The Lausanne Global Conversation is on the World Wide Open Network
Author: Hussein Hajji Wario
Date: 20.05.2011
Category: World Faiths, Religious Liberty, Unreached People Groups
The term islamophobia isn’t in the dictionary yet. In a matter of time, it will find its place. Even though this term should exclusively deal with an irrational dread, fear or hatred of Islam, Muslim organizations such as the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) have broadened it to include muslimophobia—irrational fear of Muslims. Why would an organization as organized as CAIR jumble these terms? Not especially when it wants to end them. We shouldn’t confuse islamophobia with muslimophobia. We can only effectively fight any kind of phobia if we know what it is.
I was saddened to read in the news two Muslim clerics who were headed to an islamophobia conference were deplaned two weeks ago. Why should these clerics miss their flight when they were subjected to and passed all airport security screening twice. Apparently, some passengers were uncomfortable with their mere presence on the flight and the pilot decided against having them aboard. This is a classic example of muslimophobia.
Islamophobia is also a problem and it is not endemic just to non-Muslims. Even Muslims suffer from it. Most Muslims who make media appearances in the West quote mostly abrogated verses of the Qur’an perhaps fearing their audience might not accept authentic Islam’s message. Even one of the Muslim clerics who was a victim of muslimophobia exhibited some signs of islamophobia in ensuing media interviews.
Imam Masudur Rahman, a professor of Arabic at the University of Memphis, in an interview with the Charlotte Observer said, “We need to tell people the truth about Islam: It is a religion of peace, a religion of justice, a religion honoring other people, regardless of color or religion.” He continued to say, “The Quran says: You practice your religion, I practice mine. There should be no compulsion in religion.” [Emphasis Mine.]
Imam Rahman quoted two verses from the Qur’an and totally misled reporter Tim Funk and every person who read his statement. Surah 109 verse 6 reads, “You shall have your religion and I shall have my religion.” All commentaries of the Qur’an agree this verse was revealed when Prophet Muhammad was dealing with idolaters in Mecca when Islam was in its nascent stage and had just a few followers. However, later on when Muhammad gained more followers “he was commanded to wage war [against the idolaters].”
I wish Muslims who quote verses from the Qur’an would tell non-Muslims the meanings behind them. So much for Imam Rahman claiming Islam leaves non-Muslims to have their own religions. Contrary to what this verse remotely portrays, Prophet Muhammad ended up eradicating all religions that preceded Islam from the Arabian Peninsula and then declared, “Two deens [religions] shall not co-exist in the Arabian Peninsula.” Whatever happened to freedom of religion in Islam Imam Rahman claimed to exist!
Another part of Imam Rahman’s quote in the interview addresses Surah 2 verse 256 which wholly reads, “There is no compulsion in religion. The right direction is henceforth distinct from error. And he who rejecteth false deities and believeth in Allah hath grasped a firm handhold which will never break. Allah is Hearer, Knower.” The Imam once again did not tell Mr. Funk this verse—CAIR and most Muslims in the media quote to show how Islam is about religious freedom—was abrogated. It was revealed in Medina when Prophet Muhammad had just migrated from Mecca and Islam still had only a few followers. Qur’an commentaries show this verse was revealed when the Ansar—Arabs of Medina who had embraced Islam—tried to convert their sons to Islam. The commentaries further show later, when two Muslims apostatized and Prophet Muhammad heard about their apostasy, he recited the same verse and said, “May Allah banish both of them. They are the first to disbelieve.” The founder of Islam cursed the first Muslims who apostatized because he did not have the power to kill them. He decreed later three times here, here, and here, every Muslim who apostatized should be killed. Muslims are required to obey Muhammad’s commands. Allah said twenty-nine times in the Qur’an a Muslim must also obey Muhammad. How could Islam be (quoting Imam Rahman again) “a religion honoring other people, regardless of … religion,” when the command against apostasy is very explicit?
Imam Rahman and CAIR spokespersons exhibit symptoms of islamophobia. How else would someone as knowledgeable as he or an organization as organized as CAIR mislead reporters about the meaning of verses of the Qur’an they quote?
We can only deal with islamophobia candidly if we can separate it from muslimophobia. The latter is unmerited. It is a sin for a Christian to hate a Muslim. We are called to love even our enemies. Most Muslims are peaceful and would not harm anyone. There is no point of being afraid of them. On the other hand, Islam is an ideology and the violent kind as practiced by “extremists” is authentic Islam. There is nothing wrong with a Christian raising an alarm about the violent aspect of Islam, especially when prominent Muslims aren’t brave enough to acknowledge it, instead call any critic of Islam a bigot.
Let us end muslimophobia and leave islamophobia to Muslims. Perhaps when Muslims agree with Irshad Manji and Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser there is a dire need for reform in Islam and publicly distinguish islamophobia from muslimophobia, then maybe islamophobia might face its demise as well.
Hussein Wario is a former Kenyan Sunni Muslim. He is the author of Cracks in the Crescent. He blogs regularly at http://www.cracksinthecrescent.com You can listen to his testimony here or read it here.
Keywords: Islam, Christian, Muslim, Islamophobia, Muslimophobia
Views: 4376
Comments: 10
Recommendations: 0
Conversation Post Comment
United States
Let us keep it simple… as Christians we are mandated to follow God’s commands as found in his word, so here it is “Love Thy Neighbor”. God told us in Leviticus 19:18, Jesus told us again in Mark 12:31. You simply cannot say we love God and not love God’s creations. We as Christians cannot represent Jesus if we cannot show love.
