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Shattering Ten Misconceptions
About Islam
In this article, we will try to clear
up many of the misconceptions that are prevalent about Islam. Before
jumping into the list of misconceptions directly, it is important
to give a little interesting background about the source of Islam.
Islam is the name of a way of life
which the Creator wants us to follow. We avoid the word religion
because in many non-Islamic societies, there is a separation of
"religion and state." This separation is not recognized at all in
Islam: the Creator is very much concerned with all that we do, including
the political, social, economic, and other aspects of our society.
Hence, Islam is a complete way of life.
The source of Islam is Allah, the
Creator of everything known and unknown to us. He is One, and He
is Unique. Allah has taught us about Islam via two mediums: the
Qur'an and the Sunnah. Both the Qur'an and Sunnah were transmitted
to us, humanity, via the Messenger of Allah: Muhammad bin Abdullah,
may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him (saws). The Messenger
of Allah was nothing more and nothing less than a mortal messenger
of the immortal Creator.
The Qur'an is a book containing the
literal Word of Allah. It was transmitted from Allah to an angel
of His (Gabriel), and from the angel to the Messenger of Allah who
delivered it to us. The Qur'an covers a wide variety of topics,
including evidence to support its claim of being the Word of the
Creator, stories of earlier generations, rules which humanity is
asked to obey, and information about the Hereafter. The Qur'an claims
that it is protected from change by other than Allah, and this is
confirmed by its 1400 year history. The earliest copies and the
latest copies are the same.
The Sunnah is the term used to describe
how the Messenger of Allah (saws) lived his life. The Messenger's
life is an example for all Muslims, or those who accept Islam, to
follow. Whatever the Messenger (saws) did, said, or approved of
is a source of Islam just as much as the Qur'an. The Messenger's
role is not overemphasized: his life was dictated by what the Creator
desired, and the Messenger did not add or subtract to Islam according
to his own personal whim. His life was such that his wife called
him "a walking Qur'an."
The Qur'an and Sunnah are the only
two mediums by which Allah has directly taught us about Islam. This
leads us to the following simple but critical principle:
If any man or woman engages
in a belief or action which clearly contradicts the Qur'an or Sunnah,
then that belief or action cannot be thought of as `Islamic'.
This rule applies whether the man
or woman is Muslim or non-Muslim. Hence, we cannot equate Islam
and the Muslims. Islam is the way of life; Muslims are people who
claim to follow that way of life. A Muslim may claim to follow Islam,
but be wrong. In the context of misconceptions, we can restate the
above principle in a slightly different way:
Some misconceptions about
Islam are due to the wrong beliefs and actions of Muslims, and others
are due to a significant lack of understanding and false stereotyping
by non-Muslims.
Several misconceptions are listed
below. Instead of simply stating the misconception by itself, we
have also included some reasons why people might adopt that misconception.
Therefore, each entry in the list is given in the following form:
<Statement of misconception>
because:
- <reason 1>
- <reason 2>
- etc.
After each misconception and its
possible reasons, we show briefly why the misconception is false
by showing one or more of three possibilities:
- a reason is false
- the reason does not logically
lead to the misconception
- a key piece of information is
being ignored
Our answers to the misconceptions
are drawn from the Qur'an and Sunnah. All other approaches are insufficient:
Islam is a way of life which is very firmly based on a scholarly
approach, an approach which is based on knowledge.
Misconception 1
Islam is `the religion of
peace' because:
- the Arabic word Islam is derived
from the Arabic word "Al-Salaam" which means peace.
It might seem strange to think of
this as a misconception, but in fact it is. The root word of Islam
is "al-silm" which means "submission" or "surrender."
It is understood to mean "submission to Allah." In spite of whatever
noble intention has caused many a Muslim to claim that Islam is
derived primarily from peace, this is not true. Allah says in the
Qur'an (translated):
[2:136] Say (O Muslims):
We believe in Allah and that which is revealed to us and that which
was revealed to Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and
the tribes, and that which Moses and Jesus received, and that which
the prophets received from their Lord. We make no distinction between
any of them, and to Him we have surrendered. [Arabic "Muslimoon"]
A secondary root of Islam may be
"Al-Salaam" (peace), however the text of the Qur'an makes it clear
that Allah has clearly intended the focus of this way of life to
be submission to Him. This entails submission to Him at all times,
in times of peace, war, ease, or difficulty.
