Why don't non-muslims hear muslims when they denounce extremists/terrorists?

Question

They always ask why none of us openly condemn those who give Islam a bad name?

Every Muslim I know openly condemns these things but ppl always ask the same thing!!

Just because we don't have a pope or some symbol like that to speak for us all. I'm getting so tired of it. I'm a muslim women & this guy came up to me at work and actually said 'you look like a tolerant one' -- what is that really supposed --what? that I'm not standing there brandishing a sword? Okay I am not looking for answers to the last part...just the first part --be respectful!

' hundred thousand or so at the average Hamas rally'......& yet there are more of us!

barry.ch…that is not true! Really read a book like 'In the footsteps of the prophet'...it's an easy read that explains what was goin on at the time each verse was revealed--they are referring to specific past events (current events at the time)

I LUV U GUYS -- still gonna leave the question open for a while--but thanks so much--sometimes I need reminding...

Answer 1

Many people only hear what they want to. I'm guessing that people want something to channel hate into, so even though many Muslims denounce the extremists, they don't pay attention.

I peosonally think it's stupid to base any opinion of a large amount of people based off of a small amount of that group. And i'm fully aware that Muslims think the extremists are stupid, to put it plainly. Because, well, terrorists are stupid.

Answer 2

With all due respect, unfortunately people are grouping Muslims together as a group. Unfortunately there are Muslims who denounce the terror action of the extremists, but due to closed-minded thinking, they think all Muslims are terrorists, which is NOT the case.

People need to realize that there are good and bad in all races and religions. They need to wake up. Personally, I don't judge anyone. I take each person, individually, by what they show me and don't dislike anyone until they give me a reason to.

And as far as your co-workers comments, just chalk it up to ignorance. Some people are just plain rude.

Kindest regards,
Karen (not a Muslim, but I do understand your question and your concern)

Answer 3

Assalamu A'alaekum,

Non-Muslims have made their mind already and they are not use to of accepting the truth always. If they openly accept the truth, they will be Muslims (as Islam is the ultimate Truth) and they have to leave the lustful life for ever. That they don't want to do so far.
Such criticism is healthy for Islam, as how much you suppress Islam, as much it emerges up.
Islam has passed through much more worst situations in the past, Alhamdulillah, still alive and the most growing religion in the world.
At the time of Chengiz Khan/Halaku Khan, Muslims were in the weakest position ever in the history of Islam. Allah almighty is the All-Wise and All-just, I'm not hopeless Insha'Allah, Islam will dominate soon, By the grace of Allah almighty. (Bi'izenillah).

"Utna he yeh ubhray gaa jitna kay daba do ga"

Peace be with you.

Answer 4

Salam Alikom,
I agree with you. I also speak loud and clear denouncing terrorism in Islam but people chose not to listen. If only people would educate themselves instead of forming a bais opinion on what they've heard through the media.
I wonder how many people truely know a Muslim that is a terrorist. I'm sure the number is extremely small but the majority of non-muslims in the West loves the negativity in the media and they thrive on it. Look how they degrade black people, and Mexicans...... the majority of the western society have closed minds.
Mind you, the people in the U.S. who are terrorist are called crazed gunmen or mass killers. The correct label is Terrorist but to the West a terrorist is Muslim only,,,,, double standard of course.
Forget the ignorant and continue to educate those who are willing to learn and they in turn will educate someone else.
Peace

Answer 5

Unfortunately much of the media is controlled by America's extremist christian president. He does not want peace. The only way he can stop his country from going bankrupt is by warmongering and selling fear to fuel his wars. If the world knew the truth they would turn against him even more.
Further:
Humans are unfortunately aggressive creatures by nature and therefore we will rather listen to 'bad' things than 'good' things. Just turn on the news, what do you hear? So no matter how much good news there is to hear about muslims it does not fit into what we want to hear. The world would rather hear blood, gore, terror, threats.... It's what we thrive on. Unfortunately the few of us that do not fall into this slobbering mass of rabid fools are vastly outnumbered. We hear you but we are the minority. We are surrounded by a surreal world populated by (and ruled by) bloodthirsty savages that believe the media and the lies of extremist christian leaders. I am happily without religion so can watch these happenings with an open mind. It is sad to see people twisting religions to support their own ends. Even sadder to see the masses believing/ following them. What happened to the messages of peace and love that were once the thread of religions? I hope for the sake of human-kind that we can find them again and that we can begin listening to the voice of love from others even if we might not understand it at first.
Peace.

Answer 6

"Every Muslim I know openly condemns these things"

well, obviously not EVERYONE or there would not be extremists.

Look, nobody is saying all muslims are terrorists (and if they do, they are idiots). But how many terrorists call themselves muslim? And why is it that this faith seems to attract a rather unstable crowd?

I've been to majority-muslim places in Malaysia, Kazakhstan and others and I realise 99.99% are just regular human beings trying to make it through life. But again, what is up with that unstable element?

Answer 7

The most honest I can give you is this: the media. The news, the newspaper, the internet. They all give muslims a bad name, and fail to tell you that all the extremists and terrorists are a small percentage of the religion, and that most of the religion does not believe in the things that these terrorist groups do.

People believe the only information that are offered to them without trying to further research on their own and come to their own conclusions.

Answer 8

I can only answer for the UK.
- The so-called spokespeople for the community do not condemn acts of violence. They will only speak platitudes and give excuses.
- The people handing out leaflets filled with messages of hate are not told to leave the mosque. The people going in to the mosque on Friday just walk by them without comment.

The condemnation tends to come on a one-to-one basis in conversation. But very few are willing to get in front of a camera, or write a newspaper article, and state "I wholeheartedly condemn the violence done in the name of Islam, and I condemn those perpetrating it."

There is no excuse for the violence that these terrorists perpetrate, and it only diminishes the causes that the extremists say they support.

Answer 9

I hear you. Not all non-muslims think that way. Unfortunately many do. At my uni a group of muslim students have started handing out weekly fliers discussing a new topic each week e.g. marriage for the purpose of educating the wider community. They also have an email account that people can send anonymous emails to if they want to ask questions. Maybe you could educate people, most people are intolerant because they are ignorant

Answer 10

I share your emotions. Thanks for putting this out there but sadly this will have no effect on anyone. The extremist Muslims are what make the news and what keeps everyone on their toes..no body cares about the tolerant muslims..that doesnt excite them as much. Just hang in there :).
I guess teh best way to deal with such rude comments as the one you got at work is to either complete ignore or kill with kindness (like our prophet used to do).