2. FACTS ABOUT ISLAM
Islam is pronounced Islam not Izlam; And it is the submission to the
will of God. A Muslim is the follower of Islam faith.
Along with Judaism and Christianity, Islam is considered to be one of
the three Abrahamic religions.
“ Allah” is an Arabic word that means “ God”
Allah is not God of Muslims only. He is the God of all people and all
creation (story) Interestingly, most Arab Jews and Arab Christians
refer to God by “Allah”.
3. FACTS ABOUT ISLAM
Muslims neither worship Mohammed ( peace be upon him) nor
pray through him. They solely worship the unseen Creator, Allah
All Muslims are not Arab, Arabs only constitute about 20% of
Muslims worldwide. Indonesia has the largest concentration of
Muslims with over 120 million, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan are not
Arabs.
All Arabs are not Muslims, we have Coptic of Egypt who are Christian
and Arab Christian in Lebanon.
4. FACTS ABOUT ISLAM
Muslims pray to one direction; Kaaba situated in Mecca, Saudi
Arabia.
The Holy Qur’an was not authored by Mohammed (p). It was
authored by God, revealed to Mohammed (p) and written into
physical form by his companions.
Muslims believe in all prophets from Adam to Jesus- peace and
blessing of God be upon them-
5. WHAT ARE THE MISCONCEPTIONS?
There is No God but Allah:
1- The only one God without associating him to a partner is the heart of the belief
for any Muslim.
2- Five pillars are the basic faith for a Muslim.
The confession of faith, praying, fasting during the month of Ramadan,
pilgrimage to Mecca, and charity.
3- The way Muslims pray may seem “strange or humiliating” for other people. While
praying, Muslims bow to their creator, God (story)
6. WHAT ARE THE MISCONCEPTIONS
Spreading the faith by the sword:
1- God says in the Holy Qu’ran , “Let there be no compulsion in
religion” and the prophet Mohammed came to teach and preach not to force
and impose Islam.
2- There is no mention of the holy war in Qur’an and the word “ Jihad”
in Arabic means the Utmost effort. The prophet Mohammed (p)
said : the greatest Jihad is the struggle of a spiritual kind, the one that keeps you
away from temptation ( from lying, killing, getting angry, stealing…)
7. WHAT ARE THE MISCONCEPTIONS?
Terrorism Associated with Islam:
1- Muslims are called “ Fundamentalists, Extremists, Terrorists”
2- Western media help fuel the misconception (story)
3- The political upraise that happened in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, and
Yemen is the result of many years of dictatorial ruling, it is not
because they are Islamic countries.
8. WHAT ARE THE MISCONCEPTIONS?
Terrorism Associated with Islam:
1- Most violent acts and killings are caused by a minority of people
who do not represent Islam. The Qur'an states: “ Fight in the way of
Allah against those who fight against you, but begin no hostilities. Lo!
Allah loves not aggressors” (Verse 2:190).
2- Movies produced after 9/11 were all stereotyping Muslims as
violent, loud, non civilized.
9. W HA T A R E THE MISCONCEPTIONS ?
Perceptions of Muslim Women
- Woman is oppressed /She covers herself with veil / She has no rights….. .
- Before Islam
- In Mecca, The pagan tribe used to burry the baby girls alive because they
were source of shame and dishonor.
- Woman was sold as a slave along with animals.
10. WHAT ARE THE MISCONCEPTIONS?
In Islam, the woman
- Has to dress with modesty and cover her hair
- Has equal rights and duties.
- Get to choose her husband, and keep her maiden name once
married. She can ask for divorce and leave her husband.
- Has the right to inherit and own business
- When she works, she spends her money however she wants.
11. EDUCATING ABOUT ISLAM
Media Bias:
- Make distinction between what Muslims do and what Islam says.
- Crimes committed by Muslims should be reported as individual
crimes.
- Offer online courses that prepare journalists to bridge the
cultural gap between the Muslim and the western worlds (story)
12. EDUCATING ABOUT ISLAM
Youth Education
• Encourage program exchange between the Islamic universities
overseas and the American ones( story).
• Internet as a tool can help clear the misconception, youth from
both groups can interact, inform, and learn through the internet
(Story)
13. EDUCATING ABOUT ISLAM
From the Muslim Community:
- Mosques can organize more interfaith discussions and lectures
about Islam.
- They can offer free Arabic courses for non Muslims students and
adults.
- Encourage enrollment of non Muslim students in Islamic Schools,
students will study the English curriculum with Arabic as a foreign
language (story).
14. WORKS CITED
Larry .A. Samovar. Richard E. Porter. Edwin R. McDaniel (2009).
Intercultural Communication . A Reader. 12E
Wadsworth Cengage learning .
http://www.islamondemand.com/30_facts.html
http://islamtoday.com/artshow-230-4198.htm
