How come every time a westernor sees a muslim go in a mosque, they assume that s/he's a terrorist?

Question

Yeah, well how come? How come every westernor assumes that everytime a muslim goes in a mosque to offer his/her prayers they think s/he's a terrorist? It's been driving me nuts! I'm a practicing muslim, and this angers me a lot.

Answer 1

I do not think all Westerners think Muslims who go to mosques are terrorists. We do have terrorists among us, that can not be forgotten either. Many form wrong opinions because what some of our evil brethren do in the name of Islam. People who do not know otherwise make the conclusion that many of us are evil.

People form these negative stereo types because many do not know what the Muslims really believe or what the Quran really says. So, I am quoting some verses from the Quran to clarify things. You can check out the verses below at www.hti.umich.edu/k/koran, which is a university of MIchigan Site which has Quran and other scriptures on it for reference. I am paraphrasing a bit from memory the following verses that may make people gain more knowledge about what the Quran says and what Muslims believe that you seldom see in the news:

Quran 2:62: Believers, Jews, Christians and Sabaeans ( an old faith that existed at that time) and all those who believe in God and the Day of Judgment and do good works, have nothing to fear or to regret. Allah is Wise, All Knowing!!

Quran 5:69 Muslims, Christians, Jews, Sabaeans and all those who believe in God and the Day of Judgment and do good works have nothing to regret or fear. Allah is Kind. Merciful!!

Quran 22:39 Permission is now being given to fight to those who have been attacked and have been thrown out of their homes for no fault but for saying that God is ONE!! Had good people not stood up to fight against injustice, synagogues, monasteries, churches, mosques and all places of worship where God's name is remembered night and day would have all been utterly destroyed ...!! (this is the first verse in the Quran that allows Muslims to fight back, after thirteen years of rising abuse in which Muslims were burnt alive at nights for the entertainment of the pre-Islamic Arabs who used to live in Arabia. What people also do not know is that our Prophet mostly fought fellow Arabs, his own family and cousins. Not strangers. Nor did he attack anyone outside Arabia who was not a part of the abusers. Many Muslims did not follow the Prophet or the Quran in later years, that is also a fact, unfortunately).

Quran 2:190 Fight those who attack you, but never attack them first. Allah does not love aggressors!!

Quran 5:32 ... killing one innocent soul is tantamount to killing all humanity, and saving one innocent life is as if saving all humanity.

(The context of this verse is the killing of Abel by Cain, who killed not only Abel but all his generations that would have lived had Abel not been killed. Thus one life is really many, as all people came from Adam. Had someone killed Adam, they would have killed everyone!!). Had someone killed any of our ancestors at any point in history, we would not be here!!

Lastly:

Quran 10:99

IF Allah wanted to, all nations and people would be Muslim. Would you then use force to convert?

I hope this will help dispell the misgivings some people may have about ISLAM. BUT, as a Muslim, my first duty is to fight the terrorists who kill the innocent in the name of my faith, when my faith forbids killing the innocent or attacking anyone to begin with.

Lastly, I am a dedicated Muslims and many Americans love me and are kind to me and I have been given opportunities in this country, that has allowed me to succeed, without prejudice. Do not judge all by what some do. People are naturally prejudiced if they are ignorant. You have to rise above ignorance to see that everyone is made by YOUR GOD. Until you are greater than your own God, how can you look down upon anyone when YOUR GOD made them.

That is why we say Allahu Akbar, or the GOD is the GREATEST!! and we can not second guess Him Almighty and we can not kill people who HE made, except in self defence or as punishment for Capital crimes.

Peace!!

Answer 2

Listen to me you freak!

I have good friends who are Muslims and I understand Islam like the back of my hand. Last week, 17 guys were seized because the CSIS (Canada's FBI) had been following them for 2 years to get evidence that they were planning on blowing up Parliament, beheading the Prime Minister, etc.

Hurray, we got some horrible people who hijacked a peaceful religion and tried to use it as a shield to hurt innocent people.

Guess what the President of the Muslim Canadian Association said? Do you think he said, "Muslims do not condone these acts." or "Islam does not believe in killing innocent people." or "These terrorists are not Muslims and do not understand Islam."?

NO. He said "It's wrong not to let them see their families." END OF STORY. He didn't speak out against the unspeakable crimes these men were about to commit. He didn't even reinforce the message that Islam believes in peace.

You have no idea how frustrated Muslims are in Canada that their leaders do not speak out enough. So tell me, you and I know what Muslims are really all about....how will the rest of the world know if your Muslim leaders do not educate them?

When that cartoon came out in Europe, some Muslims in the Middle East threw rocks through the Danish embassy's windows. Here in Ottawa, some REAL Muslims opened up their mosque and said "Come and learn what Islam really is."

Before you start lambasting everyone around you, look to where the message ISN'T coming from: write a strongly worded letter to your Community Leader, not to Yahoo! Answers.