Misconception 2
In Islam, denial of human
rights is OK because:
- Islam is against pure democracy
- Islam tolerates slavery
The misconception does not follow
from the reasons given, and the reasons ignore a great deal of information.
As stated earlier, Islam is a complete
way of life. Given this, it is not surprising that the Creator is
concerned with the method which we choose to govern ourselves. The
pre-eminent rule which the Islamic state must observe is stated
in the Qur'an (translation follows):
[4:59] O you who believe!
Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and those charged with authority
among you. If you differ in anything among yourselves, refer it
to Allah and His Messenger, if you do believe in Allah and the Last
Day; That is best, and most suitable for final determination.
From this verse, it is clear that
the state's obligation of obedience to the Creator is as important
as the obedience of the individual. Hence, the Islamic state must
derive its law from the Qur'an and Sunnah. This principle excludes
certain choices from the Islamic state's options for political and
economic systems, such as a pure democracy, unrestricted capitalism,
communism, socialism, etc. For example, a pure democracy places
the people above the Qur'an and Sunnah, and this is disobedience
to the Creator. However, the best alternative to a pure democracy
is a democracy that implements and enforces the Shariah (Islamic
Law).
The Creator also states in the Qur'an
(translated):
So whatever thing
you are given, that is only a provision of this world's life, and
what is with Allah is better and more lasting for those who believe
and rely on their Lord, and those who shun the great sins and indecencies,
and whenever they are angry they forgive, and those who respond
to their Lord and keep up prayer, and their rule is to take counsel
among themselves, and who spend out of what We have given them.[Qur'an
42:36-38]
Allah orders us in this verse to
conduct our matters by taking counsel among ourselves, or by consulting
each other. This is the methodology of the Islamic state, to consult
one another, but to always keep the Qur'an and Sunnah paramount.
Any law which contradicts the Qur'an or Sunnah is unlawful. This
broad principle of consultation is certainly wide enough to encompass
a form of government where all are heard - in fact, encouraged to
be heard. The early Islamic states were of this form. The petty
governments of many `Muslim countries' today do not apply this principle
and in fact commit many crimes against the people.
As for slavery, Islam is unique among
the `religions' in its close attention to the peaceful removal of
this practice. Before the advent of Islam, slavery was widespread
all over the world. The Messenger of Islam taught us that freeing
slaves was a great deed in the sight of Allah. From the Sunnah,
specifically in the study of the Sunnah called Sahih Bukhari, we
find:
Narrated Abu Huraira: The
Prophet said, "Whoever frees a Muslim slave, Allah will save all
the parts of his body from the (Hell) Fire as he has freed the body-parts
of the slave." Said bin Marjana said that he narrated that Hadith
to `Ali bin Al-Husain and he freed his slave for whom `Abdullah
bin Ja'far had offered him ten thousand Dirhams or one-thousand
Dinars.[3:46:693]
Also from the Sunnah, specifically
in the study of the Sunnah called Malik's Muwatta, we find:
Narrated Aisha Ummul
Mu'minin: The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant
him peace, was asked what was the most excellent kind of slave to
free. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him
peace, answered, "The most expensive and the most valuable to his
master."[38:9:15]
The Creator has also made it easy
for slaves to gain their freedom. From the Sunnah, specifically
in the study of the Sunnah called Sahih Bukhari, we find:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet said, "Whoever frees his portion of a common slave should
free the slave completely by paying the rest of his price from his
money if he has enough money; otherwise the price of the slave is
to be estimated and the slave is to be helped to work without hardship
till he pays the rest of his price."[3:46:704]
The condition of slavery is very
different in Islam than the harsh conditions imposed by non-Muslims
or disobedient Muslims. From the Sunnah, specifically in the study
of the Sunnah called Sunan Abu-Dawud, we find:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet (saw) said: None of you must say: "My slave" (abdi)
and "My slave-woman" (amati), and a slave must not say: "My lord"
(rabbi or rabbati). The master (of a slave) should say: "My young
man" (fataya) and "My young woman" (fatati), and a slave should
say "My master" (sayyidi) and "My mistress" (sayyidati), for you
are all (Allah's) slave and the Lord is Allah, Most High.[41:4957]
Also from the Sunnah, specifically
in the study of the Sunnah called Sahih Bukhari, we find:
Narrated Al-Ma'rur
bin Suwaid: I saw Abu Dhar Al-Ghifari wearing a cloak, and his slave,
too, was wearing a cloak. We asked him about that (i.e. how both
were wearing similar cloaks). He replied, "Once I abused a man and
he complained of me to the Prophet. The Prophet asked me, `Did you
abuse him by slighting his mother?' He added, `Your slaves are your
brethren upon whom Allah has given you authority. So, if one has
one's brethren under one's control, one should feed them with the
like of what one eats and clothe them with the like of what one
wears. You should not overburden them with what they cannot bear,
and if you do so, help them (in their hard job)."[3:46:721]
As a result of the teachings of Islam,
slavery was almost completely eradicated from many areas of the
Muslim world, peacefully and without bloodshed.
