But, by that rule shouldn’t the Western media call the Basque separatist group Euzkadi Ta Askatasuna, ETA, and the Irish Republican Army, IRA, Christian militants? LTTE by the same yardstick become Hindu militants and a terrorist outfit fighting for separation vis a vis freedom from Sri Lanka?
Rightly though, never are these acts attributed to the religion of the perpetrators. Yet how many times have we heard the words ‘Islamic, Muslim fundamentalists etc.’ linked with violence. It’s almost like; Islam and terrorism seem to have become synonyms. Sanity doesn’t seem to prevail when Muslims are involved in a crime and the whole religion is condemned by one and all. The Western media should stop calling those terrorists who happen to be Muslim, Islamic or Muslim militants. It is a way of maligning Islam, which unfortunately so far has been very successful.
Politics in so-called “Muslim countries” may or may not have any Islamic basis. Often dictators and politicians will use the name of Islam for their own purposes. One should remember to go to the source of Islam and separate what the true religion of Islam says from what is portrayed in the media. Islam literally means ’submission to God’ and is derived from a root word meaning ‘peace’.
Islam may seem exotic or even extreme in the modern world. Perhaps this is because religion doesn’t dominate everyday life in the West, whereas Islam is considered a ‘way of life’ for Muslims and they make no division between secular and sacred in their lives. Like other major religions, Islam permits fighting in self-defense, in defense of religion, or on the part of those who have been expelled forcibly from their homes. It lays down strict rules of combat which include prohibitions against harming civilians and against destroying crops, trees and livestock.
NOWHERE DOES ISLAM ENJOIN THE KILLING OF INNOCENTS.. It says: “Fight in the cause of God against those who fight you, but do not transgress limits. God does not love transgressors.” (Qurân 2:190) “If they seek peace, then seek you peace. And trust in God for He is the One that hears and knows all things.” (Qurân 8:61). In the words of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), “DO NOT oppress anyone, neither be oppressed”. War, therefore, is the last resort, and is subject to the rigorous conditions laid down by the sacred law. The term ‘jihad’ literally means ’struggle’. Muslims believe that there are two kinds of jihad.
The other ‘jihad’ is the inner struggle of the soul which everyone wages against egotistic desires for the sake of attaining inner peace.
MISCONCEPTION #2:
Islam oppresses women.
The image of the typical Muslim woman wearing the veil and forced to stay home and forbidden to drive is all too common in most people’s thoughts. Although some Muslim countries may have laws that oppress women, this should not be seen as coming from Islam. Many of these countries do not rule by any kind of Shari’ah (Islamic law) and introduce their own cultural standpoints on the issue of gender equity.
Islam on the other hand gives men and women different roles and equity between the two is laid down in the Qurân and the example of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Islam sees a woman, whether single or married, as an individual in her own right, with the right to own and dispose of her property and earnings. A marriage gift is given by the groom to the bride for her own personal use, and she keeps her own family name rather than taking her husband’s. Both men and women are expected to dress in a way that is modest and dignified. The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said: “The most perfect in faith amongst believers is he who is best in manner and kindest to his wife.”
Violence of any kind towards women and forcing them against their will for anything is not allowed. A Muslim marriage is a simple, legal agreement in which either partner is free to include conditions.
Marriage customs thus vary widely from country to country. Divorce is not common, although it is acceptable as a last resort. According to Islam, a Muslim girl cannot be forced to marry against her will: her parents simply suggest young men they think may be suitable.
MISCONCEPTION #3:
Muslims can divorce their wives very easily by uttering ‘talaq’ word thrice.
There is no disagreement amongst Muslim scholars that to divorce one’s wife three times or more on the same occasion is forbidden from the Islamic point of view because it is an abuse of a legitimate procedure. However, the overwhelming majority of people who divorce their wives three times on the same occasion nowadays do so out of ignorance. They think that unless they pronounce the word of divorce three times, the divorce is not valid. Hence an explanation of the divorce process in Islam needs to be given time and again until people get to know how to approach divorce, which is disliked by Allah, should they ever need to resort to it.
