Anti-Islam Poison and its Antidote!!

Anti-Islam Poison and its Antidote

M.Amir Ali,Ph.D.

The Muslims in America used to get disgusted when they saw anti-Islam material in the media, encyclopedia, books, booklets, brochures and flyers. Now, it appears that Muslims are accustomed to such material and learning to ignore it, as if the problem does not touch them personally. It is a dangerously false feeling. Negative propaganda against Islam and Muslims is in part based on genuine ignorance but in a greater part it is a calculated, goal oriented campaign of smear. It's main goal is to create mis-apprehension of Islam and Muslims through mis-perception which is created through mis-information, dis-information and stereotyping. Such campaigns are launched by religious and political demagogues.

Very few Muslims realize the cost of anti-Islam propaganda world wide, in general and in North America, in particular. This cost, financially and politically, is great to Muslims individually, as well as to the Ummah. Muslims are paying individually as their businesses do not have much non-Muslim clientele. Their promotions and job stabilities depend upon their perception as Muslims, "Fundamentalist" or "Moderate". Muslim women who insist upon wearing hijab are either denied jobs under false pretext or fired when they begin wearing it on the job. Muslim girls face difficulties in obtaining exemption from gender-mixed swimming and other sport activities at their schools. Islamic holidays, such as the Eids, are not recognized. Even time off for Salat al-Jumu'ah is hard to obtain or impossible in some cases. The anti-Islam poison has created a condition in which many Muslims hide their identities as Muslims and in a large number of cases leave Islam altogether. Muslims themselves have a duty to do whatever is necessary to remove the anti-Islam environment from North America. There are many ethnic groups who have gone through similar hardship and were successful in becoming acceptable, for example, Jews, Irish, Italian, African, Spanish speaking, Chinese, Japanese, Germans and others. Now, it is the Muslims' turn to work hard and gain acceptance. But, Muslims have an additional responsibility of making Islam, perceived to be a totally alien and unacceptable religion, into an acceptable way of life, at least for the Muslims in North America.

There are hundreds of books, booklets, brochures, flyers, tracts, audio-tapes and videotapes against Islam spreading poison among the people, who are otherwise good-hearted people. These good-hearted people may easily be won over only if the Muslims give them an opportunity of education about Islam and Muslims.

As the Ummah, Muslim majority countries are ill treated and the West interferes economically, socially and politically to subvert Islamic movements, thereby stifling the establishment of Islam as a total system. Pakistan, Algeria and Sudan are some of the most obvious examples. Muslims have a duty and necessity to remove mis-information and dis-information and spread the truth about Islam worldwide.

Anti-Islam demagogues and liars come in all shapes and colors. Some have a reputation as "Orientalists" and "Scholars" and others are lowly street worms and there are others in between. Just to get some taste of the lies and anti-Islam poison read the following quotes. The Names of speakers, authors, publications and publishing organizations are omitted so that they do not get free publicity and notoriety.

"Muhammad was a violent man. If he were living today, he would be, perhaps, diagnosed as psychotic, a serial killer, a mass murderer, someone who was involved in having sex with children. .... And the religion of Islam produces terrorism which we see today." – From a radio interview broadcast.

"The historical background concerning the origin and meaning of the Arabian "Allah" reveals that Allah cannot be the God of the biblical patriarchs, the Jews, or the Christians. Allah is merely a revamped and magnified Arabian pagan moon deity." – From a book.

"The cult of the moon god which worshipped Allah was transformed by Muhammad into a monotheistic faith. Because Muhammad started with a pagan god, it comes as no surprise that he ended up with a pagan god." – From a book.

"One example of Arab racism is the myth that the Arabs are descendants of Abraham through his son Ishmael. This claim was made in response to the Jews who had boasted that Abraham was the father of their race." – From a book.

"There was no concept of civil or personal rights in seventh-century Arabia. The head of the tribe decided whether you lived or died. This is why Islamic countries are always inevitably ruled by dictators or 'strong men' who rule as despots. There are 21 Arab nations, and not one of them is a democracy." – From a book.

"Even today, Muslim women can be kept prisoners in their own homes." – From a book.

"For example, the very word 'islam' was not revealed from heaven or invented by Muhammad. It is an Arabic word which originally referred to an attribute of manliness and described someone who was heroic and brave in battle." – From a book.

"But when you turn to ecstatic, confused speeches of Muhammad as found in the Qur'an, you do not find anything outstanding. There is nothing which matches the beauty, substance, or style of the way Jesus preached the gospel during His lifetime." – From a book.

What is the antidote?

Darkness is the absence of light. Ignorance is the absence of knowledge. Ignorance is the mother of prejudice. With the exception of a few liars and demagogues, people in the West have good nature and are attracted to the truth and decency. Since the time of the Crusades, the West has been receiving small or big doses of poison against Islam and Muslims. While there were no Muslims or a very insignificant minority of Muslims were living in the West nothing could be done to bring the light of Islam in wide wilderness of darkness about the knowledge of Islam. Now, there is no excuse as the Muslims are living as significant minorities in North America and Europe. The status quo of wide spread poison against Islam should not be acceptable to Muslims. The knowledge of true Islam has to become common knowledge in the West. The question arises, who has the duty to educate people to the Truth about Islam and Muslims?

Will Jews and Zionists do this work? ... No!

Will Christians do it? ... No!

Will atheists and agnostics do it? ... No!

Will secularists do it? ... No!

Will the governments do it? ... No!

Will the media do it? ... No!

Will the schools do it? ... No!

Will the universities do it? ... No!

Naturally, it is the responsibility of Muslims themselves!

This is the modern day Jihad. The jihad of the pen, tongue and the media in the West, to help the West to know the Truth about Islam. Allah is calling you as we read in the Qur'an:

"And thus We have appointed you as a Model Community so that you may bear witness against mankind, and that the Messenger may be a witness against you." 2:143

"You who (claim) to believe, shall I show you a business that will save you from a painful torment? You should believe in Allah and His Messenger, and strive (tujahidoona) in Allah's way with your wealth and your persons; that will be better for you if you only knew." 61:10-11

"You are the best community that has been raised up for humankind (because you have been assigned the duty to) enjoin good and forbid evil and you believe in Allah." 3:110

"You who (claim) to believe, become Allah's helpers just as Jesus son of Mary asked the disciples: 'Who will be my helper towards Allah?' The disciples said, 'We are Allah's helpers.' A faction from the Children of Israel believed, while another faction disbelieved. We assisted the ones who believed against their enemy, till they held the upper hand." 61:14