Misconception 3
In Islam, women are inferior
to men because:
- a man can marry up to 4 wives,
a woman can marry only one man
- a man's share of inheritance
is bigger than a woman's
- a man can marry a non-Muslim,
a woman cannot
- women must wear the veil
This widely held misconception does
not remotely follow from the reasons given. The first and most important
observation to make about the popular question "Are men and women
equal?" is that it is a badly-formed, unanswerable question. The
problem which many people conveniently ignore is that "equal" is
not defined. This is a very critical point: the equality must be
specified with respect to some measurable property. For example,
women on average are superior to men if we ask who is shorter in
height than the other ("Growth and Development", Encyclopaedia Britannica,
1992). Women are also superior on average if we ask whom do children
bond to deeper, mothers or fathers. Women are also superior on average
if we ask who has a tendency to socialize more. On the other hand,
men are superior on average if we ask who is taller in height than
the other. And so on: every question can be turned around, and more
importantly these are properties which are irrelevant.
What then, is the really important
property which we are worried about in terms of gender equality?
Naturally, from the point of view of the Qur'an and Sunnah, the
obvious important property is who is dearer to Allah, men or women?
This question is emphatically answered in the Qur'an (translation),
If any do deeds of
righteousness - be they male or female - and have faith, they will
enter Paradise, and not the least injustice will be done to them.[4:124]
For Muslim men and women,
for believing men and women, for devout men and women, for truthful
men and women, for men and women who are patient and constant, for
men and women who humble themselves, for men and women who give
in charity, for men and women who fast, for men and women who guard
their chastity, and for men and women who engage much in Allah's
praise, for them has Allah prepared forgiveness and great reward.[33:35]
The Qur'an and Sunnah repeat over
and over again that Allah only favours one person over another based
on that person's awareness, consciousness, fear, love, and hope
of Allah (the Arabic word is difficult to translate: Taqwa). All
other criteria are excluded: gender, ethnic group, country, ancestry,
etc.
Given that Allah does not favour
one gender over the other in His attention to us (and it helps to
remember that Allah is neither male nor female), we can now address
the differences between the genders in Islam. First, men and women
are not the same as we know. The Creator states in the Qur'an (translation),
...and the male is not like
the female...[3:36]
Men and women are different in their
composition, and in their responsibilities under Islam. However,
both are bound by obligations to one another, especially the following
important one which must be understood in any discussion on men
and women. From the Qur'an (translation),
And marry those among
you who are single and those who are fit among your male slaves
and your female slaves; if they are needy, Allah will make them
free from want out of His grace; and Allah is Ample-giving, Knowing.[24:32]
In this verse, the Creator emphasizes
that marriage is to be vigorously pursued by the Muslims: the state
of being single is not to be maintained. With this in mind, we can
begin to understand the four reasons cited above for the nonetheless
erroneous conclusion.
Men and women are different in their
responsibilities towards the families that they are strongly encouraged
to set up. Women are not obligated to work, whereas men are obligated.
The man must provide for the family, but the woman does not have
to spend out of her money for it, though she gets a reward for doing
so. Allah says in the Qur'an (translation),
Men are in charge
of women, because Allah hath made the one of them to excel the other,
and because they spend of their property (for the support of women).
