Islam and the Western Media

Islam is the fastest growing religion in the West. Nevertheless, the West has many stereotypes and misconceptions about Islam that are due to the media, prejudice, and ignorance. Islam is often looked upon as a "extremist", "terrorist", or "fundamental" religion. Many people hate Islam and do not want to acknowledge its true teachings. In many cases, the media’s reports about Islam are incorrect due to ignorance. This is one of the reasons why the West often hates Islam. In contrast to what many Westerners think of Islam, Islam is a peaceful religion, which does not promote any forms of uncalled for fighting or "terrorist" actions.

Stereotypes about Islam are not new to Western culture. Problems can be traced back 1400 years. At that time, Islam and Christianity were involved in the Crusades in the 1100’s and in the Ottoman and Moorish control in Europe. Islam spread quickly to the West, and started to threaten the position of the Christian Church and the ruling class. The Western elites, mainly the governments and the churches, then became highly involved in seeing that negative images were presented about Islam. As a result, not only were battles fought against Islam, but also a war of words was initiated to make sure that Islam would not have any converts or sympathizers in the West. These kinds of actions and feelings that the West had long ago still seem to be the case in the West today.

Today, the West, with little or no understanding of Islamic history, has identified a new enemy, "a new demon that has replaced the Red menace of the Cold war, i.e., radical Islam" (Agha 6). This "radical Islam", a stereotype common to Western thought, portrays Muslims as fundamentalists or potential terrorists. Some of these ideas that the Western people have about Islam are due to the mass media of the West. Reporters who cover the Muslim world often know very little details about it. The media then develops a distorted image of Islam that Western culture adopts.

Importance of way we act as Muslims The main purpose of our Blog is to try to find out why Muslims today are slowly forgetting the importance of Huqooq Ul Ibad in there lives. Let’s put into light what is Huqooq Ul Ibad? It means that Muslims should keep in mind rights of other people or they should give specific rights to specific individuals for example parents, spouses, children, neighbors and other Muslims. So to put it in simple words it is how your actions represent you as a Muslim in front of other Muslims or a Muslim’s duty towards Humanity.
The basic thing that I fail to understand is that Muslims backbite, be jealous of each other , do everything to see the other person feel defeated and then they pretend to be good Muslims. Usually it is something they are very confident about to so why is it that they fail to realize that actions are an integral part of faith. Let’s take the example of Prophet Muhammad S.A.W he is our ideal in terms of the way we live our lives, then why do we ignore the fact that he never in his life disgraced anyone or said something bad about anyone. This is the Islam that we ought to follow.
Islam gives rights to women, children, spouses, parents, neighbors, friends and even animals then why don’t we ever follow them. Let me give you a very little example of what I feel when I go to the West. Neighbors over there are helpful, concerned and generous and we on the other hand do not even sometimes know who lives around us . By the people of the west I am referring to the majority who still have core values over there. Exceptions must always be there but I am talking about something that I experiences first hand over time.I am not saying that the people of the west are superior I am just trying to put into light that we are supposed living that way and that is something we can more easily achieve by taking help from the Holy Quran and HadithThe Prophet S.A.W said:“By Allah, he does not believe! By Allah, he does not believe! By Allah, he does not believe ! ” It was said, “ Who is that, O Allah's Apostle ? ” He said, “ That person whose neighbor does not feel safe from his evil.”

