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Common Misconceptions About Islam
Islam today is a religion that is highly misunderstood, highly misinterpreted and highly misrepresented, especially by the western media. There are many issues today that dwell in the minds of people who seek to know the real truth about Islam, yet the avenues that depict Islam give them a very bad impression of this way of life. Let us embark on a quest to share the truth of many of these misconceptions that are in the back of the minds of many people from all parts of the Globe.
All muslims are Arabs
The Muslim population around the world is approximately 1.4 billion and it is still growing since Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. Muslims range from Black in Africa, to Chinese, to Arabs and Asians from the Indian subcontinent, actually from all over the world. Only 18% of the Muslims are Arabs. The largest Muslim community is in Indonesia. There are 30% in the Indian subcontinent, 20% in Africa, 18% in the Arab world, 17% in South East Asia, 10% in Russia and China. There are 8 million Muslims in the US alone. So we can see that Muslims are not all Arab; far from it.
All muslims marry 4 wives.
Most definitely not. Most Muslims have only one wife; only a tiny percentage of Muslims worldwide practice polygamy. Islam did not bring about polygamy; rather, it regulated it. Before Islam, men had as many women as they wanted and there were no laws as to how they were treated, as they were considered “property”. If we look back in history, according to the Bible Abraham had three wives: Sarah, Hagar and Keturah. Some can call them concubines if they wish, but they were married to them. Jacob had two wives, while David and Solomon had hundreds. Islam just brought the rules on how to go about it, that a limit of four was set, with conditions of fair treatment of each one. It is not a free for all; it is only the permission given to have more than one wife, but not necessarily four, and only as long as he can guarantee to be fair to each one. The permission was given in order to make a better society, to help widows and orphans. Since there are more women than men, and as the world goes due to wars more men are getting killed, Islam brings about a solution to the problem. Which is better? A second or third wife that is treated fairly and equitably, or mistresses without any rights and children who are illegitimate?
Muslims are violent, extremists and terrorists.
This is the biggest misconception that is a result of the Media’s Islam bashing. When Catholics of Northern Ireland bombed tube stations in Britain, or gunmen attacked mosques in the name of Judaism, or Serbs killed and raped innocent Bosnian women and children, their acts were not attributed to the Christian religion. But in the case when a Muslim does the same act, we hear a “Muslim fundamentalist or extremist”. Many actions are perpetrated by Muslims in the name of Islam for political or personal gain, which have nothing to do with Islam or its teachings. Islam condemns the killing of civilians and in the Quran permission is given to fight in self defense, or to drive out those oppressors who have driven you out of your land
Allah says in the Quran:
Chapter 2
190. And fight in the Way of Allâh those who fight you, but transgress not the limits. Truly, Allâh likes not the transgressors. [This Verse is the first one that was revealed in connection with Jihâd, but it was supplemented by another (V.9:36)].
191. And kill them wherever you find them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out. And Al-Fitnah is worse than killing. And fight not with them at Al-Masjid-al-Harâm (the sanctuary at Makkah), unless they (first) fight you there. But if they attack you, then kill them. Such is the recompense of the disbelievers.
It is not a license to kill every one but strict rules are attached to combat in Islam. One has no right to cut down trees, to kill old people, women and children. Allah says clearly above in the Quran that he does not like transgressors. The other misconception attached to this is the misunderstanding that because Islam is the Religion of peace then Muslims should not fight back when being attacked but rather turn the other cheek. All over the world Muslims who are being attacked and resist are in turn called terrorist and a vow is made to exterminate them. In all fairness any nation that is attacked will defend itself from oppression and occupation, but Muslims are expected to give in and not resist and hand over the keys. The term jihad is highly misunderstood, a jihad is a struggle and can take shape of a military struggle or a struggle in owns self. Muslims standing firm on their faith is a big struggle too.
To be cont…
Islam today is a religion that is highly misunderstood, highly misinterpreted and highly misrepresented, especially by the western media. There are many issues today that dwell in the minds of people who seek to know the real truth about Islam, yet the avenues that depict Islam give them a very bad impression of this way of life. Let us embark on a quest to share the truth of many of these misconceptions that are in the back of the minds of many people from all parts of the Globe.
All muslims are Arabs
The Muslim population around the world is approximately 1.4 billion and it is still growing since Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. Muslims range from Black in Africa, to Chinese, to Arabs and Asians from the Indian subcontinent, actually from all over the world. Only 18% of the Muslims are Arabs. The largest Muslim community is in Indonesia. There are 30% in the Indian subcontinent, 20% in Africa, 18% in the Arab world, 17% in South East Asia, 10% in Russia and China. There are 8 million Muslims in the US alone. So we can see that Muslims are not all Arab; far from it.
All muslims marry 4 wives.
Most definitely not. Most Muslims have only one wife; only a tiny percentage of Muslims worldwide practice polygamy. Islam did not bring about polygamy; rather, it regulated it. Before Islam, men had as many women as they wanted and there were no laws as to how they were treated, as they were considered “property”. If we look back in history, according to the Bible Abraham had three wives: Sarah, Hagar and Keturah. Some can call them concubines if they wish, but they were married to them. Jacob had two wives, while David and Solomon had hundreds. Islam just brought the rules on how to go about it, that a limit of four was set, with conditions of fair treatment of each one. It is not a free for all; it is only the permission given to have more than one wife, but not necessarily four, and only as long as he can guarantee to be fair to each one. The permission was given in order to make a better society, to help widows and orphans. Since there are more women than men, and as the world goes due to wars more men are getting killed, Islam brings about a solution to the problem. Which is better? A second or third wife that is treated fairly and equitably, or mistresses without any rights and children who are illegitimate?
Muslims are violent, extremists and terrorists.
This is the biggest misconception that is a result of the Media’s Islam bashing. When Catholics of Northern Ireland bombed tube stations in Britain, or gunmen attacked mosques in the name of Judaism, or Serbs killed and raped innocent Bosnian women and children, their acts were not attributed to the Christian religion. But in the case when a Muslim does the same act, we hear a “Muslim fundamentalist or extremist”. Many actions are perpetrated by Muslims in the name of Islam for political or personal gain, which have nothing to do with Islam or its teachings. Islam condemns the killing of civilians and in the Quran permission is given to fight in self defense, or to drive out those oppressors who have driven you out of your land
Allah says in the Quran:
Chapter 2
190. And fight in the Way of Allâh those who fight you, but transgress not the limits. Truly, Allâh likes not the transgressors. [This Verse is the first one that was revealed in connection with Jihâd, but it was supplemented by another (V.9:36)].
191. And kill them wherever you find them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out. And Al-Fitnah is worse than killing. And fight not with them at Al-Masjid-al-Harâm (the sanctuary at Makkah), unless they (first) fight you there. But if they attack you, then kill them. Such is the recompense of the disbelievers.
It is not a license to kill every one but strict rules are attached to combat in Islam. One has no right to cut down trees, to kill old people, women and children. Allah says clearly above in the Quran that he does not like transgressors. The other misconception attached to this is the misunderstanding that because Islam is the Religion of peace then Muslims should not fight back when being attacked but rather turn the other cheek. All over the world Muslims who are being attacked and resist are in turn called terrorist and a vow is made to exterminate them. In all fairness any nation that is attacked will defend itself from oppression and occupation, but Muslims are expected to give in and not resist and hand over the keys. The term jihad is highly misunderstood, a jihad is a struggle and can take shape of a military struggle or a struggle in owns self. Muslims standing firm on their faith is a big struggle too.
To be cont…