So good women are the obedient, guarding in secret that which Allah
hath guarded. As for those from whom ye fear rebellion, admonish
them and banish them to beds apart, and scourge them. Then if they
obey you, seek not a way against them. Lo! Allah is ever High, Exalted,
Great.[4:34]
From the Sunnah, specifically in
the study of the Sunnah called Sahih Bukhari, we find:
[2:24:545] Narrated `Amr
bin Al-Harith: Zainab, the wife of `Abdullah said, "I was in the
Mosque and saw the Prophet (saws) saying, `O women ! Give alms even
from your ornaments.' " Zainab used to provide for `Abdullah and
those orphans who were under her protection. So she said to `Abdullah,
"Will you ask Allah's Apostle whether it will be sufficient for
me to spend part of the Zakat on you and the orphans who are under
my protection?" He replied "Will you yourself ask Allah's Apostle
?" (Zainab added): So I went to the Prophet and I saw there an Ansari
woman who was standing at the door (of the Prophet ) with a similar
problem as mine. Bilal passed by us and we asked him, `Ask the Prophet
whether it is permissible for me to spend (the Zakat) on my husband
and the orphans under my protection.' And we requested Bilal not
to inform the Prophet about us. So Bilal went inside and asked the
Prophet regarding our problem. The Prophet (saws) asked, "Who are
those two?" Bilal replied that she was Zainab. The Prophet said,
"Which Zainab?" Bilal said, "The wife of `Adullah (bin Masud)."
The Prophet said, "Yes, (it is sufficient for her) and she will
receive a double rewards (for that): One for helping relatives,
and the other for giving Zakat."
Given that husbands are obligated
to provide for wives, and that marriage is a highly recommended
goal of Islam, it is easy to see why women's inheritance share is
half that of men. We note also that men are obligated to provide
a suitable dowry to women on marriage. In fact, it is preferable
at this point to speak in terms of husbands and wives instead of
men and women. Allah says in the Qur'an (translation),
And give women their
dowries as a free gift, but if they of themselves be pleased to
give up to you a portion of it, then eat it with enjoyment and with
wholesome result.[4:4]
Allah says in the Qur'an (translation),
...And they (women) have
rights similar to those (of men) over them in kindness, and men
are a degree above them..[2:228].
This one degree in no way affects
the position of the Creator in which He has stated that He does
not hold women dearer to him than men, or vice versa. Rather it
is simply a way of partitioning responsibilities in a household
of two adults: someone must make the final decision on daily matters.
As will be shown below in a section on a different misconception,
though the final decision rests with the husband, it is through
mutual consultation that decisions are best reached at.
While men are allowed to marry up
to four wives, they are also commanded to meet the preconditions
of being able to financially support them. They must also deal with
each wife justly and fairly with respect to marital and economic
obligations. Allah says in the Qur'an (translation),
[4:3] If ye fear that ye
shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, 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, or (a captive)
that your right hands possess, that will be more suitable, to prevent
you from doing injustice.
Moreover, women are allowed to reject
any marriage proposal made to her by prospective suitors, thus if
she does not feel she can abide by the rules of the Qur'an and Sunnah
if she marries a certain person, she can reject his proposal. While
it is irrelevant to Islam, it is worthwhile to note that both Judaism
and Christianity allow polygamy. The idea is not as foreign to the
non-Muslims as is often claimed.
Finally, the wearing of the veil
by women is also an illogical premise to claim that women are inferior
to men. It is more appropriate to indict a society of female exploitation
if it tolerates pornography rather than if it enforces the veil.
Given that Allah is neither male nor female, given that He does
not endear people to Himself based on their gender, given that the
Creator cares about all of us male or female, given that the sexual
and violent drive of men is stronger than that of women...given
all this, it is illogical to cast a negative light on the following
injunctions contained in the Qur'an (translation),
O Prophet, tell your wives
and daughters and the believing women to draw their outer garments
around them (when they go out or are among men). That is better
in order that they may be known (to be Muslims) and not be annoyed...[33:59]
Say to the believing
man that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that
will make for greater purity for them; and Allah is well acquainted
with all that they do. And say to the believing women that they
should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; and that they should
not display their beauty and ornaments except what must ordinarily
appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms
and not display their beauty except to their husbands...[24:30-31]
On this misconception, there is a
great deal more to write, most of it showing how current practices
in many Muslim lands go against what the Qur'an and Sunnah have
ordained, lands in which women are treated as property (unIslamic),
are not educated (unIslamic), are forbidden their economic rights
(unIslamic), and more. On this point in particular, we encourage
everyone to consult the Qur'an and Sunnah before incriminating Islam.
Always remember that Islam is a complete way of life from the Creator,
and that Muslims are people who claim to follow that way of life.
A Muslim may claim to follow Islam, but be wrong.
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