Is Islam a Phobia or just a simple misunderstanding
Opinion | August 28, 2010 | Share
Why has a religion such as Islam led to forcing people to believe that it is nothing but only talks about destruction and terrorism? Why do people fear Islam? Is it the religion, the Muslims, or just a simple ideology infused into the society by a few sects of the society? The recent burqa ban which was imposed in most of the places in Europe is just another example of the insecurity and the threat posed by the religion in other countries. It is a shame that some of the rigid followers of their religion living in other countries have to give up on their faith or in their language Kaum. But is the government supposed to be blamed to take such extreme measures against them?
Islam, as opposed to the common belief which means peace actually means surrender to the will of Allah. The fact that Islam requires people to surrender to the will of Allah and eliminate any other form of religion has led to a major section of the Islamic community just to believe in those principles which has led to them forgetting the message of peace and tranquility which Islam actually imposes. It is just the fear that has been instilled by a few sections of the Muslim community who follow Islam which has led people to think against them. They have been led to believe that only two kinds of people exist, the kaifrs who are the non-believers and the ahl al-kitab who are the people of the book. The non believers should either convert to Islam, or should face execution. The unfortunate thing here is that instead of following all the practices laid down in their Holy book i.e. the Koran, they follow just a few phrases from it which doesn’t really comply with the main motive behind the book. A more rigid section of the community thinks that the government has imposed the law against the burqa to change the faith of the Muslims with out looking at the security angle of it. While fear of a stereotype is a partial reason, it is unfair to say that the government is imposed the ban to convert Muslims. But the fact that the people are obliged to follow the rules laid down in Koran adheres and violates the laws governed by the society. The burqa ban has led to a lot of controversies around the country with the Muslim community from foreign countries threatening the government to go against their decision.
One should still not mis-understand the idea behind the burqa ban for as the head of the French speaking liberal party rightly said “It is really a symbol to say clearly if we want to live together in a free society, we need to recognize each other and not live under the shadows of our religion.
Thomas Bubach
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In my opinion people have taken religion in a whole a little too seriously. Is Islam being targeted? Sure! Being one the fastest growing religions the world has ever seen, it always seems to catch an eye or two.But I find the Islamic law of a man being allowed to have 3 wives just as ridiculous as the Pope saying abortion is not “Christian”!
I shall go a step further than an opinion and try to offer a solution(Cause we all know that opinions seldom settle any arguments, leave alone problems):
1. Your fellow man comes before God. Yes, I said it! Man is more important at this point of time. Sort out issues relating to man in general and not issues pertaining to a religion. Why? you ask. Its cause no one ,not even God Himself/Herself(for our women’s lib members), knows what his true word was. Every religion has conflict within itself. If I need to point out examples to explain , my solution will never be published.I would have to list all the examples ever not to be a bigot!
2.Nature , in all its vast mystery , comes before God! People seem to be more concerned with finding ” The Creator” rather than leaning all that He/She Created. Lets focus on our environment, so that we have more time to find “The One”.
3. Educate each other. Sharing of knowledge could very well be our God. Just look at the popularity and success of the Internet(A mean to share knowledge)
4. Always come with with a solution along with the opinion!
Cheers
Anirudh Balakrishnan