MISCONCEPTION #1
( Muslims are violent, terrorists and/or extremists )

This is the biggest misconception in Islam, no doubt resulting from the constant stereotyping and bashing the media gives Islam. When a gunman attacks a mosque in the name of Judaism, a Catholic IRA guerrilla sets off a bomb in an urban area, or Serbian Orthodox militiamen rape and kill innocent Muslim civilians, these acts are not
used to stereotype an entire faith. Never are these acts attributed to the religion of the perpetrators. Yet how many times have we heard the words 'Islamic, Muslim fundamentalist. etc.' linked with violence.
Politics in so called "Muslim countries" may or may not have any Islamic basis. Often dictators and politicians will use the name of Islam for their own purposes. One should remember to go to the source of Islam and separate what the true religion of Islam says from what is portrayed in the media. Islam literally means 'submission to God'
and is derived from a root word meaning 'peace'.

Islam may seem exotic or even extreme in the modern world. Perhaps this is because religion doesn't dominate everyday life in the West, whereas Islam is considered a 'way of life' for Muslims and they make no division between secular and sacred in their lives. Like Christianity, Islam permits fighting in self-defense, in defense of religion, or on the part of those who have been expelled forcibly from their homes. It lays down strict rules of combat which include prohibitions against harming civilians and against destroying crops, trees and livestock.

NOWHERE DOES ISLAM ENJOIN THE KILLING OF INNOCENTS.. The Quran says:
"Fight in the cause of God against those who fight you, but do not transgress limits. God does not love transgressors." (Quran 2:190) "If they seek peace, then seek you peace. And trust in God for He is the One that heareth and knoweth all things." (Quran 8:61) War, therefore, is the last resort, and is subject to the rigorous conditions laid down by the sacred law. The term 'jihad' literally means 'struggle'. Muslims believe that there are two kinds of jihad. The other 'jihad' is the inner struggle of the soul which everyone
wages against egotistic desires for the sake of attaining inner peace.


MISCONCEPTION #2
( Islam oppresses women )

The image of the typical Muslim woman wearing the veil and forced to stay home and forbidden to drive is all too common in most peoples thoughts. Although some Muslim countries may have laws that oppress women, this should not be seen as coming from Islam. Many of these countries do not rule by any kind of Shari'ah (Islamic law) and
introduce their own cultural standpoints on the issue of gender equity.

Islam on the other hand gives men and women different roles and equity between the two is laid down in the Quran and the example of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Islam sees a woman, whether single or married, as an individual in her own right, with the right to own and dispose of her property and earnings. A marriage gift is given by
the groom to the bride for her own personal use, and she keeps her own family name rather than taking her husband's. Both men and women are expected to dress in a way that is modest and dignified. The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said: "The most perfect in faith amongst believers is he who is best in manner and kindest to his
wife."

Violence of any kind towards women and forcing them against their will for anything is not allowed. A Muslim marriage is a simple, legal agreement in which either partner is free to include conditions.
Marriage customs thus vary widely from country to country. Divorce is not common, although it is acceptable as a last resort. According to Islam, a Muslim girl cannot be forced to marry against her will: her parents simply suggest young men they think may be suitable.

MISCONCEPTION #3
( Muslims worship a different God )

Allah is simply the Arabic word for God. Allah for Muslims is the greatest and most inclusive of the Names of God, it is an Arabic word of rich meaning, denoting the one and only God and ascribing no partners to Him. It is exactly the same word which the Jews, in
Hebrew, use for God (eloh), the word which Jesus Christ used in Aramaic when he prayed to God. God has an identical name in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam; Allah is the same God worshiped by Muslims, Christians and Jews. Muslims believe that Allah's sovereignty is to be acknowledged in worship and in the pledge to obey His teaching and
commandments, conveyed through His messengers and prophets who were sent at various times and in many places throughout history. However, it should be noted that God in Islam is One and Only. He, the Exalted, does not get tired, does not have a son ie Jesus or have associates, nor does He have human-like attributions as found in
other faiths.

MISCONCEPTION #4
( Islam was spread by the sword and intolerant of other faiths )

Many social studies textbooks for students show the image of an Arab horseman carrying a sword in one hand and the Quran in the other conquering and forcibly converting. This, though, is not a correct portrayal of history. Islam has always given respect and freedom of religion to all faiths. The Quran says: "God forbids you not, with
regards to those who fight you not for [your] faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them; for God loveth those who are just. 60:8)
Freedom of religion is laid down in the Quran itself: "There is no compulsion (or coercion) in the religion (Islam). The right direction is distinctly clear from error". (2:256) Christian missionary, T.W. Arnold had this opinion on his study of the question
of the spread of Islam: ".. of any organized attempt to force the acceptance of Islam on the non-Muslim population, or of any systematic persecution intended to stamp out the Christian religion, we hear nothing. Had the caliphs chosen to adopt either course of
action, they might have swept away Christianity as easily as Ferdinand and Isabella drove Islam out of Spain, or Louis XIV made Protestanism ..."

