MISINTERPRETATION OF ISLAM
What Is Islam? Islam is a monotheistic religion originated in early 7th century CE in the Arabian Peninsula, in Mecca, whose teachings and beliefs are written out in the Quran, the primary and holy scripture of Islam. The Quran is believed to be the verbatim word of God, as well as the teachings and normative examples of Muhammad (Prophet and Messenger of God), called the sunnah, composed of accounts called hadith. Followers of Islam are called Muslims. They pray five times a day in Mosque and any other clean place. Muslim devotees start their day by reciting the Namaz. Friday prayers are the most sacred prayers in Islam. The cities of Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem are home to the three holiest sites in Islam. Religious concepts and practices include the Five Pillars of Islam, which are obligatory acts of worship, as well as following Islamic law (sharia), which touches on virtually every aspect of life and society, from banking and welfare to women and the environment.
As per Islamic beliefs, there are Five Pillars of Islam. For an Islam devotee, these pillars are considered as the base of his/her life. Tawheed (Faith) is the concept of faith in almighty is one of the bases of Islam. It says that believing Allah above all other entities is the real faith of Muslims. Salat (Prayers) refers to Muslim prays five times a day. These five times Namaz recitation is called “Salat”. It is one of the important bases of Islam religion. Zakat (Charity) is theIslamic beliefs state that affluent Muslims must donate their one-fourth part of earning to poor and needy ones. This act of charity is also a base of Islam. Sawm (Fasting) states that fasting during Ramadan. Islamic beliefs state that fasting during Ramadan is a must for every devotee. Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca), Islamic most religious pilgrimage Mecca is one of the Islamic religious bases.
Misinterpretation of Islam. The lack of information and deeper misunderstanding of Islam over a period of time has led to misinterpretation of Islam. Few most common misconceptions are; Allah is exclusively the God of Islam. Allah is the Arabic name for the “One True God”, creator of the heavens, earth and all that exists in the universe. Arabic speaking Christians and Jews also use the name Allah to call upon God. So essentially our faith traditions share the belief in an all-powerful God whether we call Him Allah, Yahweh or God the Father. The word “jihad” means holy war. The word jihad is derived from the Arabic word “jahada” which means to struggle. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said the greatest jihad is the battle to fight the evil within one’s own soul. Thus jihad primarily refers to an inner struggle to reform oneself and live a life of virtue and submission to God. Military jihad (struggle) is a very misunderstood concept and has been misused by extremist groups like Al-Qaeda, Taliban, ISIS, JeM, LeT, HM etc. Osama Bin Laden was the first terrorist leader to have spread this misinterpretation of Jihad around the world as his own perception. Generally this is a defensive struggle to protect the lives, property and freedom of worship of all individuals. Women were to be oppressed in Islam. It is important to note that on a theological and spiritual level men and women are created equal in the eyes of Allah (God). There are however obvious physiological differences in the way Allah (God) created men and women and for that reason the roles and responsibilities may differ.
This does not prevent women from playing an active role in society. As a poignant example, there are at least four Muslim majority countries namely Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Turkey that have already had female heads of state. But at many of the places women in Islam doesn’t get any opportunity to even get educated or to earn and live independent life. Women are forced to wear the hijab. The Hijab is a religious veil worn by many Muslim women in the presence of any male outside of their immediate family, which usually covers the hair, head and chest. The term can refer to any hair, head, face, or body covering worn by Muslim women that conforms to Islamic standards of modesty. Another interpretation can also refer to the seclusion of women from men in the public sphere, whereas a metaphysical dimension, may refer to “the veil which separates man, or the world, from God”. In its traditionalist form, the hijab is worn by Muslim women to maintain modesty and privacy from unrelated males. The Qur’an instructs Muslim women and men to dress modestly. Some believe that the Qur’an itself does not mandate that women need to wear a hijab. In the verses of the Qur’an, the term hijab refers to a curtain separating visitors to Muhammad‘s main house from his wives’ residential lodgings. This interpretation has led some to claim that the mandate of the Qur’an to wear hijab applied only to the wives of Muhammad, and not to entirety of women. Women in different parts of the world have also experienced unofficial pressure to wear or not wear a hijab. Shariah is cruel and oppressive. Shariah is simply a set laws that Muslims follow to practice their faith. It is based on the Quran and the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad. It is very similar to the Halacha, which is Jewish law and jurisprudence based on the Talmud. The Shariah primarily guides us on how we worship and apply faith into our daily lives and interactions with others. Islamophobes frequently focus on the legal punishments prescribed under Shariah for such crimes as murder, adultery or theft as a justification for their fear of Islam. The reality is that these are deterrent punishments and the overwhelming evidence required to prove these crimes means they are rarely applied in Muslim countries. Islam is a religion that promotes violence and terrorism. “Islam totally prohibits terrorism—there is no text that endorses violence in any of the scripture of Islam. Within every religion, there exists a spectrum of attitudes and behaviour and extremism is not unique to one particular belief system. There are people who sincerely view themselves as Muslims who have committed horrible acts in the name of Islam. These people, and their interpretation of Islam, is rightly called “extremist;” they are a minority within Islam and the vast majority of Muslims reject their violence and consider their interpretation a distortion of the Muslim faith.
Islam is perhaps the most misunderstood religion in the world today and indeed throughout the history. It is not only misunderstood by the non-Muslims but also by the Muslims themselves. To understand the Islam correctly one must read the Holy Book and avoid all the propagandas and misinterpretation. Most importantly one must avoid violence, which has given a bad image to the religion. Islam is all about peace and one must do every action leading to peace.
– MAJOR ARIHANT GAHLOT
