Top 10 Myths About Islam
This article is only for informational purposes, those who don't give a damn, please discard it. I actually found it useful. Enjoy the read.
Islam is a widely-misunderstood religion. Those who are unfamiliar with the faith often have misunderstandings about its teachings and practices. Common misconceptions include that Muslims worship a moon-god, that Islam is oppressive against women, or that Islam is a faith that promotes violence. Here we bust these myths and expose the true teachings of Islam.
1) Muslims worship a moon-god
Some non-Muslims mistakenly believe that Allah is an "Arab god," a "moon god," or some sort of idol. Allah is the proper name of the One True God, in the Arabic language. The most fundamental belief that a Muslim has is that "There is only One God," the Creator, the Sustainer -- known in the Arabic language and by Muslims as Allah. Arabic-speaking Christians use the same word for the Almighty.
2) Muslims don't believe in Jesus
In the Qur'an, stories about the life and teachings of Jesus Christ (called 'Isa in Arabic) are abundant. The Qur'an recalls his miraculous birth, his teachings, and the miracles he performed by God's permission. There is even a chapter of the Qur'an named after his mother, Mary (Miriam in Arabic). However, Muslims believe that Jesus was a fully human prophet and not in any way divine himself.
3) Most Muslims are Arabs
While Islam is often associated with Arabs, they make up only 15% of the world's Muslim population. The country with the largest population of Muslims is Indonesia. Muslims make up 1/5 of the world's population, with large numbers found in Asia (69%), Africa (27%), Europe (3%) and other parts of the world.
4) Islam oppresses women
Most of the ill-treatment that women receive in the Muslim world is based on local culture and traditions, without any basis in the faith of Islam. In fact, practices such as forced marriage, spousal abuse, and restricted movement directly contradict Islamic law governing family behavior and personal freedom.
5) Muslims are violent, terrorist extremists
Terrorism cannot be justified under any valid interpretation of the Islamic faith. The entire Qur'an, taken as a complete text, gives a message of hope, faith, and peace to a faith community of one billion people. The overwhelming message is that peace is to be found through faith in God, and justice among fellow human beings. Muslim leaders and scholars do speak out against terrorism in all its forms, and offer explanations of misinterpreted or twisted teachings.
6) Islam is intolerant of other faiths
Throughout the Qur'an, Muslims are reminded that they are not the only ones who worship God. Jews and Christians are called "People of the Book," meaning people who have received previous revelations from the One Almighty God that we all worship. The Qur'an also commands Muslims to protect from harm not only mosques, but also monasteries, synagogues, and churches -- because "God is worshiped therein."
7) Islam promotes "jihad" to spread Islam by the sword and kill all unbelievers
The word Jihad stems from an Arabic word which means "to strive." Other related words include "effort," "labor," and "fatigue." Essentially Jihad is an effort to practice religion in the face of oppression and persecution. The effort may come in fighting the evil in your own heart, or in standing up to a dictator. Military effort is included as an option, but as a last resort and not "to spread Islam by the sword."
8) The Qur'an was written by Muhammad and copied from Christian and Jewish sources
The Qur'an was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad over a period of two decades, calling people to worship One Almighty God and to live their lives according to this faith. The Qur'an contains stories of Biblical prophets, because these prophets also preached the message of God. Stories are not merely copied, but the oral traditions are referred to in a way that focuses on the examples and teachings that we can learn from them.
9) Islamic prayer is just a ritualized performance with no heartfelt meaning
Prayer is a time to stand before God and express faith, give thanks for blessings, and seek guidance and forgiveness. During Islamic prayer, one is modest, submissive and respectful to God. By bowing and prostrating ourselves to the ground, we express our utmost humility before the Almighty.
10) The crescent moon is a universal symbol of Islam
The early Muslim community did not really have a symbol. During the time of the Prophet Muhammad, Islamic caravans and armies flew simple solid-colored flags (generally black, green, or white) for identification purposes. The crescent moon and star symbol actually pre-dates Islam by several thousand years, and wasn't affiliated with Islam at all until the Ottoman Empire placed it on their flag.
You know, actually many people DO believe Muslims worship a moon god, try it in Google, just search for: moon god.
See the results :0
LOL,
H. Bennis
Do people really think Muslims worship a moon god?? LOL that's the best thing I've heard yet.
Great post Bennis. (To those of you who say I know nothing I already new all this stuff anyway :P)
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Boss, that's exactly what I meant, man is accountable for hid decisions. So we agree on that. But we we must agree to disagree on what you said about 'man creating the religion'. I believe that Allah created both man and the religion of Islam. Man could NEVER create something so perfect and beautiful like Islam.
