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In recent years, a great deal of attention in the media have been given to the threat of "Islamic Fundamentalism". Unfortunately, due to a twisted mixture of biased reporting in the Western media and the actions of some ignorant Muslims, the word "Islam" has become almost synonymous with "terrorism". However, when one analyzes the situation, the question that should come to mind is: Do the teachings of Islam encourage terrorism? The answer: Certainly not! Islam totally forbids the terrorist acts that are carried out by some misguided people. It should be remembered that all religions have cults and misguided followers, so it is their teachings that should be looked at, not the actions of a few individuals.
Unfortunately, in the media, whenever a Muslim commits a heinous act, he is labeled a "Muslim terrorist". However, when Serbs murder and rape innocent women in Bosnia, they are not called "Christian terrorists", nor are the activities in Northern Ireland labeled "Christian terrorism". Also, when right-wing Christians in the U. S. bomb abortion clinics, they are not called "Christian terrorists". Reflecting on these facts, one could certainly conclude that there is a double-standard in the media! Although religious feelings play a significant role in the previously mentioned "Christian" conflicts, the media does not apply religious labels because they assume that such barbarous acts have nothing to do with the teachings of Christianity.
However, when something happens involving a Muslim, they often try to put the blame on Islam itself -- and not the misguided individual. Certainly, Islamic Law allows war --- any religion or civilization that did not would never survive --- but it certainly does not condone attacks against innocent people, women or children. The Arabic word "jihad", which is often translated as "Holy War", simply means "to struggle". The word for "war" in Arabic is "harb", not "jihad". "Struggling", i.e. "making jihad", to defend Islam, Muslims or to liberate a land where Muslims are oppressed is certainly allowed (and even encouraged) in Islam. However, any such activities must be done according to the teachings of Islam. Islam also clearly forbids "taking the law into your own hands", which means that individual Muslims cannot go around deciding who they want to kill, punish or torture.
Trial and punishment must be carried out by a lawful authority and a knowledgeable judge. Also, when looking at events in the Muslim World, it should be kept in mind that a long period of colonialism ended fairly recently in most Muslim countries. During this time, the people in these countries were culturally, materially and religiously exploited - mostly by the so-called "Christian" nations of the West. This painful period has not really come to an end in many Muslim countries, where people are still under the control of foreign powers or puppet regimes supported by foreign powers.
Also, through the media, people in the West are made to believe that tyrants like Saddam Hussein in Iraq and Moamar Qaddafi in Libya are "Islamic" leaders -- when just the opposite is true. Neither of these rulers even professes Islam as an ideology, but only use Islamic slogans to manipulate their powerless populations. They have about as much to do with Islam as Hitler had to do with Christianity! In reality, many Middle Eastern regimes which people think of as being "Islamic" oppress the practice of Islam in their countries. So suffice it to say that "terrorism" and killing innocent people directly contradicts the teachings of Islam.
Islam degrades women
Even though many aspects of Islam are misunderstood by non-Muslims, the ignorance, misinformation and incorrect assumptions that are made in regards to Islam's treatment of women are probably the most severe. Numerous verses of the Qur'an make it clear that men and women are equal in the site of God. According to the teachings of Islam, the only thing that distinguishes people in the site of God is their level of God-consciousness.
Due to this, many people are surprised to find out that Islamic Law guaranteed rights to women over 1400 years ago that women in the Europe and America only obtained recently. For example, Islam clearly teaches that a woman is a full-person under the law, and is the spiritual equal of a male. Also, according to Islamic Law, women have the right to own property, operate a business and receive equal pay for equal work.
Women are allowed total control of their wealth, they cannot be married against their will and they are allowed to keep their own name when married. Additionally, they have the right to inherit property and to have their marriage dissolved in the case of neglect or mistreatment. Also, Islam does not consider woman an "evil temptress", and thus does not blame woman for the "original sin".
Women in Islam participate in all forms of worship that men participate in. Actually, the rights that Islam gave to women over 1400 years ago were almost unheard of in the West until the 1900s. Less than fifty years ago in England and America, a woman could not buy a house or car without the co-signature of her father or husband!
Even those in the West who claim to follow the so-called "Judeo-Christian tradition" really follow the values of Western liberalism --- but just to a lesser degree than their more liberal countrymen. For more on this subject, please read: Women in Islam versus Women in the Judaeo-Christian Tradition --- The Myth and The Reality. If women in the Muslim World today don't have their rights, it is not because Islam did not give them to them. The problem is that in many places alien traditions have come to overshadow the teachings of Islam, either through ignorance or the impact of Colonization.
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Author: Daniel Masters, Isma'il Kaka and AbdurRahman R. Squires Muslims worship a different God Muslims worship Muhammad Islam is a religion only for Arabs Islam degrades women
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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 contact.