Islam is a religion of Peace. It is important to highlight this factor of Peace when we are talking about Islam because it is a shame that we Muslims are being introduced to the world as terrorists. Our religion teaches us to live in peace with every other Muslim and to be kind of everyone and not hurt anyone. Suicide bombings is an extreme problem which a Muslim cannot even think of doing, so whoever kills himself along with killing other innocent Muslims cannot be called a Muslim. For it is mentioned in the Holy Quran:
“Be ye then merciful to those who are in the earth,so that He who is in the heaven may be merciful to you.”
This verse tells us how important it is to be merciful to everyone and how important it is to control our power on those whom we know we are superior on such as our servants or our employees. Also it is said that one of the three sins that Allah will never forgive are the killing of a single innocent human being , so after knowing this how can a Muslim be a terrorist.
Prophet Muhammad S.A.W was asked what is the best part of faith he said:“That thou love for the sake of God, and hate for the sake of God, and that thou love for men what thou loves for thyself, and hate for them what thou hates for thyself.”The Prophet S.A.W believes in loving what you love for yourself to love for your brothers and hate what you hate for yourself for your Muslims brothers. So once again my point is proven that how can our religion allow the killing of innocent human beings or the allow suicide bombings.These are extremes that the Muslim world is facing in the present world but if we come to the domestic level problem then the fights that teenagers have these days are also an issue. Guns, murders, police cases have become so common that it is horrifying. A Muslim should notice that when the Quffar of Taif threw rocks at him the Prophet S.A.W of God, he in return forgave them. This is the kind of attitude the Prophet S.A.W of God have which is something me mustn’t forget and should follow

Different view points about "Jihad"

It is very important to know that how different nations view "Jihad". Some of the negative actions taken by extremists have allowed non believers to make false statements against different noble practices of Islam and this is how American Government has defined Jihad.
"Jihad is the arabic word for holy war. In this context, Jihad refers to the use of violence, including paramilitary action against persons, property or governments deemed to be enemies of a fundamentalist version of Islam".
Actually, this definition of Jihad does not seem to be the one that Islam has presented.
Jihad is often mistakenly described as holy war. Here is the right meaning of Jihad in Islam.
"The word Jihad is an arabic word and it means "strive". Other synonyms include effort, labor and fatigue. Essentially Jihad is an effort to practice religion in the face of oppression and persecution. The effort may come in fighting the evil in your own heart or in standing up to a dictator. Military effort is included as an option and as a last resort and not "to spread Islam by sword" as the stereotype would have one believe.

Islam and its Significance in our Lives

But if the enemy incline towards peace, do thou (also) incline towards peace” (The Quran 8:61)

Society has led to the portrayal of Islam, in the west, as an intolerant, cruel, brutal, Merciless, compassionless, inhuman, violent, harsh, oppressive and militant religion. Although our religion subscribes to grievous punishments only when someone transgresses the standards and bounds of Islamic Society. The penal laws are therefore implementable only if an Islamic social structure exists. In a truly Islamic society, where the laws of social justice are prevalent no individual would be provoked to trespass the norms of just and kind behavior.

Islam is the religion of peace. Its very name is derived from the word ‘salam’. Salam is not only the absence of violence and aggression but it also means total well being and happiness. It means literally ‘to be safe, secure, sound, wholesome, unharmed, unimpaired and intact’.
Islam is in fact a religion that promotes peace and understanding among people of all faiths, and it strongly prohibits all forms of violence and aggression against all people regardless of their faith or race. Muslims are governed by the rules that the relationship with non-Muslims should be based on justice, mutual respect, cooperation, and communication.

Islam...What is it? A religion? A way of life? It’s a word we, as Muslims, take very much for granted. Being born Muslims in a Muslim country we don’t bother to look beyond the fact of our being followers of Islam. We assume that just by offering prayers five times a day, fasting in the holy month of Ramadan, paying Zakah, performing Hajj or Umrah as the case may be, and, in case of us females, by keeping our heads covered, we become very good Muslims.

‘Religion is behaviour and not mere belief.’ It is through our behaviour in little everyday matters that we can declare ourselves to be Muslims

I’ll take the case of the Salah, our ritual daily prayer, to explain why I believe in the statement quoted above. Most of us try our level best to offer our prayers five times a day, and no doubt develop a very bloated opinion of ourselves as a result. During our conversations, we make a point of mentioning just how regular we are in the prayer and we want to be told in our face just how great we are. The only logic we can present for all our zealous efforts is the great stress that has been laid on the importance of establishing the prayer in the Holy Qur’an and Hadith. Of course there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, but have we ever paused to ponder on the reason so much stress has been laid on the prayer by the Almighty.

