why there is so much misunderstanding about Islam?

Question

I am a Muslim and I want to know why there is so much misunderstanding about Islam among some western people. They seem to be unaware of true Islam and its laws and they judge about it with what they read or see in the media which is written by the enemies of the Islam and don’t read it in its original texts.
Please don't mix some terrorists like" Ben laden" with Islam and Muslims in your answers.

1-I'm astonished how many answerers proved that they have misunderstandings about Islam and the source of this is western propaganda which are almost lies .I'm Iranian and haven't seen any woman hanged for sex here (by the way streets of Tehran are full of these women these days thanks to western culture in some of Iranians). They have not hear about the killing and torturing of thousands of Iranian youth by SHAH's government and the support of that regime by American government at that time(1978) which was the cause of that hostages. They don’t remember the war against Iran by Saddam who conducted by American government (surely not American people) and killed many Iranians.
2-And a word about Ishmael .I'm surprised that you didn’t even read the old testament's notes that calls him son of Abraham and support of god for him in the desert and called his descendents princes.(Genesis 21:9-17).
3-Also Qoran's verses about "those not Muslim " are about the enemies of Mohammad (peace be up

Answer 1

I think this belief and misunderstanding originate from this fact that western countries made industrial revolution and great achievements in science and technology in the 20th century. And this made them think that they are the masters of the world and have contempt for other nations.
But they forget that their achievements have been made on grounds like colonialism and slaving of African and Asian people.
Also their achievements has resulted in unfortunate events like great wars ,pollution of earth planet ,air pollution , prostitution and new slaving of poor females of Asia and Africa in the disguise of "women freedom", AIDS , drug addiction ,mass homicide of people in Palestine Bosnia , Iraq and other parts of the world and so on .
Also this selfish feeling doesn't have any relation to Islam or Christianity or other religions ,this originates form evil part of human mind that want all of the world for himself and can destroy others to reach his desire .
PS: I think Ben laden and other terrorists are US made to fulfill their tasks in the world and don't have any relation to Islam
(See Fahrenheit 911).

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

You are correct that most of us westerners are using the media as a guideline into what we believe about Muslims, but we use that same forum of communication for all that we have little knowledge of. This is the same as for what we are taught in history when we were in school.

I am married to a Muslim and was hesitant to get involved because of the little knowledge I had about Muslims. His personality was nothing like what the media reported about Muslims and this caused my hesitancy to dissolve. He became my teacher to help dispel some of the misconceptions we've all had about Muslims. When I went to his country, this also helped me understand that all Muslims are not terrorists.

So please understand that it is through lack of knowledge that we have about Muslims other than what we read through the media. If Muslims want people to know better information, they will have to understand that it would be through "teaching" that we will see differently. The media's job is to get the latest in what's happening and the terrorists are targeting the media because that is their way of speaking out to the rest of the world. You can't blame us for this - as it goes for all people in all countries unless we hear differently.

By the way, this is also true within our own country. Look what the media has shown us as far as law enforcement in some cities. That's just journalism.

Answer 4

Lot of Muslims, especially those living in Europe, are more traditional than in their own country. They stick to their language, culture, dress, etc., giving people the impression that they don't want to integrate. This have two reasons: a) they come mainly from poor, less developed parts of their home countries (people with good jobs/education tend to migrate less) and b)they feel (true or not) that they are not welcome.
Media coverage. Giving mostly attention to bearded, hostile-towards- the-west, angry, shouting Muslims is good "attraction".
"Non-believers" find that certain parts of the Koran are hostile towards them.
Separation of church and state is not common in lot of Muslim dominated countries.
Sharia laws don't fit in modern, democratic countries. Muslims have to choose which to embrace.

I'm critical but not hostile towards Islam. Having said all the above I think countries like Malaysia, Singapore, Turkey and a substantial Muslim community living (and born) in the West prove that Islam can be (and in fact is) tolerant and progressive in this modern world. Education and raising the standard of living are key issues.

Answer 5

Most westerners always though highly of Muslims. Look at Hollywoods films of the 20-50's Always full of Glamour and wonder. Ali Baba, The Prince of Arabia, and even todays plays and movies like Aladdin! It was the Persians that first created this fear with the Hostage situation in Iran that started the negative images. The Modern Beheadings woke many up into a negative nightmare! Speak against the radicals and you will win back normal trade and respect.

Answer 6

I have no misunderstanding of Islam. At the age of 20, I read the Koran and found it even more tedious, outmoded, narrow and irrelevant to life than the Old testament - and that's saying something. I apologize if I sometimes seem to misunderstand Muslim PEOPLE, but then, some very very mixed messages are being sent out. On the one hand, "Islam is the religion of peace" gets trotted out at every opportunity, but I see no popular groundswell of moderate Islam coming out against violence, savage judgments and punishments etc. Show me dissenting voices within Islam which are tolerated and engaged by the hard-liners, and I will begin to think there is some hope.

Answer 7

I don't personally think I have any misunderstandings about Islam. I just don't look at Bin Laden I look at the last 40 years, I look at 16 year old girls being hung in Iran for haviong sex or a woman hanged for harming a man during an attempted rape. I look at suicide bombers walking into places frequented by civilians and blowing themselves up,I look at the way two thirds of the Muslim world follows Islam is what I'm saying basically. My first memory of any dealings with the Muslim world were when many hostages were taken in Iran during the Carter administration,I was young and it helped set my opinion for a long time,and Islam has done nothing to change that opinion since. In fact in Iran they made one of the hoistage takers their current president,so what opinion am I supposed to derive from that? I personally believe that in it's natural state without western influence modifying it with a little rule of law that Islam is borderline evil,if the Islamic world wants my opinion to change they have to change the way they choose to interact with the world.

AD

Answer 8

What is the "true islam" u r talking about?

Check and read and study very well the Quran and study the History of Islam
and ask urself honstly
why there r terrorists saying that they r muslims
there must be a good reson

And in my opinion, this is the only way for muslim to inter Heaven

Answer 9

You bring up an excellent point. Like the average Muslim, the average Christian is going about his or her life, trying to live a quiet, peaceful life, benefiting the people around him, and trying to follow the tenets of his faith.
Nobody ever hears about that.
All the world hears of Islam is a few nuts who hate everybody and blow people up.
All the world hears of Christianity is a few nuts getting themselves on TV spewing hate and ruining everyones opinion of the millions of Jesus followers who are quietly trying to do what's right.
If people of faith are to be seen differently, those who want peace and co-operation must stand up against those who preach hate and destruction

Answer 10

GOOD ONE !

1. Because some Muslims know how to perfectly mis -represent Islam and show it as a "terroristic " religion

2. Western media are just excellent on putting these misrepresentation of Islam under spot light and show nothing else

3. Non-Muslims just follow the mass, they tend to believe anything said about Islam... good reason not to change their religions

4. Western Muslims disregard all of that and do not play an effective role in refuting these misconceptions .