Diamondgirl:
"seems like a case of the religion being perfect and pure but not the man...it was a man made decision to demolish the Church."
Perhaps you forget that man created the religion -- so how can it be perfect and pure? What has any man ever made that is perfect and pure?
Whether the religion is perfect and pure is beside the point anyway, since what non-Muslims have to contend with in their lives every day are MUSLIMS: living, breathing, imperfect humans. We do not have to deal with some perfect abstraction called Islam.
The relevant question is not whether Islam is pure or perfect or good or non-violent; it is whether MUSLIMS behave in an acceptable manner. Of course it is foolish to blame the religion for the bad behavior of its adherents. It is the people who misbehave who should be held accountable.
If we all could live in harmony within the boundaries of our beliefs among our selves in common respect, honest dialogue, supporting each other, regardless who we are and helping the state of government for the people there will be no misery or tribal warfare. Unfortunatly is not like that at all.
Islam is beautiful, so is christianity. Both religions are at the crossroads again, history repeats itself. People forgot to read and remember the blunders of the past.
Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery
None but ourselves can free our minds..
And vice versa.
e46M43 - sure, and Ismailites are in the same pozition as Druze. Ironic is that for some Sunni muslims, the iranian muslims themselves (Shi'a) are not muslims at all. Et ad infinitem.
Terramax, I'm not arguing against their inclusion. All I'm saying is that if you ask 10 Muslim scholars 9 will say no.
I believe the Druze in Lebanon and Syria are in a similar position.
Check this out, the answer to the question Why have Iran’s Muslims targeted Zoroastrians for persecution?
http://www.beliefnet.com/story/199/story_19998_3.html
It does. Just google "zoroastrians people of the book"
People of the book means a book revealed to a messenger of God to enlighten people with.
That doesn't apply to Zoroastrians. I've never heard of them referred to in that sense.
Of course they are alive and kicking. What I mean is that every time someone mentions "people of the book", only Jews and Christians are cited, whereas Zoroastrians should be mentioned as well, at least if Muhammad considered them being "people of the book"
They are still quite active in Iran and free to practice their faith.
I believe zoroastrians also were considered "people of the book", weren't they? (At least according to some brochure on Islam which I picked up in the Grand Mosque in Manama.) Why nobody mentions that fact?
Thank you E46M3, and beleive me i woudlnt be happy if it was the other way around ill even get mad. since there are plenty of spaces to build both and live in harmony, and ill give u a link which shows a church and a mosque side by side i didnt read all of what it was written next to the picture. but the picture is beautifull.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Beirut_Mosque_Church.jpg.
Live to Ride,and Ride to Live.
Look, Boris, I even tried to support your claim but searching for [Beirut church destroyed mosque] and couldn't find anything.
If it happened then it happened, I am not here to blindly defend Islam without conceding inadequacies and mistakes.
I've been working in news for the past 16 years+ and I don't recall anything of the sort. And I've worked in the Middle East, West and many places beyond. That is why I'm so adamant about supporting claims with facts. I have nothing personal against you.
If a any house of worship anywhere is destroyed to erect one for another faith in its place then I would find it highly objectionable and unacceptable.
For me religion is best left in the confines of the heart.
Hey E46M3
Its hard for me to find it on the internten since i dont know the name of the church Nor the mosque, and you are correct i shouldnt even posted that wihtout a proof, i am not appologizing from you or anybody else. since i posted many times i respect and will continue to respect all relegions and you are right about not having the proof. "i Wish i had tho"
Live to Ride,and Ride to Live.
Hold your horses, buddy, facing the Grand Cafe and beside the parking lots are the remains of a mosque that was supposed to be rebuilt but the Muslims can't agree how to do it.
Again support your claim with one piece of evidence before wanting it accepted as fact.
No, Bennis. Facts are facts and fabrications and lies are just that.
It's unacceptable to make a statement such as Boris' and have it accepted as fact.
I think you're right, this is the Beirut of the Islamophobes.
Thats the one on the uper part of Virgine mega Store and i know it very well i am talking about the one facing Grand cafe!! lower part main street going towards Bliss street, on your left. and i know where Rafi2 El Hariri is i am not talking about that one. the one you are taling about is on a corner where you cant turn right from it NO? and the church which exists there which the MAronite Bishop is talking about is right accross the street and its Called Sourp Neshan Church which means Saint Neshan Church. i am not talking about those.
Live to Ride,and Ride to Live.
Fabrication or not!
Maybe it's some other Beirut you E46M3 don't know about ;)
Please let's not turn this thread into some confrontational debate.
What ever happened happened, and let's just leave it for historians.