Have we ever thought that Allah doesn’t need our prayers? Why then is so much importance given to them? Our five or more prayers, as the case may be do not add to any dimension to Him. He is the Almighty. He needs nothing from us. It is He who sustains and provides for us. Through the system of regular prayers, Allah just wants to teach us a little something. We all have very busy lives, whether inside the house or out. There are a dozen and one things that constantly have to be done. In the midst of all this activity, when we take out a couple of minutes to remember our Lord and our Benefactor, we are exerting a little bit of self-control. The more we discipline ourselves to take time out for our prayers, the more self-control we learn. The spirit of Islam lies in the control of our Nafs (soul). That is the spirit of the prayer -- to teach us the self-control needed in our day to day dealings. If despite being regular in praying, we don’t develop the tolerance and humility taught by our religion, then dare we call ourselves good Muslims?

Terrorism is associated with Islam in west but what does Islam say about Terrorism

Islam is a religion of peace and there is no room for terrorism in Islam. In the west the term "terrorism" is linked with Islam specially after the incident of 9/11 because they have seen some Muslims acting like a terrorist. But it is important to know what does Islam say about terrorism?
Islam, a religion of mercy, does not permit terrorism. In the Quran, God has said: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)The Prophet Muhammad used to prohibit soldiers from killing women and children, and he would advise them: "Do not betray, do not be excessive, do not kill a newborn child". And he also said: "Whoever has killed a person having a treaty with the Muslims shall not smell the fragrance of Paradise, though its fragrance is found for a span of forty years".Also, the Prophet Muhammad has forbidden punishment with fire.He once listed murder as the second of the major sins, and he even warned that on the Day of Judgment, the first cases to be adjudicated between people on the Day of Judgment will be those of bloodshed.Muslims are even encouraged to be kind to animals and are forbidden to hurt them. Once the Prophet Muhammad said: "A woman was punished because she imprisoned a cat until it died. On account of this, she was doomed to Hell. While she imprisoned it, she did not give the cat food or drink, nor did she free it to eat the insects of the earth". He also said that a man gave a very thirsty dog a drink, so God forgave his sins for this action. The Prophet was asked, "Messenger of God, are we rewarded for kindness towards animals?" He said: "There is a reward for kindness to every living animal or human".Additionally, while taking the life of an animal for food, Muslims are commanded to do so in a manner that causes the least amount of fright and suffering possible. The Prophet Muhammad said: "When you slaughter an animal, do so in the best way. One should sharpen his knife to reduce the suffering of the animal".

In light of these and other Islamic texts, the act of inciting terror in the hearts of defenseless civilians, the wholesale destruction of buildings and properties, the bombing and maiming of innocent men, women, and children are all forbidden and detestable acts according to Islam and the Muslims. Muslims follow a religion of peace, mercy, and forgiveness, and the vast majority have nothing to do with the violent events some have associated with Muslims. If an individual Muslim were to commit an act of terrorism, this person would be guilty of violating the laws of Islam.

First of all, you should keep in mind the fact that Islam is the religion of peace: its meaning is peace; one of God's names is peace; the daily greetings of Muslims and angels are peace; paradise is the house of peace, the adjective 'Muslim' means peaceful. Peace is the nature, the meaning, the emblem and the objective of Islam.
What is the Islamic standpoint on this important and urgent issue?
REASONS FOR PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE

1. Rationality is an inseparable part of the Islamic religion, and its rationality does include that important ingredient of judging actions by their consequences. But, it is of course a rationality which is guided by other Islamic values.


2. Some religions, secular ideologies and psychological theories teach that the human person is born evil. Some teach that he is born neutral between good and evil and it is society that directs him one way or the other. Others believe that there is no such thing as human nature.


3. Peaceful coexistence among people belonging to different religions and civilizations makes it easy for them to exchange material and intellectual benefits. It also helps them to cooperate in solving the problems, which they face as inhabitants of a global village: drugs, diseases, pollution, etc.


4. Muslims should play a big role in this because they are qualified to do so. Islam is a religion, which does not compromise on moral values like truth and justice.