Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Stereotypes in Islam
Since before the September 11th indicendent, there has been a lot of sterotypes on and against the Islamic faith. After 9/11 these stereotypes have increased substantially, and now even has the media promoting them. An example of this would be 'Achmed the Dead Terrorist', a comedy act that addresses many stereotypes against Islam. At some point in the video, the puppet of Achmed decides to make what society would consider racist jokes. The commedian, at this point, steps in and addresses the fact that these jokes about the Jewish and Christian faith are racist. While the audience is supposed to assume and know that the comedy act itself is racist and stereotypical against Islam, it's not really stated at all during the actual act.
Below are some of the stereotypes that people commonly associate with Islam:
- "Muslims (in the U.S.) are a homogenous group of people that hate America."
- “long beards, of Arab descent, and anti-American sentiment are the usual images of Muslims in foreign countries"
- They all live in the desert, they are all scarved and they hate everyone that is not a Muslim
- Anytime a Middle Eastern country is shown, they show the most depleted parts of the country and focus on the poorest of people; then, people get the impression that all Muslims are like this
- All Muslims are terrorists and suicide bombers
- Islam promotes violence against women
- Muslim people are going to bomb the world
- If you see a Muslim person on the same aeroplane as you, then they will probably hijack that flight
I think it's safe to assume that while you do hear these stereotypes, most of you know that they aren't true. Most Islamic people don't have a specific physical feature that you can use to identify them. While it is true that many Islamic men do grow beards, that doesn't mean that they are terrorists or extremeists. Afterall, don't Jewish men and Santa Claus both grow their beards? Are you saying that SANTA CLAUS is a terrorist?
Another common misconception associated with Islam is that they permit abuse against women. That is not true. Spousal abuse is a product of cultural and social beliefs. Infact, the Islamic faith believes that women can inherit and own businesses, and that they shouldn't be harmed. Islam is a religion that values everyone equally, including its female worshippers.
We do have hope that a new generation will abolish these stereotypes though. If we choose to educate children from a younger age about the positive aspects of Islam, then I think we have turn the world's views on Islam around. We could also choose to spread the areas that Islamophobic workshops visit. While the media is a big contributor to the Islam stereotypes, there are still some things we can try to initiate in hopes of stopping this. If you happen to come across an offensive piece of material say on TV, then you can start by reporting to the Canadian Broadcasting Council. Together, we can crush the forces of racism and stereotypes, and instead establish a united barrier of peace, understanding and acceptance.
When nothing else is left, we turn to religion
“The Arabic word “Islam” means “submission” and it derives from a word meaning “peace”. In a religious context it means complete submission to the will of Allah.” So, how can a religion so devoted to God be violent and go against his will? That’s right…it can’t. Islam is often associated with violence due to of the events of 9/11. The events of September 11th set a reputation on Islam and people choose to follow it. I say ‘set’ because it was created from ignorance, it isn’t the truth. Nothing Muhammad said or what is written in the Qur’an justifies the events of September 11th. The terrorist who say they acted in the name of Islam are extremists. They do not follow the religious practices of Islam because if they did, they would not have gone through with their attacks. Islam is a religion like any other, a religion of peace. Terrorist would not be classified as religious people, they can’t be, they’re mischief makers, and as the Qur’an outlined:
“God does not love mischief makers.” (
But, what is mischief? And why doesn’t Allah love those who go about it? We came to the conclusion that mischief consists of all forms of violence that interrupts peace and security, this includes terrorism. Terrorism is the act of killing innocent people for representing the higher status (or so, said through the eyes of a terrorist). A Muslim, however, is held responsible to treat all people, alike to them or not, with goodness and fairness from the values of the Qur’an. There is no way a terrorist can say that they are doing what Allah has told them to, Jasmine will further get into this with direct quotes from the Qur’an. It should back up anything I have said.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Disney too? No way!
ABC Islam - Does Islam Teach Violence?
As many of these blog postings relate too, the word “terrorism” and “violence” seem to find its way into the words “Islam” and “Muslim”. Common stereotypes and misrepresentations in the media that surround people give off these perceptions, but what about the Quran? Passages in the Quran can be misinterpreted. Here are a few examples…
“And slay them wherever ye catch them…” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:191)
“…But if they turn away, seize them and slay them wherever ye find them; and (in any case) take no friend or helpers from their ranks” (Surah An-Nisaa 4:89)
Passages from the Quran need to be read in their full context, taking into consideration of their historical context. Let’s re-examine those two quotes in their fuller context to allow their actual meaning to emerge.
“Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loves not transgressors. And kill them wherever ye catch them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out; for tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter; but fight them not at the Sacred Mosque, unless they (first) fight you there; but if they fight you, kill them. Such is the reward of those who reject faith. But if they cease, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah; but if they cease, let there be no hostility except to those who practice oppression. The prohibited month, for the prohibited month, and so for all things prohibited, there is the law of equality. If then any one transgresses the prohibition against you, transgress ye likewise against him. But fear Allah, and know that Allah is with those who restrain themselves.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2: 190-194)
“They but wish that ye should reject Faith, as they do, and thus be on the same footing (as they): so take not friends from their ranks until they flee in the way of Allah (from what is forbidden). But if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them wherever ye find them; and (in any case) take no friends or helpers from their ranks. Except those who join a group between whom and you there is a treaty (Of peace), or those who approach you with hearts restraining them from fighting you as well as fighting their own people. If Allah had pleased, He could have given them power over you, and they would have fought you: therefore if they withdraw from you but fight you not, and (instead) send you (guarantees of) peace, then Allah hath opened no way for you (to war against them). Others you will find that wish to gain your confidence as well as that of their people: every time they are sent back to temptation, they succumb thereto; if they withdraw not from you nor give you (guarantees) of peace besides restraining their hands, seize them and slay them wherever ye get them; in their case We have provided you with a clear argument against them.” (Surah An-Nisaa’ 4: 89-91)
The verses above, which are commonly misinterpreted, were reveled to the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) during a period of time where Muslims were being attacked by those who were non-Muslim in Mecca. One would say that due to the constant attacks of “terror” in Madinah at the time, Allah gave consent to Muslims to defend themselves.
Without taking into consideration the historical period, passages from the Quran can be easily misinterpreted into thinking Islam is a faith that sanctions violence, when really, it does not.
Islam, in fact, is a faith of peace. The world Islam has the same meaning as “peace” in Arabic.
Let us not forget our other religions and religious scriptures out there.
"I will make my arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh; with the blood of the slain and of the captives, from the long-haired heads of the enemy." (Deut. 32:42)
"I say to you that to everyone who has, more shall be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. As for my enemies who do not want me to reign over them, bring them here and kill them in my presence" (Luke 19:26-27).
The two passages above don’t sound so friendly themselves, so why do we not title Christianity as a faith that involves violence? The Quran sanctions war as the only mean to be used in defence of invading enemies.
In conclusion, passages from the Quran must be read entirely (not selectively) and taken into the consideration of the period of time they relate too. Islam is not a faith that associates with terrorism, and rather a faith that promotes peace and the well being of others.
"Do not take life, which Allah has made sacred, except for a just cause. If anyone is killed unjustly, We allow his heir (to seek justice) but do not allow him to exceed bounds when it comes to taking life, for he is helped (by the law)" (17:33).
'Anti-Islam Cancer'
"ISLAM IS TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY BOGUS, A SHAM AND A FRAUD
Islam is not a
religion but an evil, political, military ideology. The ten commandments teach:
Thou Shalt Not Kill.The Koran teaches: Thou Shalt Kill Infidels.In Islam, it is
a holy religious duty to murder infidels. The Quran is written in the language
of terrorism. It is filled with numerous verses urging the Muslims to terrorize
the non Muslims, kill them, and take possession of their lands and properties.