Perhaps I should add that divorce in Islam is a very simple process but well entrenched misconceptions tend to obscure it. Here it is in simple terms:
Essentially marriage is a verbal contract and its dissolution is normally made verbally. When a man intends to divorce his wife, he should make sure that she is not in her menstruation period and that the two of them have not had sexual intercourse during her current period of cleanliness from menstruation. If either case is there, i.e. if the woman is in the period or if sexual intercourse had taken place, then to effect a divorce at that particular time is forbidden. They should wait until the woman has finished her period or until she has had her next period. The divorce process is started with a simple utterance of the words “I divorce you,” or “I divorce “(naming one’s wife). This should be done ONCE ONLY. Divorce proceedings can also be initiated in writing and sent by snail mail or E mail or even SMS, according to laws permitting in a country. UAE permits while Malaysia/Sigapore prohibits the initiation of divorce proceedings the SMS way, in order to curb rash moves by Muslim men to divorce their wives and I agree. Although divorces via Email or SMS may be allowed, the Shariat (Islamic law) strongly discourages the practice of pronouncing the talaq out of court, regardless of the manner of communicating it. To do so tantamounts to an abuse of the right given to the husband to pronounce the talaq, and if it is done in as flippant and morally reprehensible a manner as sending an E mail or SMS, it negates the seriousness with which divorces should be regarded. No right-thinking Muslim man should even consider such an unethical act.
But if the divorce has been initiated, then from that moment onwards, a woman starts her waiting period which lasts until she has completed three menstruation periods or three periods of cleanliness from menstruation. If she does not have the period either because she is too old or too young, then her waiting term lasts three months. If she is pregnant, the waiting term continues until she has given birth. During this time, she stays in her home, i.e. her family home where she has been living with her husband. He is not allowed to turn her out. He is required to maintain her through this period but may not share the same bedroom. She is not required to do any housework. The waiting period provides both divorcees with time to reconsider their situation. If they wish to be reunited in marriage, they may do so within the waiting period without any need to have a fresh marriage contract or to pay a fresh dower.
If they do not resume their marriage until the waiting period is over, then the divorce process is complete and the woman returns to her parents’ home and is entitled to get any deferred portion of her dower. She is not entitled to any maintenance for herself from her ex-husband. If, however, she has the custody of any young children, they are entitled to be supported by their father. Both are also entitled to maintain their normal relationship with their children. On the other hand, if the divorcees want to be reunited in marriage after the waiting period is over, they may do so provided they have a new marriage contract and the woman receives a new dower. This whole process may be done twice.
If a man and wife go through the divorce process for a third time, whether they were reunited each time during the waiting period or after it, their divorce this time is final, in the sense that they cannot be reunited again in marriage without an intervening marriage by the woman who must be married to another man in the normal course of events. This is done in order to send the point home to the husband of the lady concerned that he CANNOT divorce and remarry his wife at his own free will or just in order to torment her mentally or teach her a lesson of sorts. For a man who does that, he will have to undergo the pain of seeing his wife married to another man before he can ask her back. Convincingly indeed, a major deterrent to those who want to play around with the seemingly easy procedure of divorcing their spouses.
This pronouncement of third time divorce means that to all intents and purposes the divorce is final. If the woman receives a proposal from someone else and accepts it and marries him, her marriage must be intended for life. If, however, she gets divorced after a period of time, may be a year or may be ten years, or longer or shorter, she may return after the end of her new waiting period, to her first husband if both of them think that this time their marriage may be successful.
I must emphasize here that this intervening marriage must not be arranged for this purpose, as many people unfortunately do. If it is specifically arranged for this period, and the man hired for the purpose agrees to go through it for one night or a week or whatever, everyone involved is committing a serious sin.
“O men, live with your wives in kindness and equity. If you dislike anything in them, that may be the very point which God will use to bring about much blessing.” Quran 4:19
“If a wife fears cruelty or desertion on her husband’s part, there is no obstacle to their arranging an amicable settlement between them for which the wife must renounce some of her rights. But if they return through reconciliation and peace through such unselfishness, such a settlement is better than separation and divorce.” Quran 4:148
MISCONCEPTION #4:
Islam was spread by the sword and is intolerant of other faiths.
