Author's note:
This is posted here MAINLY and SOLELY for the Muslims and the Non-Muslims to share and argue of the ideas brought forth by us in one of our classes in IIUM. We hope that this paper can help in improving the perception of non-Muslim community towards Islam.
WESTERN MISCONCEPTION: TOWARDS A POSITIVE ISLAMIC WORLDVIEW
Nurul-Ikhlas Arshad G1014798
Nor Hazirah Mohd Ghazali 0810676
Introduction
There are a lot of talks debates handled in many areas and many countries, talking and debating mainly about building bridges between the Muslim and the West. The question seems too judgmental that it brings a lot more questions to arise. For an example, what is so wrong about Muslim and the religion Islam? What makes the West coined the word Islamophobia? Has it ever occur to one’s mind how important the topic really is? The only problem lies within the knowledge and understanding of one another. If only the Western could understand the pain received by the Muslims after the incident happened on the 9th of September and Muslim to understand how terrifying it was to the citizen of America, things would definitely go easy. However, trying to understand one’s principle and belief is hard enough without knowing the truth and the historical background of the person. This paper will deal more about the historical accounts and some factual entity that Islam brought all along to its believer for the whole 1341 years and thus, to explain the misconceptions that the West has made all these past years.
Western Misconceptions
Yaacob and Rahman (1994) stated that there are seven misconceptions raised by the Western and they are all discussed below
(1) Muslims are mainly Arabs, and Islam is the exclusive religion of the Middle East.
Islam is a religion that is not exclusive to any particular race, creed, color or background. It is a religion sent to all mankind, with the Quran being the Gospel of Unity. There are various verses in the Quran that clearly states that Islam is for all mankind, not only for the Arabs, or any other specific race or nation.
"We have explained in detail in this Qur'an, for the benefit of mankind, every kind of similitude: but man is, in most things, contentious. (Quran, 18:54)"
"Verily this is no less than a Message to (all) the Worlds: (Quran, 81:27)"
"Blessed is He who sent down the criterion [the Noble Quran] to His servant, that it may be an admonition to all creatures [Mankind];- (Quran, 25:1)"
The Prophet Muhammad s.a.w was also reported to have said: “.....Every Prophet used to be sent to his nation only but I have been sent to all mankind.” (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 7, Number 331)
In addition to this, the Quran has also stated that God has sent a warner to every nation. Therefore, how can Islam be an exclusive religion of the Arabs or the Middle East, for surely there are different tribes and nations outside this part of the world.
"Verily! We have sent you (O Muhammad) with the Truth, a bearer of glad tidings and a warner; and there is not a nation but a warner has passed among them."Qur'an 35:24.
"For We assuredly sent amongst every People an apostle, (with the Command), "Serve God, and eschew Evil": of the People were some whom God guided, and some on whom error became inevitably (established). So travel through the earth, and see what was the end of those who denied (the Truth). (Quran, 16:36)"
"To every people (was sent) an apostle: when their apostle comes (before them), the matter will be judged between them with justice, and they will not be wronged. (Quran, 10:47)"
Islam, loosely translated as ‘submission to God’ is also the religion of the first man, Adam and the religion of all the prophets of God including Abraham, Noah, Moses and Jesus. Prophet Adam was not an Arab, nor were the majority of the prophets after him. Only four prophets in Islam are Arabs.
"Say, `We believe in ALLAH and that which has been revealed to us, and that which was revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes, and in that which was given to Moses and Jesus and other Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them and to HIM we submit." (Quran, 3:85)
If we look at the demography of the Muslim population around the world, it is quite apparent and evident that Muslims are mainly NON-Arabs. According to a report on the size and distribution of the world’s Muslim population by the Pew Research Center in 2009, only about 20 percent of the Muslim population are from the Middle East-North Africa region. PewForum.org states that the largest Muslim community is in Indonesia, with a number that ‘exceeds the combined total in Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Iran. Muslims living in the Asia-Pacific region constitute 62% of all Muslims worldwide. Contrary to the misconception of Islam belonging to the Middle East, a large number of Muslims can also be found in Europe (38 million Muslims) and the Americas (4.6 million Muslims, with more than half living in the United States).
(2) Islam is obscurantist, primitive and uncivilized
The meaning of obscurantist is preventing one to understand something while primitive means being old-fashioned and in the state of not developing. As stated, the Western believes that Islam as religion is not par to the current era and is way back in the development of humanity and knowledge. They believe that Islam is in the state of being traditional. Seeing the West throwing such assumptions, judging on how Muslims dress, how Muslims speak and how Muslims practice Islam whole-heartedly, this clearly proves that not Muslims who are old-fashioned, unable to understand and uncivilized, but the Westerns are. A man should judge only after understanding the real subject deeply in and out. However, something that is mere assumption is never a good way to synthesize the idea.
The West believes that the Shari’a laws practiced by Muslim is uncivilized and the laws are accepted without any further explanation. However, there is always logic behind the statement of laws. For an example, the law of cutting the hand for those who do robbery and stealing, in regards to the degree of harm it caused to the person he robbed. This is mainly to show that to deter the habit of stealing is by cutting off the hand because stealing is a habit that is hard to make a stop at. Thus, the logic of cutting off the hand is basically a deterrent to prevent this bad habit to continue over again.
Nafi, (2004) states that Muslim countries such as Turkey and United Arab Emirates (UAE) have forgone the beauty of development of the government system and further tangled themselves into the civilization of the current era, becoming one of the Muslim country that is named to be strong in industrialization and practices Islam at the same time. This clearly shows that none of the idea of Islam produces uncivilized people only based on reading the Shari’a laws and assume that they look uncivilized is an absolute false. With the rising power in economy, Muslim countries are well off to create another great achievement in the Millennium era of civilization.
(3) Islam is a religion of fanaticism, fatalism and polygamy
Islam is a religion of mercy; with Allah calling Himself Ar-Rahman (the Most Merciful) in the Quran, the Prophet Muhammad being sent as a mercy to mankind and the Quran proving guidance and mercy to the people.
The Prophet s.a.w said: "The Most Merciful shows mercy to those who have mercy on others. Show mercy to those on earth, and the One above the heaven will show mercy to you."
"And We have not sent you (O Muhammad) except as a mercy to the worlds." (Quran 21:107)
“…This [revelation] is a means of insight from your Lord, and to provide guidance and, mercy unto people who will believe.” (Quran 7:203)
Fanaticism and extremism is a disease that can be found in every religion, ideology and beliefs and Islam is of no exclusion. History has recorded numerous incidents of fanaticism such as in Christianity (the Crusades, Salem witch trials) and in certain racial groups (Ku Klux Klan, the Nazis). Unfortunately, stereotypes and biasness in the portrayal of Muslims in the media and sensationalism of reportage on the conduct of the few gives the impression of fanaticism being a virtue in the religion of Islam. Truth be told, there is nowhere in the Quran where one can find a verse commanding intolerance, injustice and violence towards others. On the contrary, Islam preaches respect and good treatment of others, including non-muslims.
“God does not forbid you from showing kindness and dealing justly with those who have not fought you about religion and have not driven you out of your homes. God loves just dealers.” (Quran 60:8)
"If anyone murders an (innocent) person, it will be as if he has murdered the whole of humanity. And if anyone saves a person it will be as if he has saved the whole of humanity."
“Never does gentleness exist in anything except that it beautifies it, and never does harshness exist in anything except that it disfigures it.” (Sahih al-Jami’)
The prophet of Allah has also warned the Muslims about extremism in religion as proven in the narrations below. Evidently, extremism and fanaticism are against Islam.
"...Beware of extremism, for indeed the only thing that has destroyed those who came before you is extremism." Recorded by al-Nasāī (Sunan al-Nasāī al-Kubrá, 2/435, no. 4049) and Ibn Mājah (Sunan Ibn Mājah, 2/1008, no. 3029).
“...Do not betray, do not be excessive, do not kill a newborn child. (Saheeh Muslim, #1731, and Al-Tirmizi, #1408).
In Islam there is a beautiful balance between faith and action, fate and free will. The humankind are given the freedom to choose the path that they will take, between good and bad. This reflects our freedom of choice and entails a degree of responsibility and accountability upon us. At the same time, the choices that we make are already known to Allah before they are even made. This is because Allah is All-Knowing.
In addition to this, Islam does not separate action from faith. Countless verses in the Quran command the Muslims to put their faith to action, to act and to do good. It does not teach us to sit idle or excuse wrongdoings, injustice or harm inflicted or suffered by other and justify it by saying ‘God has willed it’. This is the opposite of the Islamic teachings and is not the attitude of the Muslims.