The important points to remember is that whatever Muhammad did to terrorize the
infidels was actually the actions of God. Among the many verses which exhort
Islamist terrorism, the following verses stand out as naked aggression of
Allah/Muhammad on the unbelievers: 2:63, 3:151, 8:12, 8:60, 8:59, 9:29, 9:50
9:55, 11:102, and 17:59 These are the Eternal Laws of Allah authorizating murder
and extermination as a holy duty. THIS IS THE EVIL INSANITY THAT IS ISLAM.Islam
is murdering infidels, raping their women and little girls, selling and breeding
them as slaves, looting and pillaging their property and keeping 80% of the
proceeds from the looting and selling slaves, and distributing the women not
sold into slavery as sex slaves.Murder, rape, looting, slavery are all ETERNAL
LAWS OF ALLAH in the KORAN. These LAWS OF ALLAH are divine and can never BE
CHANGED.All Muslims believe the Koran is the Eternal divine word of God
��" the Eternal laws of God. All Muslims believe that God authored the
Koran and a copy of the Koran is in heaven. The Koran remains for all Muslims,
not just "fundamentalists," the uncreated word of God Himself. It is valid for
all times and places forever; its ideas are absolutely true and beyond all
criticism. To question it is to question the very word of God, and hence
blasphemous. A Muslim's duty is to believe it and obey its divine commands
without question. Muslims can be killed (beheaded) for doing any of the
following:Reviling Allah or his Messenger; (2) being sarcastic about 'Allah's
name, His command, His interdiction, His promise, or His threat'; (3) denying
any verse of the Quran or 'anything which by scholarly consensus belongs to it,
or to add a verse that does not belong to it'; (4) holding that 'any of Allah's
messengers or prophets are liars, or to deny their being sent'; (5) reviling the
religion of Islam; (6) being sarcastic about any ruling of the Sacred Law; (7)
denying that Allah intended 'the Prophet's message . . . to be the religion
followed by the entire world.'This means exactly what it says. ALL MUSLIMS
BELIEVE that the Koran is the ETERNAL word/teachings of God to be followed
without question. If a Muslim challenges or questions the Koran, HE IS NO LONGER
A MUSLIM BUT AN APOSTATE OF ISLAM and can be killed.The Koran can never be
changed not even one word. When you are reading teachings of the Koran, you are
reading the word of God himself and you must OBEY. THERE IS NO CHOICE. There is
no exercising free will, no employing logic, reason, rationality, morality.
These teachings are for all time FOREVER AND EVER AND EVER.This is the most
important insanity that ALL Muslims believe THAT MEANS ALL MUSLIMS. This belief
in the KORNIC ETERNAL LAWS OF GOD is a disaster that has the potential to
destroy humanity and civilization as we know it. Again all the teachings of
murder, rape, slavery, looting, sex with little girls etc are FOREVER. They are
Islam. Islam is not a wonderful religion of peace and love that has been hi
��" jacked and perverted by a few bad apples of evil Islamo Facsists,
Islamic militants, Islamic Fundamentalists, jihadists, Wahhabism, radical Islam,
political Islam, Islamists etc There has been no hijacking. There has been no
perversion. These demented souls are following exactly the teachings of the
Koran and in the footsteps of the Prophet - Muhammad. ITS ALL ABOUT ISLAM STUPID
INFIDELThe reality is that Osama bin Laden is a true Muslim, a holy man of the
book who is following exactly the teachings of Islam as recorded in the Koran.
By not exposing the perverted teachings of Islam, those who use the term Islamo
Fascism etc are elevating Islam to an equal footing with Christianity and other
world religions."
While doing some research for our project I came across this post. This to me is the very essence of ignorance, hatred and misplaced anger. It's an example of how easily words are twisted into something terrible.
There are always two sides to a story. Dark and Light. Sweet and Bitter. There are always different interpretations of the same piece of writting and there are always always always biases.
There is a big difference between expressing your opinion and hatefully disrespecting something sacred to others. This kind of hate is like a malicious cancer that goes through metastasis and spreads. It slowly infects others and covers them in oozing sores of misunderstandings and stereotypes.
This is the kind of hatred that killed millions in World War II.
But fortunately for us, there is a cure for those that have not progressed to a fatal stage of this disease.
Education.
Ignorance and misunderstandings leads to hate, pain and despair. But if we clarify the beautiful simplicity of Islam to others, especially the new generation, we could clear up this misconception of Islam and Violence going hand-in-hand.
If we stood up and spoke out against the negative light the media is portraying Islam in, we could shed a whole new perspective on so many people.
Don't get me wrong, there will always be those that see Islam as a "evil, political, military ideology," but perhaps even more will respect it as a beautiful religion even if they do not agree with some aspects of it.
So let's distribute the cure for 'Anti-Islam-Cancer' and make it history.
-♥
Saturday, May 3, 2008
What's in Your Name?
Many Islamic people are associated to terrorism at places, one which we found more often than others being airports, because of their names. This is also very stereotypical. It's like judging someone being a holy virgin for being named Mary. Simply pathetic and totally unnecessary. This is an understatement and almost like a very uneducated guess that only lands you embarrassment. Think before you speak or judge aloud.
