Essay Example on Misconceptions About Islam: Islamophobia & Beyond

Despite Islam's huge following, there are many misconceptions about Islam religion. Many people across the world judge Islamic mode of teachings, faith, history, and their traditions. A lot of folks have unending doubts with Islam, thus having numerous misconceptions about Islam everything related to the religion (Gottschalk & Greenberg, 2008). Most interestingly, Islamophobia term has been generated. This term is seen as cancer to the Muslim faithful. Islamophobia refers to having a fear of Islam. This term gained more prevalence following the September 11 terror attacks. Islamophobia has prompted other denominations to image Islam negatively. It has even made other people not to tolerate Muslims. Islamophobia has even escalated to a point where Muslims are hated by many, acts of intolerance aimed at them and even rise in physical attacks on followers of Muslim as evidenced in Christchurch Mosque where Muslims were shot dead (Coombes, 2019). Other areas where Muslims have been killed include New York, where an imam and his associate was murdered. In Switzerland, a 30-year-old individual storm into a mosque and shoots to kill three worshipers. In Canada 2017 January, 27 people are killed in a Quebec City mosque by Alexandre Bissonnette while having their evening prayers (Coombes, 2019). There are many more cases that are related to Islamophobia. All the shootings are related to hate against Muslims. Islamophobia is not associated with organic results from the Muslim's bad things, but it is an instrument that is related to public manipulation that is manufactured for disastrous wars (Nasr & Religionsphilosoph, 2003).

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Various skewed perceptions have been put through in different media streams, concerning the root cause of Islamophobia. The rise can be attributed to the terror attacks of 2001 September, 11 (Gottschalk & Greenberg, 2008). But others have the following diverse views on why they have constant misconceptions and doubts with Islam and everything related to this religion. These views are as follows; the Islam religion is seen to be in support of widespread violence to the community and acts of terrorism. Secondly, most people view Islam religion as inferior. Most believe that the inferiority stems from the relatively irrational, archaic and barbarism traits. This perception mostly emanates from the west. Thirdly, most folks portray the Islamic religion as a monolithic culture (Triandafyllidou, 2015). That the Islam religion is relentless and can easily accept any emerging realities of society. Fourth, the Islamic religion is made up absolutely of different values when compared with other cultures and faiths. Lastly, most people believe that the Islamic religion teaches violent ideology in their political arena (Sheridan, 2006). Therefore, such perceptions cast the Islam religion has barbaric, thick, rigid and irrational with violence. These are the associated reasons why there have been constant misconceptions and doubts with Islam and everything related to it.

The Islam religion is facing some dire challenges from the outside wider world and within. Most likely, the precarious problems are the rising tensions within Islam (Triandafyllidou, 2015). Criticisms and attitudes that emanate from the wider world are misguided and can be ignored since they are hostile and misdirected, but the increasing tensions within the faithful of Islam across the world have to be confronted. In simple geographical terms, specific regions hold certain powers and resources that are relatively changing hands. The change of dynamics relating to resources and power allocation are all linked to the rising of tensions within Islam. The power and resource of different centers are shifting. In the most recent, on and against claims on the heartland on the peripheral Islamic states are exacerbating the tensions (Sheridan, 2006).

Regardless of the ideals, the Islam religion has on promoting a productive and equitable material life, the majority of Muslims faithful are experiencing a living standard which is hardly by any measurable standard (Gottschalk & Greenberg, 2008). This is an irony since most of them come from the wealthy producing oil centers. Where Islam preaches brotherhood and justice ideals, we are witnessing a conspicuous intake of the rich only, spending on expensive armaments and military technology leaving behind dire citizens with exploited wage scales. There is evidence of a wide imbalance in terms of wealth and income distribution within the Muslim communities. Development investments are also dwindling in Islamic regions. Most investors shy away because of the extremist agitations perceptions that originate from the West. Equally, most Muslim investors are happy to take their money to non-Muslim countries, hence exporting the much-needed investment and jobs to other non-Muslim nations. Unequal opportunities and economic frustrations are fertile breeding areas for protest and dissent (Sheridan, 2006). The Muslim government has equally ignored to address the general demands of education that the modern world requires. The traditional way of thinking that education and modernity will erode the Islam culture and tradition is challenging the religion. Muslims should accept the entire panoply of modern technology and knowledge. The western perception also has impacted the Islam religion negatively. Their perception of if Islamophobia has made it harder for Muslim followers to operate and co-exist with other non-Muslims peaceful (Bullock, 2002).

We can bring to an end Islamophobia by enhancing police protection of all Muslim followers. Equally, bridging exercise can be undertaken by creating an Islam awareness event that educates the rest of non-Muslims folks against Islamophobia. Public pronouncements such as isolationism of the Muslim community should be put into an end. Legislation can also help in protecting Islam followers against direct or indirect victimization, discrimination, and harassment.

References

Bullock, K. (2002). Rethinking Muslim women and the veil: Challenging historical & modern stereotypes. IIIT.

Coombes, R. (2019). From the Christchurch mosque shootings to London Bridge: translating lessons for general healthcare. BMJ, 364, l1366.

Gottschalk, P., & Greenberg, G. (2008). Islamophobia: making Muslims the enemy. Rowman & Littlefield.

Nasr, S. H., & Religionsphilosoph, I. (2003). Islam: Religion, history, and civilization (pp. 178-79). San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco.