Misconceptions of a Muslim's Faith

Misconceptions of a Muslim's Faith

Islam and Muslims have become an area of major concern to the people and media, especially after the terrorist attacks of September 11th 2001 in the United States. There are many misunderstandings about religions in general, but Islam especially. Islam is often looked upon as extreme and violent religion. Many have this idea that women in Islam are disrespected, mistreated, or oppressed. Most are not aware that Muslims worship the same God as Jews and Christians do. Most misconceptions of Islam are due to lack of knowledge and misleading media reports; this is a problem that leads to prejudices and increasing fears.

Unfortunately the Islam faith is linked to the historic terrorist attacks of September 11th. However, like most religions there are many different dominations or branches. The same is true of Islam. To understand that Islam is really a very peaceful respectable way of life, one should know that there is a branch or sect of Islam called Islamic Extremist. It is this group that proudly claims the responsibility for the attacks. Followers of the Islam religion have since experienced undue racism and ridicule. It is helpful to know that the word Islam means submission or "complete surrender to God" (Fisher, 438). This may surprise those who do not know the difference between Islam and Islamic Extremists. Islamic Extremists are groups of people who hate the United States, and are against any other religion but their own. Extremists tend to exaggerate the Quran (Islamic text) in their favor, to give a purpose to killing thousands of innocent people. If you look at the actions of the Islamic Extremists, and you then look at the basic characteristics of a Muslim you will find see that the actions contradict what Muslims stand for.

The image of the typical Muslim woman wearing the veil and forced to stay home is all too common in most peoples' minds. Although some Muslim countries may have laws that oppress women, this not coming from the Islam religion. Those countries (found in the Middle East) do not rule by Islamic law, but enforce their own cultural point of view on the issue of gender equity. In reality Muslim women have rights and are not oppressed. The veil is widely misunderstood and many do not know what it represents. The veil or hijab is worn for the sake of modesty to protect women (Fisher, 423); some Muslim women chose to wear the hijab as a sign of their faith for Allah (Arabic for God) and to bring awareness to the Islamic faith (Sajid). In many ways in the Islam culture men and women are equal. In Islam women are given many rights, such as owning properties, having an education, working, and marrying whom they chose (Ibrahim, 63). In fact Muslim women play a dominant role in many aspects of the home life in an Islamic family (Nasr, 102). "The most important concrete reality in the life of