Many social studies textbooks for students show the image of an Arab horseman carrying a sword in one hand and the Qurân in the other conquering and forcibly converting. This, though, is not a correct portrayal of history. Islam has always given respect and freedom of religion to all faiths. The Qurân says: “God forbids you not, with regards to those who fight you not for [your] faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them; for God loveth those who are just. 60:8)
Freedom of religion is laid down in the Qurân itself: “There is no compulsion (or coercion) in the religion (Islam). The right direction is distinctly clear from error”. (2:256) Christian missionary, T.W. Arnold had this opinion on his study of the question of the spread of Islam:
“.. of any organized attempt to force the acceptance of Islam on the non-Muslim population, or of any systematic persecution intended to stamp out the Christian religion, we hear nothing. Had the caliphs chosen to adopt either course of action, they might have swept away Christianity as easily as Ximenes, Ferdinand and Isabella drove Muslims and eventually Islam out of Spain, or Louis XIV made Protestanism …” T.W. Arnold
It is a function of Islamic law to protect the privileged status of minorities, and this is why non-Muslim places of worship have flourished all over the Islamic world. History provides many examples of Muslim tolerance towards other faiths: when the caliph Omar entered Jerusalem in the year 634, Islam granted freedom of worship to all religious communities in the city. Proclaiming to the inhabitants that their lives, and property were safe, and that their places of worship would never be taken from them, he asked the Christian patriarch Sophronius to accompany him on a visit to all the holy places. Islamic law also permits non-Muslim minorities to set up their own courts, which implement family laws drawn up by the minorities themselves. The life and property of all citizens in an Islamic state are considered sacred whether the person is Muslim or not.
Racism is not a part of Islam, the Qurân speaks only of human equality and how all peoples are equal in the sight of God. “O mankind! We created you from a single soul, male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, so that you may come to know one another. Truly, the most honored of you in God’s sight is the greatest of you in piety. God is All-Knowing, All- Aware. (49:13)
MISCONCEPTION #5:
All Muslims are Arabs.
The Muslim population of the world is around 1.2 billion. 1 out of 5 people in the world is a Muslim. They are a vast range of races, nationalities, and culture from around the globe–from the Philippines to Nigeria–they are united by their common Islamic faith. Only about 18% live in the Arab world and the largest Muslim community is in Indonesia. Most Muslims live east of Pakistan. 30% of Muslims live in the Indian subcontinent, 20% in Sub-Saharan Africa, 17% in Southeast Asia, 18% in the Arab world, and 10% in the Soviet Union and China. Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan make up 10% of the non-Arab Middle East. Although there are Muslim minorities in almost every area, including Latin America and Australia, they are most numerous in Russia and its newly independent states, India and central Africa. There are about 6 million Muslims in the United States.
MISCONCEPTION #6:
All Muslim men have multiple wives.
The religion of Islam was revealed for all societies and all times and so accommodates widely differing social requirements. Circumstances may warrant the taking of another wife but the right is granted, according to the Qurân, only on condition that the husband is scrupulously fair. No woman can be forced into this kind of marriage if they do not wish it, and they also have the right to exclude it in their marriage contract.
