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Misconception vs. True Face of Islam

Amit Pyakurel - 4/21/2007

Concepts towards Islam and some of its unfair practices should be distinct. The newly breed term "Islamophobia," as it is feared to be infiltrating into the mentality of the Western, European, or other societies, considering that it may be taking its shape so as to put forth unnecessary prejudice and false negative speculation against the Islam by the non-Muslims, we are also tend to ascertain that how relevant is the term in itself. Is it about fearing the overall aspects of Islam, or fearing only some of its distorted or misinterpreted values that perceivably leads to radicalism, fundamentalism, discrimination, or even terrorism?

There is also one high adage that the term "Islamophobia" is deceptive and the phobia (fear) is illogical. Perceivably, what is to be feared is the Political Islam or some practices in it that sound ethically wrong. And by doing so, one may not necessarily be guilty of racism or religious prejudice.

The world media is saturated with the terms Islamic Fundamentalism, Islamic Radicalism, and Islamic Terrorism. Is that the association of the term "Islamic" is causing all the havoc or negative backlash from the believers of the religion? So what about separating "Islamic" out of these generally unwelcome terms? May be, it would make it sound that the discontent is not with the Islam, but with the very bad aspects unwittingly known to have associated with the religion, may be because the majority of those adhering to the world terrorism are the Muslims, for instance the al Qaeda.

But does it mean that all the people with good deeds in Islam have to bear the responsibility for the unruly characteristics of some of the people in the religion who have nothing to do with the moderate lots? Certainly not! It may be only a coincidence that the majority of world terrorists are the Muslims, besides from other beliefs and cultures. So it's not ethical to associate Islam with the unruly characteristics followed by some of its believers, but it seems to do so when the term "Islam" is repeatedly used with the aspects like fundamentalism, radicalism, or terrorism. May be this has let even the moderate believers to view it as an "attack" against their religion.

It's of course not reasonable for the West, and the rest of us, to fear Islam as a religion, its genuinely humanistic teachings, or its deference to the lord, Allah. To overcome the fear and anger of the moderate Muslims that non-Muslims has taken for granted the term "Islamophobia," it's been highly important to draw a distinguishable line between Islam and bad deeds followed by some bad people in Islam. While criticizing bad practices of Islam it's extremely essential not to impose any hatred or contempt against ordinary and moderate Muslims. And it would be more genuine if, not only the non-Muslims, but all the intellectual and moderate believers of Islam come forward to refute and discourage the wrong practices in Islam as well as to uphold the good practices in it and to highlight Islam as being an equally good religion as others.

I have known that some harshly refute by calling that it's "intruding" in Islamic norms if some unfair cultural practices in it are questioned by someone from other religion or culture. Though I am not a stern believer or blindly faithful, I happen to be a Hindu by religion. And I certainly don't mind if anyone criticizes the unfair norms or distorted or misinterpreted practices of any doctrine in my religion. Criticisms could help provoke changes for good. And, I am afraid, why could it be specially different for Islam? Couldn't it be viewed just from the humanist point of view rather than from any religious or cultural phenomenon? Arguably, we could.

We could be right to question the "unfair practices?" But what if the Muslims in their country and living abroad, especially in the Western or European countries, are misunderstood, annoyed, and intimidated, simply because they are from the religion? It's definitely unethical and we can't refrain to deem that such belief resembles inadequate knowledge about the religion.

The Vienna-based European Monitoring Center on Racism and Xenophobia, which tracks ethnic and religious bias across the 25-nation EU, has cautioned in a recent report that Muslims routinely suffer acts ranging from physical attacks to discrimination in the job and housing markets. Beate Winkler, the group's director said that the key word is "respect." "People need to feel respected and included. We need to highlight the common ground that we have." Winkler said that since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, many of Europe's nearly 13 million Muslims feel "are put under a general suspicion of terrorism." The 117-page report underpins the increasing urgency of dealing with the religious tensions in Europe.

For instance, that especially in Western or European nations, it's certainly ironical and unfair that if a crime is committed by a Muslim, chances are high that it may be linked with "terrorism" or "Jihad." This highly reflects a prejudiced notion and, as the scholars in Islam argues, that "Jihad" doesn't encourages terrorism or nonsensical murders, here the accusers must need to rethink their claimings. Such crimes could have been solely committed by a criminal, and it may have nothing to do with Islam or Jihad. As there is no significance to criticize if the unfair practices or some cultural aspects in Islam are questioned, it's equally refutable that many Muslims are subjected to prejudiced discrimination and intimidation simply due to their adherence or recognition with the religion.

Overall, any religion or custom are made by humans, and we can't deny that there could be some flaws in them, including in Islam, in Hinduism, in Christianity, and so on. Any cultural idea or practice do deserve to be analyzed, examined, or its merits or demerits be evaluated. Our nationalism, culture, or religion are our dignity and they also resemble our position and reputation among the people of other nationality, culture, or religion. We should be ready to prevent and uphold our identity regarding these recognitions, but it doesn't mean that we should seek exemption from having moral criticisms against our practices, no matter which religion or culture we are belonged to.