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MISCONCEPTIONS
ABOUT ISLAM |
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This
is the biggest misconception in
Islam, no doubt resulting from the constant stereotyping and
bashing the media gives Islam.
When a gunman attacks a mosque in the name of Judaism, Catholic
IRA guerrilla’s sets off a bomb in an urban area, or Serbian Orthodox
militiamen rape and kill innocent Muslim victims; these acts are not used to stereotype the entire faith. Never are these acts attributed
to the religion of the perpetrators. Yet how many times have we heard
the words 'Islamic, Muslim fundamentalist, etc.' linked
with violence. 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 does not 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 Christianity, 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.
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| NOWHERE
DOES ISLAM ENJOIN THE KILLING OF INNOCENTS... The Noble Qur-an says: "Fight in the cause of God against those who fight you, but do not transgress limits. God does not love transgressors." (Qur-an, 2:190) "If they seek peace, then seek you peace. And trust in God for He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower." (Qur-an, 8:61) 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. |
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MISCONCEPTIONS
ABOUT ISLAM |
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| The
image
of the typical Muslim woman wearing the veil and forced to stay home is
also common in most people's thoughts. Islam on the other hand
gives men and women different roles and equity between the two is
laid down
in
the Noble Qur-an
and
the example of the Prophet Muhammad (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, which is
modest and dignified. The Messenger of God, Muhammad (Peace
Be Upon Him)
said: "The most perfect in faith amongst believers is he who is best
in manner and kindest to his wife.”
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| Violence
of any kind towards women and forcing them against then 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.
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MISCONCEPTIONS
ABOUT ISLAM |
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| 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 Noble Qur-an,
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.
Polygamy is neither mandatory, nor encouraged, but merely permitted.
Images of 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 Noble Qur-an
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.
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.
The question is, however far more than the inherent flexibility
of Islam;
it is
also
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 that 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.
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