Why is it that people fear Islam? If you fear it do you even understand it?

Question

Have you read any part of the qu'rran or have you ACTUALLY talked to a muslim and asked him or her about their faith? Have you listened with open ears. Those who spout hatred and say they are terroists must remember this ( from the bible) when piously kneeling to pray .... What ever ye shall do to the least of your fellow man so shall ye do to me. I am not saying that Muslims are the Least but remember, if you didn't know what religion they were would you still be as cruel? And do you truly know how WELL women are actually taken care of according to Shariah law? If I was a muslim ( which I am not) and I divorced my husband, he would have to keep me in the same lifestyle I was accustomed to during the marriage regardless if it meant putting him in the poorhouse as divorce is frowned upon ( kinda like in Cathechism?) also Multiple marriages are only up to two ( muslims correct me if I am wrong) and that is only if you can give everything exactly equal to each wife so why hate?????

Al quaeda is not following TRUE ISLAM if they were, they wouldn't have attacked outside their own country they wouldn't have killed innocents, as for taliban rule, Luckily I was never under that rule, but can you tell me people have better lives in that war zone now? or in the war zone ( another vietnam) that has become Iraq?

not everyone who is muslim is an Arab , thats like saying every catholic is Irish.. Iran is a shii'a muslim country and they are PERSIANS thats like saying every single white person is american, absurb at best

For the person who has been to Egypt and seen a woman beaten for showing her ankle... umm I find that very hard to belief ( being as I have friends from Misr) (sp?) and they go there every year, wear western clother ( modestly though they don't wear daisy dukes) do not wear hijab and act like they normally do, none of them have EVER been beaten

A lot of the misconceptions of Islam are CULTURAL rather than Faith based. Honour killings... CULTURAL wearing Nakob, or hijab or burqua... CULTURAL it depends on the area

to the person who said this "If you are the Christian, why would you want to be submited to someone who doesnt even believe in the same God as you and you can not worship the God of Jacob together? Doesnt make sense." Actually yes, god of jacob is god of Abraham, who is the god of muslims, jews and Christians, there is but ONE god, and by whatever name he is called he is the true and only god wether its jehovah, allah, lord almighty , heavenly father ( ITS THE SAME GOD) christians we have many names for god, as do the Jews and the muslims ( 99 I believe) a rose by any other name.........

What of the IRA then? or does it not count because they aren't affecting you directly? The IRA cause more bombing damage in England than the SECOND WORLD WAR! but it does not mean all Catholics or all Irish are this way...

Where's my Patriotism? HA!!! Thats a joke you assume much my SOUTHERN friend. Look north, Its REd , White and there isn't any blue on MY FLAG.... I live in a cutural melting pot otherwise known as CANADA... so where is my us patriotism? Probably the same place many other caniadians have it.... Non existant and furthest from my mind

and an additional detail, I work for an Egyptian Family, they are the most loving example I have seen, they care for each other, the girls lead their own lives, ( even participate on a swim team or other sports) they live like anyone really does, they just do the best for their family and community, they donate to various charities, help those who need it and most of all are fair to their employees, ( even if I do play baba fein OVER AND OVER AND OVER ha ha) =)

Answer 1

I agree, Christians have started more wars and crap than Muslims have. Hitler was Christian, the OKC bomber was Christian, David Koresh was Christian. Look at all the people they killed in our own country.
People like to stereotype Muslims for a few bad ones but never stereotype Christians for their bad ones.
If you actually read the Quran, It is a lot more peaceful than you would think. It is a lot more peaceful than the bible is. The bible is full of detailed wars being done in Gods name. The Quran has no stories about war in it. The only time the Quran tells you to fight is if someone is running over you but it says to know your boundaries and know when to stop and not take it too far.
The ones that start the crap are not true Muslims, if they were they wouldn't be killing innocent people because that is not what the Quran teaches

Answer 2

Yes, I have read parts of the Koran. There are some very interesting COMMANDS to "kill the infidels." This religion preaches peace -- do it their way or you will be dead. These people are so peaceful that the Shia and the Sunni kill each other because they disagree on who should have led the religion after Mohammad died.

I have also had the opportunity to work with several of these people. They tend to be very explosive in their anger. No imagined insult is too small. No mercy is given for other viewpoints.

Jesus said that a day would come when people would kill true Christians -- those who follow Jesus -- and think they were serving god. They yell "Allah Akbar" -- god is great every time they cut your head off.