It is a function of Islamic law to protect the privileged status of minorities, 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. Proclaiming to the inhabitants that their lives, and property were safe, and that their places of worship would never be taken from them, he asked the Christian patriarch Sophronius to accompany him on a visit to all the
holy places. Islamic law also permits non-Muslim minorities to set up their own courts, which implement family laws drawn up by the minorities themselves. The life and property of all citizens in an Islamic state are considered sacred whether the person is Muslim or not.

Racism is not a part of Islam, the Quran speaks only of human equality and how all peoples are equal in the sight of God. "O mankind! We created you from a single soul, male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, so that you may come to know one another. Truly, the most honored of you in God's sight is the greatest of you in
piety. God is All-Knowing, All- Aware. (49:13)

MISCONCEPTION #5
( All Muslims are Arabs )

The Muslim population of the world is around 1.2 billion. 1 out of 5 people in the world is a Muslim. They are a vast range of races, nationalities, and cultures from around the globe--from the Phillipines to Nigeria--they are united by their common Islamic faith.
Only about 18% live in the Arab world and the largest Muslim community is in Indonesia. Most Muslims live east of Pakistan. 30% of Muslims live in the Indian subcontinent, 20% in Sub-Saharan Africa, 17% in Southeast Asia, 18% in the Arab world, and 10% in the Soviet Union and China. Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan make up 10% of the non-Arab Middle East. Although there are Muslim minorities in almost
every area, including Latin America and Australia, they are most numerous in Russia and its newly independent states, India and central Africa. There are about 6 million Muslims in the United States.

All of the info, is it thrue?

well DAAAA! :rolleyes:

thanks for the info... wat are your thoughts abt it BusH?

mudi jee...well my thoughtz..if u really want 2 kno then here r my thoughtz!

non-muslims think that in the QURAN it teaches us 2 be violent and it teaches us 2 destroy other religionz and to turn ppl into muslims in a violent way. non-muslims also think that when Muhammad(PBUH) fought in both Macca and Medina..that He used a non-violent way to convince people 2 turn muslims in Medina...but when He went back to Macca...HE used violence to make people turn into muslims...but when they disagreed he killed the men...took all the weapons and the wifes were sold as slaves..NOT TRUE! islam teaches us to be good 2 every1...muslims or non-muslims. islam teaches us 2 help them turn into muslims without using violence. y r all muslims blamed for the action of some. yes there is Jihad in islam. but there r also rules for Jihad 2. u have to understand islam and the Quran b4 u start to judge both in a wrong way. the concept of islam is to spread through out the world using love and peace, not weapons and violence.

another thing..it does not say in the QURAN that muslim women do not have any rights..they r as equal as the muslim men. they r allowed to marry any1 they lyke as long as he is a muslim, they have the right to say no to proposals if they do not lyke them, they have the right to divorce if they want, they have the right to study as long as they want, they have the right to own land, they dont have to give it to their husband after marriage. there rights are all given to them by ALLAH and they are written plainly in the QURAN. yes they have a duty to care for their husband, children and the house but that does not mean that they are imprisonned. in some countries muslim women r imprisoned but that is totally against islam.

Muslims worship ALLAH the most gracious and merciful of all. There is no1 greater than him and Muhammad (PBUH) is his prophet. how can u worship sum1 if they 1st existed in person? i have nothing against any other religions but this is my opinion and i'm not telling any1 to agree with it. If u pray than u can get it. i will not say anything else about this. because every1 has their own opinion.

as 2 say that islam was spread by the sword. then let me tell u this, that in every religion sum where in the history, there is violence used to destroy other religonz, there r battles in each religion, and if u see the history u will know what i mean.

Not all muslims r arabs. i am a muslim but i am a pakistani. that is not part of the arab empire. their r african muslims, their r chinese muslims. u get the point!

anywayz i dont want to make it longer so ill leave it at that...and im not telling people to agree with my opinion. sum might agree sum might totally disagree and yet sum might agree with sum points and disagree with other pointz.

Did i ask you?

Wow that was long!
And I agree with you! :thumbsup:

yes, itz long...but then again..itz my opinion!
did u really read all of it?
thnx for agreeing!

yes itz tru...
i'm surprised that most ov u dun even kno dyz stuff
i mean dyz has been going on for ever!
WAKE UP MY MUSLIM BROTHERS AND SISTERS!

In the future, i will probably learn more!

yes I did that's why I agree!

i agree with u bushy.

thnx both!
Rahat an Paki Kuri!

foh wut? :rolleyes:

????????????????????

ur wc but ma name iz good_pakikuri bushy.

I really liked this part

well nice info bush!