I love the greeting of Namaste, hands together as in prayer with a slight bow which says “The God in Me Greets the God in You”, or “I bow to the divine in you”. When we seek the divine that exists in all humanity for God created us in his spiritual image, we will find much in common. I do not care what you refer to the divine in your culture be it God or Allah, God is God.
Now there is a cancer of hate that has been long “hidden” behind the Civil Rights laws in the United States. Once we elected an African-American President the masks of acceptance have been torn off as the stereotypes have been crushed in the face of people of all ethnic backgrounds who voted for President Obama. The same thing happened after 9/11 the hate again surfaced in this country. Look at the date 911, it is indeed a state of emergency in terms of how we as Americans treat those of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs. And we are ALL guilty, even African Americans who should know better were sold into the media hype of blame against Islam and Muslims. Once you label a people once you put a whole race into a stereotypical box you simply cannot love them as God demands. God is again demanding that America face its “demon” of hate as with Trayvon, shot with Skittles and a soda in his hands and with the TV show “All American Muslim” where major companies were told to pull their advertisements. But thank God for the people all over our country and the world who stood up for love demanding justice for Trayvon and threatening to boycott any advertiser who refused to support a show about the lives of our Muslim citizens.
But Praise God who has seen fit to reveal himself in dreams to 2 million Muslims who now hold Christianity in their hearts. So because God has shown his love for the Islamic people than as a Christian so must I.
30.04.2012
United States
@ zephora_waiters:
Zephoria, I wish we could keep it simple, but, the matter becomes complex when you consider the fact that so many people know the Scriptures but do not live by them. The founders of America were Christians who were active slave traders. They knew what the Bible said, but they abandoned the truth to embrace a lie that said that slaves were not human beings. They then said that all men are created equal.
01.05.2012
United States
@ tgraham:
Spiritual Blindness! I said it was simple. But it only works when people choose to be obedient to the will of God and follow the example set by Christ.
01.05.2012
United States
I agree, ever since 9/11 people have been asking themselves why anyone would do such a thing to America. Some have tried to look for answers by learning more about Islam. Others have stereotyped all Muslims as terrorists. I am saddened that some have choose to do the latter. There is a lack of knowledge about this religion and the worldview that it holds. I think it is crazy that airport security is practicing racial profiling now because it is subconsciously advocating the idea that all Muslims are terrorists and that they all are from the Middle East. Not everyone who is a Muslim “looks” like a Muslim. Many people I know believe that everyone in the Middle East follows Islam. It has never occurred to them that people around the world of different ethnicities follow Islam. I am not fortunate enough to have any Muslim friends right now because I personally do not know any in my area. However, I do know they all are not violent or hold the same views of Islam. I am sure its followers are just as diverse as the followers of Christianity.
I have heard the passages of the Qur’an that seems to support religious freedom as well as passages that seem to contradict it. I am somewhat familiar with the idea of abrogation, that newer revelations replace older ones when there is a contradiction. Have all passages that supported religious freedom and toleration been abrogated?
17.04.2012
United States
@ harek:
Harek, you are correct in noting that the reality of racial profiling is significant in our society, especially towards Islam. We have to do our part to educate others who may hold unhealthy opinions about cultures that they hardy know anything about. We have to especially help our youth to see that racial profiling has led to oppressive conditions for people who have done nothing to deserve it.
29.04.2012
United States
@ harek:
Harek:
There is a lot of discipline in that religion. Prayer is a key part of their life and there is care to eat right. Nobody wants to be hassled when traveling. We must balance safety and security with respect for the individual. In these difficult times, balancing individual rights and security is difficult. Welcome to the USA.
30.04.2012
United States
@ tgraham:
tgraham:
Racial profiling is a reality in the USA. Just ask Rodney King. It has been 20 years since the LA Unrest. How far have we come? There has been progress to be sure but we still have a long way to go as a society. There is still a lot of fear among people. Will we ever be a colorblind society in the USA?
30.04.2012
United States
@ winner:
Unfortunately, I cannot envision a society that is colorblind. My mind cannot wrap around the idea that people will look at each other and not judge according to skin color. I do agree that we have seen tremendous improvement. Churches must join in the fight to improve race relations international. I wondelr how this looks through the eyes of our God.
30.04.2012
United States
Eye-opening blog! I think since 9-11, Islamophobia and Muslimphobia is on the rise. The hype in the media without all the facts is another reason this has increased. I donot feel that those clerics should have been removed simply because the passengers were uncomfortable. However on the other hand, there were and still are so much terrorism that people feel compelled to be onthe look out. If people would research and try to understand the people and their beliefs perhaps their would be a better relationship between them.
12.07.2011
United States
@ MzBoom:
I agree with you, that, "since 9-11, Islamophobia and Muslimphobia is on the rise." People are so strict about security since, 911 and have wrongly being predjudiced against some people of Islam and Muslims. You are right the clerics should not have been removed. People should be judged by their each and individual character. It is sad how some people make it bad for certain groups of people.
17.07.2011
You must be logged in to post a comment. If you don’t have an account, you can sign up now (it’s free and easy!).