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 Quranic 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. |
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TOP TEN MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT ISLAM By Huma Ahmad
Muslims are violent, terrorists and/or extremists. Islam oppresses women. Muslims worship a different God All Muslims are Arabs The Nation of Islam is a Muslim group.
All Muslim men marry four wives.
Muslims are a barbaric, backward people.
Muhammad was the founder of Islam and Muslims worship him.
Muslims don't believe in Jesus or any other prophets.
Some more Misconceptions on Islam - good info page
Back to Path to Peace ...
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MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT ISLAM
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TRUE LIES
There are 1.5 billion Muslims in the world. Yep, that means 1 in every 5 person in the world is a Muslim. Did you know that? And guess what Islam is the fastest growing faith in the world, but why is it that Islam is the most misunderstood faith today?
UNDERSTANDING ISLAM AND THE MUSLIMS
28 Most common questions about Islam and Muslims
ARE MUSLIMS FUNDAMENTALISTS AND TERRORISTS?
This question is often hurled at Muslims, either directly or indirectly, during any discussion on religion or world affairs. Muslim stereotypes are perpetuated in every form of the media accompanied by...
ISLAM SPREAD BY THE SWORD?
It is a common complaint among some non-Muslims that Islam would not have millions of adherents all over the world, if it had not been spread by the use of force...
POLYGAMY
Article on why is a man allowed to have more than one wife in Islam? i.e. why is polygamy allowed in Islam?
Does the author of the Quran know Maths?
Answering the question on inheritance, and the misconception that there is a mathematical error in the Quran.
WHY DO WOMEN GET ONLY HALF THE SHARE OF MEN?
Under Islamic law, why is a woman s share of the inherited wealth only half that of a man? Read here to find out....
DO MUSLIMS WORSHIP THE KA'BA?
Kaaba is the Qibla i.e. the direction Muslims face during their prayers.It is important to note that though Muslims face the Kaaba during prayers, they do not worship the Kaaba.......
WHY IS PORK FORBIDDEN IN ISLAM?
Ever Wonder.... |
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Islam does not respect Animal Rights
The Blessed Prophet forbade people from capturing baby birds, burning anthills and whipping animals cruelly. All the people he stopped from doing these things were doing them "for fun." Well, as the Prophet pointed out, it wasn't fun for the animals. More
1. The misconceptions regarding the abrogations in the Quran.
2. The Quran and the Bible and false allegations
3. Chart with status of women in Islam and christianity
4. Islam degrades women? Islam spread by sword?
5. Why I don't buy the resurrection story - C Richard Carrier.
6. The consequences mentioned in the Quran
7. How media played an important role in maligning Islam
8. Misconception about the original Sin
9. Your misconceptions - Quran and Science .
10. Main misconceptions on Islam
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Myth: Islam produces a lazy, uneducated society
The reasons given for this misconception are false, and the misconception itself is actually refuted directly by the Qur'an and Sunnah. While it is true that the Creator is the source of everything to us, it is not true that this can be used as an excuse for humanity to hide behind as the following verses from the Qur'an state (translation),
[16:35] The worshippers of false gods say: "If Allah had so willed, we should not have worshipped anything but Him - neither we nor our fathers,- nor should we have prescribed prohibitions other than His." So did those who went before them. But what is the mission of messengers but to preach the Clear Message?
[43:20] They (the idolators) say, "If it had been the will of (Allah) the Most Merciful, we should not have worshipped such (deities)!" Of that they have no knowledge: they do nothing but lie!
Allah has taught us via the Qur'an and Sunnah that we all have a certain amount of free will. This free will must be exercised properly in accordance with the Qur'an and Sunnah to please the Creator. This is plenty of motivation for all Muslims to push themselves to be the most knowledgeable, effective Muslims they can be.
If Muslim societies today are not meeting their potential, it is surely not due to their knowledge of Islam, rather it is their ignorance of this way of life. The importance of seeking knowledge and working are made clear in the Sunnah.
More
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Silent No More (PB) ( Book)
Paul Findley
In Silent No More Findley (who is not a Muslim) shares his personal impressions and experiences in dealing with American Muslims, their communities, and issues and events that figure prominently in their concerns and consciences. He narrates how he, like many Americans, harbored misinformation and stereotypes about Islam and its followers until middle age. An unexpected journey to South Yemen to plead for the release of an imprisoned American, put him unwittingly on the trail of discovery of Islam and the Muslims for the last three decades.
He examines the false images of Islam that linger in American minds; the impact of these stereotypes on U.S. national interests, particularly the well being of U.S. Muslims; what is being done to promote accurate understanding of Islam; the adequacy of these measures; and additional activities that are needed. Findley chronicles his long exploratory record of pioneering endeavors by Muslims and other activists who form the vanguard in a worthy, long-neglected cause. Being a keen political observer he documents the entry of American Muslims in mainstream American politics and the impact of their bloc voting in 2000 state and presidential elections. |
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