message of God. Stories are not merely copied, but the oral traditions are referred to in a way that focuses on the examples and teachings that we can learn from them.
9. Islamic prayer is just a ritualized performance with no heartfelt meaning
Prayer is a time to stand before God and express faith, give thanks for blessings, and seek guidance and forgiveness. During Islamic prayer, one is modest, submissive and respectful to God. By bowing and prostrating ourselves to the ground, we express our utmost humility before the Almighty.
10. The crescent moon is a universal symbol of Islam
The early Muslim community did not really have a symbol. During the time of the Prophet Muhammad, Islamic caravans and armies flew simple solid-colored flags (generally black, green, or white) for identification purposes. The crescent moon and star symbol actually pre-dates Islam by several thousand years, and wasn't affiliated with Islam at all until the Ottoman Empire placed it on their flag.
This list was from: http://islam.about.com/od/commonmisconceptions/tp/myths.htm which has several more links with detailed information. There are plenty of other resources out there if people would like some.
1. Muslims worship a moon-god
Some non-Muslims mistakenly believe that Allah is an "Arab god," a "moon god," or some sort of idol. Allah is the proper name of the One True God, in the Arabic language. The most fundamental belief that a Muslim has is that "There is only One God," the Creator, the Sustainer -- known in the Arabic language and by Muslims as Allah. Arabic-speaking Christians use the same word for the Almighty.
2. Muslims don't believe in Jesus
In the Qur'an, stories about the life and teachings of Jesus Christ (called 'Isa in Arabic) are abundant. The Qur'an recalls his miraculous birth, his teachings, and the miracles he performed by God's permission. There is even a chapter of the Qur'an named after his mother, Mary (Miriam in Arabic). However, Muslims believe that Jesus was a fully human prophet and not in any way divine himself.
3. Most Muslims are Arabs
While Islam is often associated with Arabs, they make up only 15% of the world's Muslim population. The country with the largest population of Muslims is Indonesia. Muslims make up 1/5 of the world's population, with large numbers found in Asia (69%), Africa (27%), Europe (3%) and other parts of the world.
4. Islam oppresses women
Most of the ill-treatment that women receive in the Muslim world is based on local culture and traditions, without any basis in the faith of Islam. In fact, practices such as forced marriage, spousal abuse, and restricted movement directly contradict Islamic law governing family behavior and personal freedom.
5. Muslims are violent, terrorist extremists
Terrorism cannot be justified under any valid interpretation of the Islamic faith. The entire Qur'an, taken as a complete text, gives a message of hope, faith, and peace to a faith community of one billion people. The overwhelming message is that peace is to be found through faith in God, and justice among fellow human beings. Muslim leaders and scholars do speak out against terrorism in all its forms, and offer explanations of misinterpreted or twisted teachings.
6. Islam is intolerant of other faiths
Throughout the Qur'an, Muslims are reminded that they are not the only ones who worship God. Jews and Christians are called "People of the Book," meaning people who have received previous revelations from the One Almighty God that we all worship. The Qur'an also commands Muslims to protect from harm not only mosques, but also monasteries, synagogues, and churches -- because "God is worshipped therein."
7. Islam promotes "jihad" to spread Islam by the sword and kill all unbelievers
The word Jihad stems from an Arabic word which means "to strive." Other related words include "effort," "labor," and "fatigue." Essentially Jihad is an effort to practice religion in the face of oppression and persecution. The effort may come in fighting the evil in your own heart, or in standing up to a dictator. Military effort is included as an option, but as a last resort and not "to spread Islam by the sword."
8. The Quran was written by Muhammad and copied from Christian and Jewish sources
The Qur'an was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad over a period of two decades, calling people to worship One Almighty God and to live their lives according to this faith. The Qur'an contains stories of Biblical prophets, because these prophets also preached the message of God. Stories are not merely copied, but the oral traditions are referred to in a way that focuses on the examples and teachings that we can learn from them.
9. Islamic prayer is just a ritualized performance with no heartfelt meaning
Prayer is a time to stand before God and express faith, give thanks for blessings, and seek guidance and forgiveness. During Islamic prayer, one is modest, submissive and respectful to God. By bowing and prostrating ourselves to the ground, we express our utmost humility before the Almighty.
10. The crescent moon is a universal symbol of Islam
The early Muslim community did not really have a symbol. During the time of the Prophet Muhammad, Islamic caravans and armies flew simple solid-colored flags (generally black, green, or white) for identification purposes. The crescent moon and star symbol actually pre-dates Islam by several thousand years, and wasn't affiliated with Islam at all until the Ottoman Empire placed it on their flag.
This list was from: http://islam.about.com/od/commonmisconceptions/tp/myths.htm which has several more links with detailed information. There are plenty of other resources out there if people would like some.
no subject
Date: 2010-09-04 09:39 pm (UTC)They're not terrorists, anymore than I, as a Christian, am like the American evangelists telling people that homosexuality is why 9/11 happened, or act as Westboro Baptist Church does.
Frankly, it never ceases to amaze me that people can take one group and assume the whole is the same as one subsection.
In Christian terms, that would be like saying all priests and ministers are paedophiles and abusers because the church (of all denominations and at all levels) has had and still has men in leadership positions who sexually abuse children and women. (I know there are a few people who put this view foward.)
To push the point closer to home: in terms of Americans vs. the rest of the world, it would be like saying that Sarah Palin or Jerry Falwell, their views and their bigotries are representative of all Americans, everywhere.
No. Just...no.
As to "they should speak up and renounce the terrorists"...I imagine the people in other parts of the globe dealing with American troops in their backyard, living with bombings and airstrikes and the aftermath of dead friends and family, are wondering "why doesn't the American people do anything about this? Do they hate us so much that they cannot vote their government to stop this?"
...and I've just ranted all over your journal. :/
Sorry. As you can tell, this is something I feel passionately about. I don't believe exactly what they believe, and my way to be reconciled with God is different to theirs, but 99.9% of them are just people trying to survive from day to day - the same way anyone does.
no subject
Date: 2010-09-18 10:53 pm (UTC)As to "they should speak up and renounce the terrorists"...I imagine the people in other parts of the globe dealing with American troops in their backyard, living with bombings and airstrikes and the aftermath of dead friends and family, are wondering "why doesn't the American people do anything about this? Do they hate us so much that they cannot vote their government to stop this?"
Which brings back around the reasoning behind why Americans should always act as the World Police when there are so many Americans who still do not have their basic needs met.
no subject
Date: 2010-09-18 11:33 pm (UTC)War has never been about the mistreatment of the little people - no wars have ever been fought for 'justice' and 'freedom' - even if that's how they've been sold to the public. Freeing the slaves of the Civil War era wasn't about justice or rights for all people: it was about breaking the financial back of the wealthy South by turning their slave labour into hired labour.
War has always been about finances, possession, and pride. Once upon a time finances and possession was about land and workers, now it's about resources (mineral and labour) and weaponry (the ability to keep what you've already got, or to intimidate others as you take what they have).
I suspect that there's an attitude of "if they were 'real' Americans, they'd pull themselves up by their boostraps and meet their own needs instead of waiting for the welfare state to kick in!" in a lot of dialogue about Americans and basic needs.
no subject
Date: 2010-09-19 01:54 am (UTC)I am not against helping those who, for whatever reason, cannot help themselves. However, I still hold to my opinion that the United States (and yes, like all nations the US always has their interests in the highest of regard) should not, in spite of those interests, act at the Police Department or the Hospitals of the entire world. Help, of course. Take on all the troubles of the world, no.
Thank you for your viewpoint.