Polygamy is neither mandatory, nor encouraged, but merely permitted. Images of “sheiks with harems” are not consistent with Islam, as a man is only allowed at most four wives only if he can fulfill the stringent conditions of treating each fairly and providing each with separate housing etc. Permission to practice polygamy is not associated with mere satisfaction of passion. It is rather associated with compassion toward widows and orphans. It was the Qurân that limited and put conditions on the practice of polygamy among the Arabs, who had as many as ten or more wives and considered them “property”. It is both honest and accurate to say that it is Islam that regulated this practice, limited it, made it more humane and instituted equal rights and status for all wives. What the Qur’anic decrees amount to, taken together is discouragement of polygamy unless necessity for it exists. It is also evident that the general rule in Islam is monogamy and not polygamy. It is a very tiny percentage of Muslims that practice it over the world. However, permission to practice limited polygamy is only consistent with Islam’s realistic view of the nature of man and woman and of various social needs, problems and cultural variations. Nothing can explain the issue better than in the words of a writer from the region of Indian subcontinent…
In the words of the author of the book, ‘AM I A HINDU?’ an attempt is made by him to answer the question of ’sati’ system prevalent in parts of India during olden times. SATI or SUTEE was the most horrendous act of widows killing themselves by jumping into the funeral pyre of their deceased husbands, sometimes willfully and sometimes forcefully by others. He rightly adds that the system has nothing to do with ‘Hinduism’ as such but linked to it during later stages. Stray incidents of this act are sometimes still found in Indian remote areas. I quote his words, “Rajputs (erstwhile rulers of a part of northern state in India, in late 18th century) were at constant wars within themselves and also with Mughals who ruled in other parts of the country. Both the armies were attempting to diversify their influence and bases in the region. So there were thousands of young war widows and the Rajputs feared that it is dangerous to have thousands of young, extremely beautiful widows running around and they went to the extreme measure of eliminating them. MOSLEMS had the same problems during wartimes and they solved that by POLYGAMY, i.e. by having four wives.” A more humane approach, I’d say.
The question is, however far more than the inherent flexibility of Islam; it also is the frank and straightforward approach of Islam in dealing with practical problems. Rather than requiring hypocritical and superficial compliance, Islam delves deeper into the problems of individuals and societies, and provides for legitimate and clean solutions which are far more beneficial than would be the case if they were ignored. There is no doubt that the second wife legally married and treated kindly is better off than a mistress without any legal rights or commitments from the man concerned.
MISCONCEPTION #7:
Muslims are a barbaric, fanatic and backward people.
Among the reasons for the rapid and peaceful spread of Islam was the simplicity of its doctrine-Islam calls for faith in only one God worthy of worship. It also repeatedly instructs man to use his powers of intelligence and observation. Within a few years, great civilizations and universities were flourishing, for according to the Prophet (SAW), ’seeking knowledge is an obligation for every Muslim man and woman’.
The synthesis of Eastern and Western ideas and of new thought with old, brought about great advances in medicine, mathematics, physics, astronomy, geography, architecture, art, literature, and history. Many crucial systems such as algebra, the Arabic numerals, and also the concept of the zero (vital to the advancement of mathematics), were transmitted to medieval Europe from Islam. Sophisticated instruments which were to make possible the European voyages of discovery were developed, including the astrolabe, the quadrant and good navigational maps.
MISCONCEPTION #8:
Muhammad (SAW) was the founder of Islam and Muslims worship ‘Kaaba’ .
Muhammad (SAW) was born in Mecca in the year 570. Since his father died before his birth, and his mother shortly afterwards, he was raised by his uncle from the respected tribe of Quraysh. As he grew up, he became known for his truthfulness, generosity and sincerity, so that he was sought after for his ability to arbitrate in disputes. The historians describe him as calm and meditative. Muhammad (SAW) was of a deeply religious nature, and had long detested the decadence of his society.
It became his habit to meditate from time to time in the Cave of Hira near Mecca. At the age of 40, while engaged in a meditative retreat, Muhammad (SAW) received his first revelation from God through the Angel Gabriel. This revelation, which continued for 23 years is known as the Qurân. As soon as he began to recite the words he heard from Gabriel, and to preach the truth which God had revealed to him, he and his small group of followers suffered bitter persecution, which grew so fierce that in the year 622 God gave them the command to emigrate.
This event, the Hijra ‘migration’, in which they left Mecca for the city of Medina, marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar. After several years, the Prophet and his followers were able to return to Mecca, where they forgave their enemies and established Islam definitively. Before the Prophet SAW dies at the age of 63, the greater part of Arabia was Muslim, and within a century of his death Islam had spread to Spain in the West and as far East as China. He died with less than 5 possessions to his name.