“And when they are told, "Spend ye of (the bounties) with which Allah has provided you," the Unbelievers say to those who believe: "Shall we then feed those whom, if Allah had so willed, He would have fed, (Himself)?- Ye are in nothing but manifest error." (Quran 36:47)
"When any one of you sees anything that is disapproved (of by Allah), let him change it with his hand. If he is not able to do so, then let him change it with his tongue. And if he is not able to do so, then let him change it with his heart, though that is the weakest (kind of) faith." (Muslim)
“Verily never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change it themselves (with their own souls)”. (Quran 13:11)
Thus, while Muslims must whole-heartedly rely on Allah, their limbs should also strive hard towards that which brings them benefit. This is portrayed in the well known hadith where a man came to the Prophet s.a.w asking him if he should have trust in Allah, or ties his camel and then have trust in Allah. The Prophet s.a.w. replied that he should tie his camel securely and then put his trust in Allah.
A well known dai’e, Sheikh Yusuf Estes from the States once said “Muslim men are the most monogamous men in the world.” While Islam permits limited polygamy (up to four wives), the overwhelming majority of Muslim men (98%) have only one wife. In addition to this, it is absolutely forbidden for Muslims to fornicate, hold extra-marital affairs and have mistresses, such as those tolerated in the “pseudo-monogamy of the west”; thereby proving the words of Sheikh Yusuf Estes above.
While it permits polygamy (it is not obligatory upon men), in reality, the Quran is the only religious scripture in the world that says, “marry only one”. Furthermore, the polygamy in Islam acts as a restriction rather than an encouragement. The rule came to limit the number of wives that men can take, as polygamy in the unrestricted and unregulated form was an ancient practice widespread in many societies including in Arabia. Even in other religions such as Christianity in the earlier times, the men were permitted to marry as many women as they wish, for the Bible placed no restriction on the number of wives. The same is true in Judaism and Hinduism.
“Marry women of your choice, two, or three, or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one.” (Quran 4:3)
Note how the verse above prioritizes and place greater importance upon the good treatment of women above the ‘wishes of men’ and that, being a condition to the permissibility of polygamy. Contrary to other religious scriptures like the Bible and Talmud, the Quran limited the practice of polygamy in terms of number and condition, while recognizing its benefit to women and children in certain circumstances (ie. compassion towards widows and orphans).
(4) “Modernity” is the product of the West and the Islamic world cannot be truly modern until Islam is radically reformed
Before we jump into many assumptions, let us just be reminded about the term “Modernity” and what it has done to the world today. Most laymen will understand the word modern as being up to date with the current development of technologies and knowledge. However, that is merely a brief, a basic brief of the word modern. If a scholar to believe that modern lays it hands to that meaning, he should start reading books. Modernity is definitely something more and something harder that what the laymen believes.
The term modernism coined by the West (and as claimed by them, they came up with the idea of modernity) is a philosophy of how people perceives the whole entire world, super entity like God and human nature. The whole conceptual understanding of modernity lies in the understanding and knowledge of modernism that promotes people to judge the world using nothing else around but brain and own capability. Modernity prepares the people to be judgmental over a lot of things around the globe including people. Modernity believes nothing but one self that only human can perceives and can have the total power of the society and the world.
In regards to the benefit that modernism brings, the later judgment that only believes one thing after it is scientifically proven has been one of the ideas put forth by modernists that can be used in Islam. Talattof and Moadeel (1999) states that it is very likely that one can believe in al-Quran after they themselves find the truth in their scientific research. Islam promotes the truth and only in Islam these truth can be found. By acknowledging the understanding of the world by scientific proof, Islam can be in a benefit for this reason.
Thus, Islam does not need to radically reform itself, Islam just has to give some time for the people to understand Islam, only to know that Islam has the element of truth and justice that is way far too civilized and up to date, unlike the theology of the Westerns which keep on changing due to failure of understanding the words of God and the lack of human mind capabilities in comparison to God.
(5) Islam is oppressive against women and minorities
Nothing can be further than the truth. There is a crucial need to differentiate between Islam and cultural practices as well as between the teachings of Islam and the Muslims themselves. It is unfortunate that often times, the conduct of so called Muslims do not reflect Islam nor have anything to do with Islam. It is even more unfortunate when sexist cultural practices are sometimes masked as being a part of Islam.