H. Bennis
Your story is utter and complete bullshit. You are talking about the Muhammad al-Amin mosques in downtown which is where former Prime Minister Rafiq al-Hariri is buried . No church was torn down to build the mosque. I challenge you to produce one shred of evidence to support your claim.
Here is the Christian objection to the building of the mosque:
"We say that they have the right to build a mosque," said Beshara Rai, the Maronite Bishop of Byblos. "But why an enormous mosque next to a church? It's a question of sensitivity and mutual respect. They shouldn't have built this enormous thing."
Source here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4291533.stm
Don't fabricate, especially in sensitive issues such as religion.
I dont remember the name of the church, but i can tell you the exact location its in down town beirut "Wasat el Madina" behind the Virgin Medastore "There is only one" Facing the Grand Cafe on the main road.
Live to Ride,and Ride to Live.
Boris, what church is that? Name the church and area please.
You said it yourself, a Sheikh!
Obviously he does not worth his title/status. Not because someone is in power that they know better. Look a Bush for example, LOL. You think Bush is worth the wisdom and responsibility the President of the most powerful country should represent ? Of course not!
Sheikh(S) can just be as ignorant as all of us can be.
H. Bennis
I never hold it against Islam nor will I hold it if it were any other religion. Again I say I respect any religion and people who understand it and NOT twist it for their own benefit even if they were Christians. But in this case the things that irritated me the most, 1st because I was a witness for the whole thing from the beginning till the end, since my workplace was located right across the street. The second thing was the SOME of the people and I insist on the word SOME were "SHEIKH" "SHIYOUKH because they were a few" and others were Politian's which one of them had total control of that area and was in a very high position and because we had enough trouble already and trying to find harmony between the two religions adding to it extra ordinary pressure that was put on the Government to make it happen by the SHIOUKH.
All I am saying that I understand that some people may not be educated "in all religions" and they may abuse or do mistakes due to their ignorance but these were Educated and leaders whom people follow and listen "SHEIKH".
Again and again and again I am not offending anyone nor Islam I respect all religions all cultures and people.
Just wanted to share something, which was in my heart for a long time. I know you would have felt the same if a similar thing happened to you.
Thank You
Both DiamondGirl and Bennis.
I am completely compassionate toward your story about destroying a church to put a mosque instead, there is no point in that, and even think it's selfish.
My point to you tough is that it's not the fault of Islam, but rather the people's. People distort information to their own sake and interest, and that's not only characteristic of muslims but of humans as a whole.
Hold it against the people not their religion. Islam is all about tolerance and respect of the others.
Hope this helps.
H. Bennis
seems like a case of the religion being perfect and pure but not the man...it was a man made decision to demolish the Church.
Hi Bennis,
I am a Christian guy, ad I respect all religions equally, I read your post all 10 points, but it came to my attention number 6. I am originally Armenian but lived my life in Lebanon. And the reason I mentioned this because few years ago an ancient church was destroyed in order to build a mosque instead of it at the SAME exact spot .
Let me explain to you something Beirut the capital of Lebanon is somehow divided into 2 (NO Boarders found) Muslim' s are concentrated on one side and Christians on the other side, but this does not mean we don’t have both religions on both sides. But this particular church was found In middle as in on the virtual boarder. you will tell me that maybe it was needed for the people living in that area and let me tell you that there are 7 as in SEVEN mosques in that area and each one is far from the other by only a 1 kilometer ( and there is 1 Mosque 200 meters away from this spot). After a long fight in the government the Muslim Chair people won (Voting ;), no no no force was added no pressure was there (sarcasm)) so tell me, lets forget that it was a history and the idea to eliminate any evidence of Christians being there at that side. HOW COME THEY DISTROYED IT. Isn’t it "God's worshiped therein?"
PS: only one church has remained in that area now!!! Even though the population in that particular area is equal.
Thank you.
Again I am not trying to offend anyone just a comment on your post.
i like to read it :}
Bennis, this is great and hopefully those who read it will learn something new about Islam. I can certainly vouch for the explanation of point number 4 about Muslim women. My parents who I think are wonderful examples of muslims have made no distinction between their sons and daughters. We were offered the same education, activities, universities and opportunities as each other. We have the freedom to choose how we live our life. It is definitely a cultural issue when women are oppressed. We encourage all women in our family to make a difference in the world and we specifically focus on women's cultural issues in Qatar and some developing countries through our charitable work there. If you look at UNICEF's last state of the Worlds Children report there is a direct link between gender equality and the ability for children in developing countries to rise out of poverty. This is most certainly a cultural issue...nothing to do with Islam.