While Muhammad (SAW) was chosen to deliver the message, he is not considered the “founder” of Islam, since Muslims consider Islam to be the same divine guidance sent to all peoples before. Muslims believe all the prophets from Adam, Noah, Moses, Jesus etc. were all sent with divine guidance for their peoples. Every prophet was sent to his own people, but Muhammad (SAW) was sent to all of mankind. Muhammad is the last and final messenger sent to deliver the message of Islam. Muslims revere and honor him (SAW) for all he went through and his dedication, but they do not worship him. “O Prophet, verily We have sent you as a witness and a bearer of glad tidings and a warner and as one who invites unto God by His leave and as an illuminating lamp.”(33:45-6)
MISCONCEPTION #9:
Muslims don’t believe in Jesus or any other prophets.
Muslims respect and revere Jesus, upon him be peace, and await his Second Coming. They consider him one of the greatest of God’s messengers to mankind. A Muslim never refers to him simply as ‘Jesus’, but always adds the phrase ‘upon him be peace’ (abbreviated as (u) here). The Qurân confirms his virgin birth (a chapter of the Qurân is entitled ‘Mary’), and Mary is considered the purest woman in all creation. The Qurân describes the Annunciation as follows:
“Behold!” the Angel said, “God has chosen you, and purified you, and chosen you above the women of all nations. O Mary, God gives you good news of a word from Him whose name shall be the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, honored in this world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near to God. He shall speak to the people from his cradle and in maturity, and shall be of the righteous.” She said: “O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has touched me?” He said: “Even so; God creates what He will. When He decrees a thing, He says to it, “Be!” and it is” (Qurân 3:42-47)
Jesus (u) was born miraculously through the same power, which had brought Adam (u) into being without a father: “Truly, the likeness of Jesus with God is as the likeness of Adam. He created him of dust, and then said to him, ‘Be!’ and he was.” (3:59) During his prophetic mission Jesus (u) performed many miracles. The Qurân tells us that he said: ” I have come to you with a sign from your Lord: I make for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breath into it and it becomes a bird by God’s leave. And I heal the blind, and the lepers, and I raise the dead by God’s leave.” (3:49) Neither Muhammad (SAW) not Jesus (u) came to change the basic doctrine of the brief in One God brought by earlier prophets, but to confirm and renew it.
In the Qurân Jesus (u) is reported as saying that he came: “To attest the law which was before me. And to make lawful to you part of what was forbidden you; I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, so fear God and obey Me. (3:50) The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: “Whoever believes there is no god but God, alone without partner, that Muhammad (SAW) is His messenger, that Jesus is the servant and messenger of God, His word breathed into Mary and a spirit emanating from Him, and that Paradise and Hell are true, shall be received by God into Heaven. “(Hadith related by Bukhari).
MISCONCEPTION #10:
Muslims worship a different God.
Allah is simply the Arabic word for God. Allah for Muslims is the greatest and most inclusive of the Names of God, it is an Arabic word of rich meaning, denoting the One and Only God and ascribing no partners to Him. It is exactly the same word, which the Jews in Hebrew, use for God (eloh), the word, which Jesus Christ used in Aramaic when he prayed to God. God has an identical name in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam; Allah is the same God worshiped by Muslims, Christians and Jews. Muslims believe that Allah’s sovereignty is to be acknowledged in worship and in the pledge to obey His teaching and commandments, conveyed through His messengers and prophets who were sent at various times and in many places throughout history. However, it should be noted that God in Islam is One and Only. He, the Exalted, does not get tired, does not have a son i.e. Jesus or have associates, nor does He have human-like attributions as found in other faiths.
Sources:
· (Islam: A Brief Introduction, Islamic Circle of North America, Jamaica, New York)
· (Understanding Islam and the Muslims, The Islamic Affairs Department. The Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Washington DC, 1989.)
· (Badawi, Jamal, Polygamy in Islamic Law, the Muslim Students’ Association of the United States & Canada,)
· (AM I A HINDU?) Ed Vishwanathan [HALO BOOKS, SAN FRANCISCO ISBN 1-879904-06-3 800-723-4508 415-892-0649]
· (Jihad Explained, the Institute of Islamic Information & Education, Chicago, Illinois)
Written by : Huma Ahmad
Taken from : http://www.jannah.org/articles/misc.html