Having said that, if one were to closely study the Quran and Sunnah, it would be apparent to him or her that women have such high standing in Islam. This religion came and elevated the status of women above ANY other society and it is quite fair to say that the Prophet Muhammad, a man, had led the very first women’s liberation movement.
Before Islam, women in Arabia as well as many other societies including Christianity, regarded women as a property instead of an independent individual having her own rights and they lived in subjugation. In Arabia, the birth of a daughter in a pagan Arab family was considered as a shame and there was a custom of burying her alive. The condition of women outside Arabia was no better if not worse such as in India where a woman would be burnt alive with the body of her late husband because her purpose in life cease to exist with passing of her husband. In Europe, women were under perpetual tutelage and complete dependence. Upon marriage, the ownership of the woman and her property would be under the husband.
With the coming of Islam, these acts were made forbidden and women were given their due rights.
"And when the news of (the birth of) a female (child) is brought to any of them, his face becomes dark, and he is filled with inward grief! He hides himself from the people because of the evil of that whereof he has been informed. Shall he keep her with dishonor or bury her in the earth? Certainly, evil is their decision."
(An-Nahl 16:58-59)
“Whosoever has a daughter and he does not bury her alive, does not insult her, and does not favor his son over her, God will enter him into Paradise.” (Ibn Hanbal, No. 1957).
"The rights of women are sacred. See that women are maintained in the rights assigned to them. "
Women in Islam are given the right to self identity (ie. not having to change her name upon marriage), the right to own property, utilize and dispose it as she sees fit, the right to education, the right to choose her husband, the right to divorce and political rights amongst others more than 1,400 years ago. In comparison, the women in other counterparts had to undergo long battles and difficult struggles to gain many of these basic rights, even in ‘the land of the free’ where women were given the right to vote only in 1920.
Islam also views women and the roles that she undertakes in high esteem. Muslim men, in recognition of her status are commanded to treat her is such a way.
“A man came to the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. and said, “O Messenger of God! Who among the people is the most worthy of my good companionship?” The Prophet s.a.w said: “Your mother”. The man said, “Then who?” The Prophet said: “Then your mother”. The man further asked, “Then who?” The Prophet said: “Then your mother.” The man asked again, “Then who?” The Prophet said: “Then your father.”
"O Messenger of Allah! I intend to go on a (military) expedition, but I have come to ask your advice." He said, "Is your mother alive?" He said, "Yes." He said, "Then stay with her, for the Garden is under her feet." ( Sahih by al-Hakim, al-Dhahabi and al-Mundhiri. --Kashf al-Khafa', no. 1078; Al-Da'ifah, no. 593). "
“The best among you are those who are best to their wives”. ( Ibn Majah, #1978, and Al-Tirmizi, #3895)
"Whoever doeth good to girls, it will be a curtain to him from hell-fire."
"God enjoins you to treat women well, for they are your mothers, daughters, aunts."
The women in Islam are also completely equated with man in the sight of God in terms of her rights and responsibilities. The reward is for both the believing men and women.
"To whoever, male or female, does good deeds and has faith, we shall give a good life and reward them according to the best of their actions." (Qur'an 16:97)
Islam is a religion of unity that do not make distinctions based on race, ethnicity or nationality. It had abolished racism more than 1,400 years ago and emphasizes on the unity of the human race.
“O mankind! We have created you from a single male and female and made you into nations and tribes so that you may know each other. The most honorable of you in the sight of Allah are surety the righteous." (Quran, Al-Hujurat: 13)
"An Arab is no better than a non-Arab. In return, a non-Arab is no better than an Arab. A red raced man was not better than a black one except in piety. Mankind are all Adam's children and Adam was created out of clay." (Al-Bukhari and Muslim, on the authority of Abu Musa)
"Leave it. It is Rotten " (Bukhari & Muslim: referring to all forms of Asabiyah, nationalism, racism, and patriotism.
Historically, the Prophet s.a.w had even given the most esteemed positions to the minorities (non-Arabs) amongst them such as Bilal ibn Ribah (the first muezzin) and Usama ibn Zayd (the youngest general appointed), proving that minorities should never face such discrimination or mistreatment.
Even if the minorities amongst us are non-muslims, their rights should be granted in full and respected. The minorities are an ‘amanat’ of the ruling majority.