Answer 3

The violence is going correct again to a dispute over who had non secular authority over the Muslim group after the demise of the prophet Muhammad in what's known as the “fitna” which interprets as temptation or trial and triggered the entire discord inside Muslim group. Shi’ite Muslims feel that authority was once vested in his household; the Sunnis seem to the sayings and movements of Muhammad as good because the Koran. The severe sectarian violence has been triggered via Al-Qaeda Which at the same time being solely Sunni intentionally set Shi’ites and Sunnis to kill each and every different in Iraq. Sadly extra Muslims die via Muslim palms each and every month than have been killed via the invading forces within the conflict! Hamas additionally kills way more Muslims than the Israelis ever have! An typical of over thirty 5 Muslims every week have been being killed via Muslims however within the final few years it has mostly been over 100 every week! Whether this is a Danish Cartoon, publication of fiction , a snippet of movie or any other excuse, Muslims hit the streets world wide rioting, looting, burning and uttering demise threats! Nearly the entire Muslim international locations are seeing Muslims assault Muslims destroying properties, corporations, infrastructure and concentrating on ladies and youngsters specifically displaying the extremists have to without doubt be looking to flip Muslims into primitives residing in caves and dust huts so they may be able to be managed extra readily!

Answer 4

I don't think this is simply a matter of Westerners not understanding Islam, or a matter of Westerners being intolerant of prejudiced.
Keep in mind that what has been going on lately has been a war of cultures. It goes deeper than just the terrorism aspect of Islam. Islam (at least the way it's practiced now as violent and oppressive) literally flies in the face of what is supposedly American or Western Values (the fact that George Bush also flies against what should be American values, like the seperation of church and state for starters will have to be ignored for the time being...)
Often, what I hear from Muslems, when these matters are discussed, is "Why don't you respect my culture?" And I think that is essentially what you, sir, are asking here. So my question would be: "Why the hell should we respect your culture?" Let's think about what seems to go on in muslem countries. Homosexuals are put to death. Women are treated like chattel, denied the basic rights of human beings. It is often illegal to practice other religions or convert. It is often illegal to critizice the government, there is no freedom of expression, and it is often illegal to listen to certain music or read certain books. So I ask you: what is to be respected here? Has the Muslem World earned the respect of the rest of the world? I think this goes far beyond the fear of terrorism. This is a dispute over the fundamental values of life. And I don't see any way to solve it!

Answer 5

I don't think that a muslim going into a mosque is a terrorist. I think a muslim getting on a plane is a terrorist. Sorry, but 9/11 did that.

Answer 6

Not everyone thinks that all muslims are terrorists but those that do are not unjustified in their fears. Islam had a frighteningly violent beginning in which it was considered a "free ticket to heaven" to kill a Christian. Islam was founded by a man "not a prophet" who missunderstood Judaism and Christianity thus forming a bloody religion that spread like wildfire. Why did it spread? Not because of its popularity but because it was enforced by the sword, one could not even leave Islam without risk to their life. If you, the question asker, were a true Muslim you would be a terrorist killing us Christians. So don't be offended, be smart, and get a real religion!

Answer 7

It's because of the stigma that the world media has given them after 9/11. Yes it was a tragic thing. Yes the men flying the planes were Muslims. But they were EXTREMISTS. Just like there are Christian Extremists. It's the same as how the Japanese were treated during WWII. Be lad you aren't locked in a concentration camp for being a Muslim. It is ugly but it will pass.

Answer 8

You are the worst kind of racist. You claim that it is unfair to Muslims that EVERY westerner consider Muslims terrorist. You blame us for doing exactly what you are doing, judging us all by the actions of our worst members.

I am from NY, I know people who have been hurt and kill by the actions of Muslim terrorist, it would be easy for me to say "I hate all Muslims." But I don't, why? Because I am from NY, not some but most of my friends are Muslim, they have taught me a lot about their faith and I have even been to a few a mosque and a Muslim wedding. I am closer to many of my Muslim friends they I am to my christian friends and the only way that can happen is because we are all open minded. I have seen first hand the type of prejudice you speak of and it is horrible but for every westerner who acts like that there are hundreds of us who stand up for Muslim rights, just like for every Muslim terrorist there are hundreds of true Muslims of faith who practice peace. Why don't you open your mind just a little bit.

Answer 9

Simply, because we are human. We learn from experiences through out our lives. For instance, there is a lightning storm in right over your neighborhood, a normal person goes inside fearing getting hit by lightning, why do you fear it, do you know anyone personally that has been struck by lightning? Odds are you don't. Odds are you will not be struck, but you still fear it. This fear is good though, it raises alertness. Alertness is what we need to prevent the past from reoccurring. My friend Shawn Covert agrees with my point of veiw.

Answer 10

Read the Quran and you will find out.

Quran - 047.004
YUSUFALI: Therefore, when ye meet the Unbelievers (in fight), smite at their necks; At length, when ye have thoroughly subdued them, bind a bond firmly (on them): thereafter (is the time for) either generosity or ransom: Until the war lays down its burdens. Thus (are ye commanded): but if it had been Allah's Will, He could certainly have exacted retribution from them (Himself); but (He lets you fight) in order to test you, some with others. But those who are slain in the Way of Allah,- He will never let their deeds be lost.

Believe me, it gets worse.