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Since the 9/11 attacks in the United States, Islam and Muslim communities around the world have often been unfairly labelled as terrorists. However, this kind of labelling began even earlier, with Orientalists who studied Eastern cultures more than a hundred years ago. The late Palestinian-American professor Edward Said (1935-2003) from Columbia University explained that Orientalism-which was supposed to study the history, culture, religion, and way of life of Eastern people-mostly focused on Islam and Muslims. This shows that they had an agenda against Muslims.
In his well-known works Orientalism (1978) and Covering Islam (1981), Prof. Said exposed the condescending attitude of Orientalists, who often portrayed Islam and Arab culture negatively and disrespectfully. Muslims were painted as uncivilized and barbaric, ignoring the great contributions they made in the fields of revealed, natural, and social sciences.
During the golden age of their civilisation, Muslim scholars and scientists were regarded as custodians of knowledge and pioneers in various disciplines. Western media and leaders have often overlooked the fact that the progress made by the West in science and technology was significantly inspired by the works of early Muslim scholars, philosophers, and scientists.
The Qur'an, Prophet Muhammad ď·ş, and Muslims in general are often portrayed in Western media as advocates of violence and instigators of terror against those who do not share their faith or way of life. Allegorically speaking, the message conveyed through such broadcasts paints a picture of a world crying out for peace, while Muslims are cast as aggressors seeking war and bloodshed.
These principles include refraining from targeting women, children, the elderly, devout worshippers, religious leaders, and other non-combatant civilians. Additionally, Muslims are forbidden from destroying food supplies, water sources, places of worship such as churches and synagogues, beasts of burden, crops, and other essential resources. On the battlefield, if the enemy sincerely seeks peace and wishes to end the conflict, the Muslim army should cease fighting and respond in kind. "And if they incline to peace, then incline to it [also] and rely upon Allah" Surah Al-Anfal (8:61).
In contrast to Muslim war ethics, some religions promote the killing of innocent men, women, babies, and animals like oxen, donkeys, sheep, camels, and asses. The followers of those religions are programmed to think that they are superior and closer to God, and that the rest of humanity is like animals and deserves no respect. Worse still, they believe that killing others outside their religion is not a sin in the sight of God.
It's not surprising that in Western media, Muslim freedom fighters are always called terrorists, while the intruders or occupiers who starve and kill innocent women and children are called commandos. When Muslims fight back, it is immediately called an act of terror, and the news is repeated again and again for several hours or even days.
But when a non-Muslim commits a terrorist act, the media quickly says the person is mentally ill and needs medical help. Many times, in the past, when a terror attack happened in the West, the Western media rushed to blame Muslims. But even when later investigations proved that the criminal was not a Muslim, no Western media came forward to admit their mistake or apologize for the wrong reporting.
Muslims live a God-centred life by worshipping Allah five times a day, either in congregation or individually. Life for Muslims does not end in this world; they believe in life after death and the hereafter. They observe a month-long obligatory fast during Ramadan and give Zakah and Sadaqah (charity) to those in need. Once in a lifetime, Muslims are encouraged to perform the pilgrimage to Mecca for worship and to join the Muslim reunion held annually during Hajj.
Muslims respect the sanctity of life, and everyone has the right to live in peace and harmony. Islam is against racism and teaches that people outside the religion should be treated with dignity, fairness, and justice. In the Qur'an and Sunnah, Muslims are asked to build good relationships with themselves, with God, with nature (flora and fauna), and with fellow human beings.
Non-Muslims, minorities, and native people living in a Muslim country should be given their rights to practice their religion and culture. The Muslim government should provide safety and security to non-Muslim minorities, and no wrongdoing should be committed against them.
To live a blessed life, Islam prohibits its followers from alcohol, drugs, and immoral sexual behavior. It encourages marriage to help individuals avoid sexual misconduct and to support the healthy growth of the Muslim Ummah through family life.
In addition, many non-Muslims are seeing Muslims firsthand-in mosques and in public spaces-which is slowly changing their perception of Islam. More and more people are beginning to realize that Islam is a peaceful religion, far from the negative image created by mainstream Western media.
(The views expressed are those of Dr. Mohd Abbas Abdul Razak, Department of Fundamental and Interdisciplinary Studies, AHAS KIRKHS, IIUM, and do not necessarily reflect the views of IslamiCity).
Islam, hajj and the English language