While you are rambling on about how well women are treated, remember that these people practice female genital mutilation. Wow -- that sure shows me how much they love and respect their wives.

I would also like to raise the point that the Lutherans are not killing innocent women and children in the marketplace. The Anglicans are not in the habit of cutting off people's heads, and Presbyterians haven't been caught ramming SUV's into airport garages. The Methodists are not in the habit of issuing "kill on sight" orders because of a book someone wrote. Hell, even the Baptists and the Anabaptists have learned how to get along.

Answer 3

You seem young and very idealistic. People are in general not afraid of Islam, but of Muslims who misinterpret Kor'an and Hadithes and use them to justify their own agendas. And these people are ugly. I have spent enough years in the Arab world to know what I am talking about. As for women and sharia, I was involved in an Arab NGO trying to help numerous Arab women whose husbands dumped them together with their children to marry again. In the old times, men had several women and took care of all of them and all the children. Not any more, especially when they are poor and uneducated and that is the majority of the people. Those women end up in the street and even their families will not take them back because they shamed them (divorce is still shameful) and because they can't support them financially. I wish things were as good in real life as Bible and Kor'an tell us they ought to be. But people create reality, and sometimes it's just not that great.
P.S. Some of the things posted in answers are just not right. You do not pay higher taxes if you are not a Muslim in Egypt, and a woman can ask for a divorce (many did and are still alive), but loses financially if she does. Half of the women are illiterate and poor so they probably don't even know their rights but those who are educated have been using it more than ever before in recent years.
All this said, things need to improve in the US for women too. I had my child in Europe and was on a fully paid maternity leave for 12 months, after which I continued to work in the same company for the next 10 years. I would not have been able to do that here. There is a lot of talk about family values, but when it's all said and done, everything is about the money and profit. So, let's be realistic about all of us.

Answer 4

What if the qu'rran has good stuff in it and what if Islam is good? Okay, I accept you answers but have you researched the bad side and how it was twisted around by groups of leaders? I have to ask you the same question. How well do you know Islam?

Did you know that according to their laws, that if you are not muslim, they'll kill you? They'll actually kill you so they can go to their heaven.

Did you also know that a woman can be brutally raped against her will and the man who did it will walk away almost free while the woman who was raped is put to death?

They are also into holy wars and dying in the name of allah so they can also have a free ticket and into heaven.

Ok, you're like, so what? Well these holy wars are against you and I and everyone else that isn't muslim. They are out to convert us or kill us. They hate us. And they hide these facts well. People fear Islam because the bottom line of it is too kill their enemies.

Christianity on the other hand teaches us to love our enemies. How's that for powerful?

Remember 9/11?These people attacked our country and murdered thousands and it's like it never happened. They are loving alright. They're angels, we're picking on them. America's bad...Islam good. I want to puke. During World War II what would have happened if America stood neutral after Pearl Harbor was attacked and let the Japs win without a fight? Oh that's right, maybe Pearl Harbor never happened because we're not sure if 9/11 ever did.

I'm tired of all this baloney! What ever happened to patroitism and the love for America? Islam is a bully right now and while we are being put under threat after threat and maybe more attacks while American's are crying out that Islam is good and to leave them alone while we are being picked off one by one. Yeah we're smart. We need to wake up. Islam is not all that good. I'm sorry. We have a right to worry.

Answer 5

No. I just fear being blown up. Of course, i don't have past experience of being blown to bits, so obviously this is an irrational fear. A phobia perhaps. Maybe you're right. Maybe i should sit down and attempt rational discourse with a person of Muslim faith. But maybe actions speak louder than words, so maybe i already know everything i need to know about extremists.

It's important to specify the dimension in which Muslim extremists, are actually extreme. They are extreme in their faith. They are extreme in their devotion to the literal word of the Qur'an & the Hadith. And this leads them to be extreme in the degree in which they believe that modernity & secular culture are incompatible with moral & spiritual health.

Muslim extremists are certain that the exports of Western culture are leading their wives & children away from God. They also consider our unbelief to be sin so grave that it merits death whenever it becomes impediment to the spread of Islam. These sundry passions are not reducible to hatred, in any ordinary sense. Most Muslim extremists have never been to America. Or even met an American. And they have far fewer aggrievance with Western Imperialism than is the norm around the globe.

