Muslims.........pt. 2?

Question

Ok, heres another question to those who follow Islam. I am going to keep it in the same respectful line as I did in my earlier question. If I receive the answers to this one the way I did my earlier one, you all honor yourselves well, so here it goes..................



With all of the negative press these past years, when attempting to explain what your religion is, your practices, etc., to the uninformed...or curious..., what do you think is the biggest misunderstanding, and how do you go about clearing it up? And once you do so do you think you have educated them.

to Abdul A: Seeing as thats something that is always brought up, are there contradictory verses in the Quran?

to thuwar; I didn't mean 'clearing your name' in the way you may have taken it. I meant that when talking with an individual how do you clear up any misconceptions on islam they personally may have.

to revert Muslimah: in certain countries where women wore/still wear burquas, is that in the Quran? Is it Sharia law?or is that misinterpretation?

to Abdul A: " will give you an example, Technically, anywhere Muslims are attacked, Jihad becomes a Must. Like, lets say for afghanistan or iraq. "

without going down that slippery slope and going off topic, do YOU personally think that the current conflicts are directed at muslims? or do you think it is we are going after who perpetrated the crime in the name of Islam.

Answer 1

I think the biggest misunderstanding would have to be about the concept of Jihad. Many see it as warring with others to convert them to Islam.

I try to explain the concept, that Jihad is a struggle throughtout life from personal and does involve fighting, but fighting to defeat oppression.

You could say that the allied forces were fighting a Jihad, when they were at war with Hitler.

I feel they go away a little more asured until the next news story or when they stumble on an anti-islamic website.

Answer 2

Hey, thanks for agreeing that the media is biased.

There have been many instances were the verses from the Holy Quran are quoted without context, giving a different meaning to what it actually meant. We try to tell to read the whole verse, or a verse before or after or the complete Sura.

Moreover few cultural things are associated with Islam to show Islam in a bad light.
example : stoning to death. Its never mentioned in Quran to kill any person by stoning. But the media has made sure that the people believe them.

Yes, we try our best to educate people about Islam. To remove the hatred & misconception about Islam & Muslims.

I appreciate that you are open to such questions & answers. I am sorry to say many members of YA have wrong opinions about Islam & are not open to understand what we say.

Answer 3

Islam is not a new religion created by prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

Islam preaches the same original faith (Monotheism);the laws & commandments brought by Adam, Novah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and finally Muhammad - peace be upon all.

The biggest hurdle in understanding Islam is the illusions already created in various societies. These illusions -based on false theories like incarnation, racial superiority etc., can only be eliminated through mass media and publications which Muslims do not possess yet whereas the opponets are maligning Islam!

Most of the Muslim scholars and followers are doing their best on personal level and by the grace of Almighty Allah the Islam is the largest growing religion in the world.

Answer 4

Hello...
I am a muslim, and I'm from lebanon...
I'd say the biggest misunderstanding we had from the press was Islam being a terrorist relegion that pursues demolishing Christians...come on, man, we are all humans, and just because you have a different relegion than I, it doesn't mean I have to kill you, we all have to just grow up and live in peace...Islam is Arabic for "the practice of peace", so how on earth could we be unpeaceful people...and besides, in every group of normal people, there are people who are an exception, in another way, these are the extremists...
And concerning clearing our name: I think us Muslims are going through enough in the world from poverty to occupied lands, so I don't think we have the time to care what other people think...besides, if we are convinced in our relegion and our beliefs, we shouldn't care what people think, as long as we are happy. Also, I would say the uninformed would have to search themselves for our true essense, Muslims shouldn't grab each person and say: we are misunderstood...whoever wants to believe that we are misunderstood, should be enthusiastic enough to confirm that by themsleves. Sorry if I disturbed anyone, and thank you for asking this question in such a polite and curious way. God Bless you.
May peace be upon you all the time, brother in humanity.

Answer 5

Answers to this question are very well written....

Big misconceptions in Islam:
- Kill all Infidels
- 72 Virgins
- Women are oppressed/subjugated
- Honour Killings
- Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) was a person with some very bad qualities etc.

About clearing it up.... I try my best to communicate how the misconceptions are not part of Islam, and are baseless. I try to tell them my experiences and point of views of being a Muslim, and point out that Islam is NOT evil or corrupt as many people would like to think. The media has presented such a stereotyped image of Muslims, that it becomes hard for many people to realise that Muslims are also normal human beings, and like to live normal, terror-and-oppression free lives.

Have I educated them? Perhaps, if they accept what I'm trying to tell them...

Answer 6

Agree with by Any Means Necessary, Lotr Fan, Sen b and Naush...

I'd like to add another misunderstanding: Arabs are not represetatives of Islam and they are about only 12% of Muslims. Not all Muslims are Arabs.. Cultrul problems and Mistakes of Arabs shouldn't be taken against Islam...


There are no contradictions in the Quran.. Unless you consider telling your girl friend: "don't know any other man than me" as an orderfor her to abandon her father!
Thanks...

Answer 7

Q. What do you think is the biggest misunderstanding?
A. The biggest misconception of Islam is that our beautiful religion oppresses women, when in reality women are treated with respect in Islam. We are taught that you are to love your mother, your mother, your mother, and then your father, showing just how women are regarded in Islam.