"He who hurts a Dhimmi hurts me, and he who hurts me annoys Allah." (Reported by At-Tabarani in Al-Awsat with good chain of narrators.)
"On the Day of Judgment I will dispute with anyone who oppresses a person from among the People of the Covenant, or infringes upon his right, or puts a responsibility on him which is beyond his strength, or takes something from him against his will." (Reported by Abu Dawud)
(6) Islam is incompatible with human rights, pluralism and political tolerance
“Islam is a religion that oppresses the right of human and has no tolerance in the making of laws”. Such an assumption to credit to the Muslim and religion Islam for being such an influencial religion in the whole wide world. However, the truth is that only Islam promotes humanity and the only religion that has the stability of governance. Looking at the statement above, on women and minorities, with the excerpts inserted for proof, we can totally deny the assumption and the misunderstanding of Islam being incompatible with human right.
Pluralism in general has so many meaning in other different contexts. However, let us narrow down the scope to religious and political pluralism. The understanding of religious pluralism in Islam is that we concede tolerance, but not active pluralism. Islam open to discussion on topics of other beliefs and are always open minded in such a way. Discussions would not harm the Tawheed of a Muslim. However, a practical pluralism, being involved with the ceremonies of praising other gods is a definite no. The reason is mainly of one kind, that Islam has only one God. Even though the God of other religion might be the God of Islam, however the practice of worship is a total different. Thus, this explains the whole concept of religious tolerance, and pluralism in one hand.
(7) Islam is a religion which is militantly anti-Western, exposes violence, and is very much inclined to wars
Islam is a religion and Western is a culture. These two has no significant in terms of its terms. A religion can accept many culture; a Muslim with Malay culture, a Muslim with Korean culture, a Muslim with the French culture. The only thing that Islam is against at is the belief that leads to shirk. Western culture such as eating with spoon and fork, custom and tradition, these elements have never go against the teaching of Islam and how can one possibly assume the idea of Islam being anti-Western? Islam can live anywhere, East, West, South and North and nothing such as anti would ever happen. The logic is that, how can Islam, a religion for all, just like Christianity, being practiced by Westerns themselves if at the first place Islam is anti-Western? The logic simply shows the shortcut to understanding the tolerance of Islam.
Regarding the fact that Islam is full of violence; Muslims have been in a critical mode ever since the tragedy of 9/11 and because of the event was said, done by Muslims Taliban of Afghanistan, indirectly, Islam promotes and exposes the whole load of terrorism and violence. Let us think carefully for a brief moment. This analogy is to make the whole understanding of Islam and Muslim community and Taliban group distinct from one another. A Malaysian (Taliban) killed and Australian (the World Trade Centre), and who is to be blamed? The Malaysian (Taliban), or the citizen of Malaysia (Muslims around the globe) or the King (Islam)? Think about it carefully. This is why the reason of hatred of the world towards Muslims is invalid. There is no need of hatred because not all Muslims are Taliban. That’s just how the logic goes.
The bombing attack in London after the tragedy of 9/11 was also a black tragedy to the people of the West and the Muslims living in the West. The West took this opportunity to put up with the idea that Islam really loves violence and inclines to wars. Looking at it critically, the whole aspects of Islam have never shown any violence at the first place and now attacks and wars? Why is it that Islam being directed to this but not the Jews who started the whole chaos in the Holy Land of the crossed three religions in the world; Judaism, Christianity and Islam? Isn’t this a form of double standard made by the West to make people around the world to look down on Islam?
In addition to that, Islam promotes peace and rejects violence as war is decreed in Islam as self defense. The Qur’an has stated;
“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
Islam only allows self-defence but not to attack. Thus, this proves the whole concept of Islam being a violent religion and inclined to war is a false.
“If anyone killed a person - unless it was for murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he killed the whole people.”
Qur'an 5:32
The above except from al-Quran, shows how big the degree of punishment by God to killers or murderers of innocent. This clearly shows that Islam is the religion of peace and harmony.
Conclusion
As stated above, all the reasons behind the presumption and assumption of the Westerns are merely negative misunderstanding that only the Muslims can explain in brief. One should experience the nice nature of Islam to really understand the whole process of the way of life shown by Islam. All those misconception has already been pointed out by some orientalists, however, the need to deliver the message is highly needed. Thus, we as Muslims should do our responsibilities to spread the beauty of Islam to the world.
References
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