Above all they appear to be suffering from a fear of contamination. As has been widely noted, they are also consumed by feelings of humiliation. Humiliation over the fact that while their civilization has foundered; they have watched an Allah-less, sin-loving people become the masters of everything they touch. This irrational fear is a product of their faith.

yeah ...i understand perfectly.

Answer 6

I dont fear Islam, where do you get that idea? Yes Ive read quran, I think its a lie and copies a lot of the bible but doesnt compare. Doesnt make sense they put a mere man who never recieved the Holy Spirit to say that the quran is true and not the bible.The majority of terrorists are muslim. Please look up and find out on your own. They are on the news daily killing people through suicide bombers. Read todays paper and see. I see Muslims in my community doing nothing about them, I dont see any protesting in Washington about them either. When the 9/11 ordeal happened we saw Muslims who were happy cheering about it on tv, even children. Ive seen little Muslim boys with guns who are taught to hate Isreal. They have a boyscout type thing going on in Lebanon where kids are to step on the star of david. Early on they are taught to hate.
As far as marriages, who knows, Ive seen testamonies of some ugly stories, Im sure not all are like that but the bible says that Christians are not to be unequally yoked so Christian women are not looking for Muslim men anyway, That doesnt make sense to split the thoughts of the children. If you are the Christian, why would you want to be submited to someone who doesnt even believe in the same God as you and you can not worship the God of Jacob together? Doesnt make sense.

Answer 7

No, Muslim men can marry up to 4. This is in anticipation of the time (like the one we are living now) where there are more women than men. In certain countries, the first wife's consent is needed.

Also, marrying more than one means it encourages a man to marry a widow or a divorcee, hence putting her (and her children) under his care.

Divorce is greatly frowned upon, but is a relief when the husband and wife really can't stay married.

Marrying more than one also saves a Muslim from sinning bigtime by having extra-marital affairs (especially in the modern world where a man might spend more time with his secretary at work than with his wife), or by sinning going to prostitutes, especially if he needs to stay in various countries for a long period of time each year.

So a businessman who travels much and stays in a certain country for say 2-3 months every trip twice or thrice a year, might decide to have a wife there, instead of patronising prostitutes for sex.

Regardless, the morality and well-being of a wife/woman is enshrined through marriage.

Of course all these comes with responsibility of providing for them, and that's why the verse that deals with this issue ends with a recommendation "...if you fear that you cannot be just towards them, then marry just one".

A remedy for many of society's current woes!

PS: As for post marriage maintenance, I believe the man has to maintain the children if any, not the wife, according to the Classical Shariah.

Also, one point you didn't mention is that a wife's earnings is hers to keep. She is also not required to spend her inheritance she gets from her parents etc on her family. The husband has to provide regardless.

Answer 8

It could be that although not all Muslims are terrorist, the terrorism we are facing at the moment is Muslim terrorism for the most part.

Now extremists have tarnished the Muslim religion because their cause is that of Islam, whether even by general Muslim consensus they got it right or wrong... terrorism of this nature wouldn't be happening the way it is if it wasn't based on religion/faith... which is why it is so much more a volatile and deepseated issues.

Answer 9

1. Yes I have read the Quran...it's full of hate...depending on which verses you read.

2. We look to the countries that espouse Islam. They are always impoverished, despite sitting on tons of oil. They mistreat women and people of other faiths. In Egypt, if a person chooses another faith, they pay higher taxes. And we have seen what Islam has done in the Sudan... millions killed with knives, for refusing Islam. These Arab nations can't get along with each other, let alone anyone else.

Answer 10

The fact that war has been rampant in that part of the world since time began, is all the proof I need about Islam's credibility. Jesus Christ is God Almighty and anything that teaches otherwise, is of the world, and does not know God.
I am not mean or disrespectful to Muslim people, I only look at history and I see all I need to know. Constant war and bloodshed in that part of the world, this is not the peace and prosperity that God promises to those peoples and nations who abide by His Word. It is amazing if you simply look at the world today, the countries that are the most prosperous are the ones who support Israel. Islam hates Israel. God promises us: "I will bless those who bless Israel and I will curse him who curses Israel." Perhaps not all Muslims agree with the extremists in their ranks, however, allowing this to go on for centuries, they are without excuse. Mercy killings, Jihad, and constant bloodshed, these are not attributes of a Godly Spirit. God gives us discernment and tells us to test all spirits. I love all peoples, I only disagree with Islam based on centuries of history. Talk is cheap, actions reveal truth.
God Bless You....Peace.