Q. How do you go about clearing it up?
A. It really comes down to educating non - Muslims, about what Islam stands for because what is shown in the media is not the real Islam, that was formed 1400 years ago. As Muslims, before we even commence to speak out and educate others, it is crucial that our actions reflect the true Islam. Actions speak louder than words, and it is through our actions as Muslims that we show people who we really are, and what we stand for. It is only then that we can commence to break that misconception (God - willing).

_________________

The following verses in the Qu'ran explain that modesty is for both women and men:

(24:30, 31) {Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and be modest. That is purer for them. Lo! Allah is aware of what they do. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display their adornment only that which is apparent[...]}

(24:31) {And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils over their bosoms, and not to reveal their adornment save to their own husbands or fathers or husbands' fathers, or their sons or their husbands' sons, or their brothers or their brothers' sons or sisters' sons, or their women, or their slaves, or male attendants who lack vigour, or children who know naught of the women's nakedness. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And turn unto Allah together, O believers, in order that ye may succeed.}

(33:59) {O Prophet! Tell thy wives and thy daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks round them (when they go abroad). That will be better, so that they may be recognised and not annoyed. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.}

The respected scholars of Islam, past and present, differed as to the extent of the covering. some scholars - the Hanbalis and most of the Shafi'is - are in favour of covering the face and hands, and that this is mandatory. This is also the opinion of ibn Mas'oud from from amongst the companions. The earlier Maaliki and Hanafi scholars, along with some of the Shafi'i's consider the whole body except for the face and hands to be 'Awrah [that which must be covered].

There is no definite ruling on the extent of covering.

Answer 8

There are plenty of misunderstandings here are a few.
That women are oppressed.
That we are terrorists.
That we are not integrated.
That we want all other nations to be Islamic.

I clear them up by saying.
As a woman in Islam i am treated with nothing but respect, protection, dignity and equality. That is my experience as a Muslim woman. If they say well that's because you don't know any different i just let them know i was not a Muslim for 33 years of my life and am more that qualified to know the difference between living as a non Muslim woman and a Muslim woman.

That we are terrorists.
Yes i agree some acts of terror have been committed by Muslims but that is not what we are taught by the faith of Islam to do. People are terrorists for reasons unto themselves that does not mean their faith is responsible. If that was the case are all Catholics responsible for the acts of the IRA? No how stupid would that be to look at every catholic as a potential terrorist. But by the same token its OK to look at Muslims that way. I have never killed anyone, no intentions to kill anyone and i should not have to say that as a prerequisite when asked about my faith.

That we are not intergrated.
If being a law abiding citizen, getting an education, raising children, paying tax's, going to work is not intergrated then sorry but i dont know what is. To be intergrated to i have to wear a bikini and go to the pub? (as someone once suggested to me) I told them well my mum is not a muslim and she does not wear a bikini or go to the pub is she not intergrated then having been born in Scotland lived her whole life their as did her mother and her mother before her? Where none of them intergrated? I was never a bikini wearer or a pub goer before i was a muslim but now i am a muslim i should start?

We want all other nations to be Islamic.
Sorry to inform everyone but every muslim i know (because i live in the uk and all other muslims i know live here too) have zero desire for the UK to be an Islamic state. Even the muslims who live here who are from another country still dont want to make it an Islamic state. For what purpose? The notion that we want everyone to live and worship like we do is rediculas. Do all Jews want to make it a Jewish state, catholics, a catholic state, Hindu's a hindu state? No and neither do we.

So many stereotypes get said and repeated over and over so then people start to quote them as fact. If i say all catholic priests are pedophiles, is that a true statment or a stereotypical one because there are a certain amount who have been. Are we to tar all religious people with the same brush as any crime any other person of that faith commits? No muslim is perfect just as no other person regardless of faith, race or nationality is. We all have bad people in our communities and faiths and races and that fact sadly has always been and will never change.
I as a daughter, sister, wife and mother hopes like any other for her children and childrens, children for the world to be a perfect polly anna world where children dont get kidnapped, women dont get raped, bombs dont go off in undergrounds, racism to never exist, school boys to be shot in the neck, man defending their cars dont get gang beaten to death. Who wants to? No one and as muslims we feel no different.

If after explaining these things which i often do here, people are not a little educated to the fact muslims are normal people living normal lives then there is nothing more i can do. Unfortunatly some people are comfortable and happy with their hatred and ignorance, but i dont have to be one of them and i dont raise my children to discriminate against other faiths, races etc just because of the acts of one person. After all we are all responsible for our own actions. Who really is their brothers keeper muslim or not?

Answer 9

Muslims get their culture and religion mixed into one. Especially people from Asian extractions, the problem is Islam and its teaching is in Arabic the language of the Arabs including North Africa.

People of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh are not Arabic speaking people and it is largely mis-understood form the religious point of view.

These people are the real culprits of having a warped idea of Islam.

There is nothing wrong with Islam or its teaching.

Answer 10

I'm a Muslim revert who lives in a country where women still wear what you call a burqa. The Holy Qur'an does not specify a particular style of dress, but tells women to cover our heads and bodies so that we will be identified as righteous women and not be molested.
Different styles of covering are usual in different countries. It is a courtesy to our hosts and hostesses to dress as they want us to dress, and that's why I do it.