5 MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT ISLAM AMONG INDIANS

Hello Folks!

“You guys can marry as many times as you want?” “You guys can divorce your wives just by saying ‘talaq hai,talaq hai,talaq hai’?” “Don’t you feel hungry while fasting?” “Do you eat Biryani everyday?” “Is it too hot inside the burkhas?” “You’re good at Urdu, aren’t you?” Well, these are some of the many questions that an Indian Muslim is encountered with everyday.

Islam is one of the world’s largest religions, infact one out of every five person is a Muslim, yet it is also one of the most misunderstood. Here are 5 misconceptions about Islam among Indians:

 MISCONCEPTION #1 : Muslims are violent or terrorists. 

This is the biggest misconception of Islam, given unfairly by stereotyping

and the public image that the media gives.

Muslim groups and leaders are constantly denouncing terrorism.

How can anyone believe that small groups of terrorists accurately represent Islam or Muslims worldwide?

# Did you Know?

Islam prohibits terrorism. Islam prohibits Muslims from attacking innocent civilians.

The Qur’an says :

“ .. Whosoever kills an innocent human being, it shall be as if he has killed all mankind, and whosoever saves the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind…..”

                                                                            – Qur’an 5:32

Muslims are not even allowed to destroy plants and animals unnecessarily, let alone innocent human beings!

MISCONCEPTION #2 : Islam gives no rights to women/ Islam oppresses women

Everybody focuses to Muslim  women worldwide as oppressed.  The image of a typical Muslim women wearing veil from head to toe should not be seen as coming from Islam.

# Did you Know?

In Islam, both men and women are considered equal before God, both in terms of receiving reward and accountability for their actions.

The Qur’an says :

“…Verily the most honorable of you in the sight of Allah is the most God conscious…”

                                – Qur’an 49:13

A Muslim woman is allowed to reject and accept any suitor for marriage and has the right to seek divorce. There is nothing in Islam that forbids a Muslim woman from exiting her house and is allowed to drive. Also in regards to education, a women is obligated to seek knowledge and it is considered a sin if she refuses. Violence against women and forcing them against their will for anything is not allowed in Islam. While there are Muslim countries in the world that do implement harsh rulings against women, this should not be portrayed as Islamic law. A Muslim women wears hijab and abaya as it is a symbol of modesty and privacy. They choose to cover because they believe it is liberating and allows them to avoid harassment.

MISCONCEPTION #3 : All Muslim men marry four wives.

Polygamy, the practice of having more than one wife at the same time, is neither mandatory nor encouraged, but merely permitted.

# Did you Know?

Studies reveal that there are 8 million women to every one man in America, i.e. even if all the men in America get married there would still be 8 million women who would remain unmarried, what solution do you suggest then?

A Muslim man can have more than one wife at the same time, up to a total of four, only if he can fulfill stringent conditions of treating each fairly. A Muslim man is allowed to marry widows and divorcees and take of their children like his own, to help them financially and mentally, because this is regarded as his duty.

The Qur’an says :

“… And if you fear that you cannot be just to the orphans, then you may marry those who are agreeable to you of the women: two, and three, and four. But if you fear you will not be fair, the only one, or to whom you are committed to by oath…”

                                  – Qur’an 4:3

MISCONCEPTION #4 : Muslims disrespect other religions.

Many mistakenly believe that Islam does not tolerate existence of any other religion in the world.

# Did you Know?

Protecting the privileged status of minorities is the function of Islamic law, and this is why non Muslim places of worship have flourished all over the Islamic world. History provides many examples of Muslim tolerance towards other faiths : when the Caliph Omar entered Jerusalem in the year 634, Islam granted freedom of worship to all religious communities in the city. Islamic law also permits non-Muslim minorities to set up their own courts. The life and property of all citizens in an Islamic state are considered sacred whether the person is a Muslim or not

The Qur’an says :

“… O disbelievers, I do not worship what you worship, nor do you worship what I worship, I shall not worship what you worship, nor shall you worship what you worship, for you is your religion, and for me is my religion..”

                                                                                                                     – Qur’an Chapter 109

Racism is not a part of Islam, the Quran speaks only of human equality and how all people are equal in the sight of God.

MISCONCEPTION #5 : Divorce, i.e. the triple ‘TALAQ’.

Yes, it is true that a Muslim man can divorce his wife by saying “Talaq hai” three times.

# Did you Know?

In Islamic law, when a man marries a woman, he takes the responsibility of feeding her, clothing her, protecting her, etc. On the top of that he pays her a ‘Mahr’.

The man has the most to lose if he divorces his wife, so he will think carefully before doing it.

The Qur’an says :

“…either you retain her on reasonable terms or release her with kindness…”

                                                                                      – Qur’an 2:229

On the other hand, a Muslim woman has the right to seek divorce if her husband denies her rights to maintenance, clothing and other essential needs, if he is lacking in religious commitments, such as if he doesn’t pray, if he does haram things such as zina, consuming alcohol, if he is physically abusing her, and so on.

Islam is a religion of peace.

Islam teaches its believers patience, honesty, modesty. Islam gives answer to all questions logically and clearly, because there is a reason for everything in Islam.

STOP JUDGING ISLAM by what you see, because what you see is what ‘they’ want you to see. A few activities of some Muslim groups or a few Muslims do not represent Islam as whole, so think before you judge because Islam is flawless!