Five Modern Misbeliefs About Islam

By Cori Russell on May 18, 2012

I live in a very diverse area in terms of culture. One of the predominant religions practiced among students at my university is Islam. Before meeting many muslims on a personal level or discussing with them their beliefs, I had little knowledge of their teachings and reasons for practice. After learning about it from a different perspective and studying it on my own, I realized a lot of what is commonly believed about Islam is not completely accurate. Here are some of what I think are the most common misrepresentations. If you see that I have made any inaccuracies myself, please don’t hesitate to inform me.

Photo by zeyneeep on flickr.com

1. Muslims are Supposed to be Violent

Coverage and interpretations of the current war have brought up several claims about Islam which are either misunderstood or simply just wrong. One of the biggest of these claims is that muslims are taught, through the Quran and Hadeeth (life teachings and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad), that they can and sometimes should be violent towards non-muslims and women. As with any group of people, the actions of a few individuals do not necessarily represent the beliefs of the group as a whole. This is the case for Islam as well. During the time of Islam’s initial growth, wars and inter-tribal feuds were almost constant. Islam introduced a new way of dealing in war that displayed a conduct of respect for life, only going into war as a necessary defense. The same teachings apply to today’s standard of war too, if someone is treated unjustly they have the right and responsibility to defend themselves and their people.

2. Most Muslims are Arabs / Most Arabs are Muslims

You probably know not all Arabs are muslim, but the link between the two has become so strong that their association is almost inevitable. The majority of muslims actually live in Asia and India, and many Arabs practice Christianity, Judaism, or something else entirely. I believe that the biggest force linking Arabs to muslims are Islam’s history of origination and current popular media. Unfortunately shows like South Park and Family Guy only strengthen this, even if in jest.

3. Women are Oppressed

You may have heard that muslim men are allowed to beat their wives, take them as sex slaves, and segregate them from men in society. While all of these things most likely do happen, it is in no way condoned by Islamic teachings. This is another example of why not to judge a group by only its followers. The idea that men are allowed to control women probably comes from the teaching that men should care for women, but this isn’t to say that women can’t or shouldn’t care for themselves. In actuality Islam generated many new rights for women at a time when there were almost none. And as more modern history shows, muslim countries have the US beat in terms of the number of women presidents and prime ministers.

4. Islam is Extremely Strict

Because Islamic teachings are ornately detailed you may think that a muslim has to constantly follow a list of do’s and don’ts. For example, it is common practice for muslims to eat with their right hands and perform dirtier acts (touching trash, etc.) with their left. This isn’t arbitrary, nor is it just a reason to punish someone if they don’t do it. This specific teaching is meant to guide society to a clean and healthy lifestyle. The preciseness of the teachings are not meant to tightly control people, but to show them what is believed to be the best option of behavior. A more commonly known “rule” of Islam is that muslims are forbidden to eat pork. While this activity is condemned, it is not to such an extant that a person can’t eat it. Wait — what!? Muslims can eat pork? Yes, in dire circumstances. If a person has nothing else to eat and will starve otherwise he or she may eat out of what is the best option. After all, starving yourself goes against Islam too, so certain situational contexts allow for individual differences in practice. The guidelines presented in the Quran and life teachings of Muhammad are meant to help people succeed, not to find reasons for causing fear and punishment.

5. Muslims are Backwards and Different from Modern Societies

Often portrayed as an ancient belief system, Islam is sometimes thought to be extreme and unique in terms of belief. However the basic message of Islam is the same of many other religions: to spread peace, spread truth, and grow as individuals and a society. Even if you don’t celebrate any religion, you may still find that you have something in common with Islam’s humanitarian desires.

For more misunderstandings about Islam see this Cracked article:

http://www.cracked.com/article_18911_5-ridiculous-things-you-probably-believe-about-islam.html

For further knowledge about Islamic teachings, see the Quran:

http://quran.com

For information about Islamic services in your area:

http://www.islamicfinder.org/phone/home.php

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