From its onset, Islam has been a religion that promotes peace and belief in one God. Nowhere in the Quran does God invite Muslims to commit acts of terror or coerce non-Muslims to convert to Islam. Islam is, and will continue to be a religion of peace, compassion, and tolerance.
All wars that took place during the birth of Islam were ‘just’ as were European religious wars. Both Mohamed and Jesus preached that killing is wrong. They encouraged their followers to love their enemies and to be peacemakers. How then can ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) a group of violent fighters be equated with Islam?
The majority of non-Muslims have been led by the media to believe that Islam is a religion of terror and that it seeks to conquer the souls of those who do not conform to its beliefs or to the political views of ISIL who to date, have murdered vastly more Muslims (82-97%) than other religions. Since the actions of ISIL are so predictable, it should not be difficult for the leaders of the modern world to figure out their strategies, isolate them, block their financial means, and deter them from committing further harm to thousands of innocent people.
With hundreds of Muslim leaders and organizations using the tiresome cliché that not all Muslims are terrorists, it would be equally safe to say that not all terrorists are Muslim. For centuries, Muslims in America have been peace abiding citizens. Today, many of them find themselves searching for ways to eliminate doubt from the minds of their non-Muslim friends and neighbors and prove to them that they have nothing to be nervous or suspicious about. The actions of a few should not lead to stereotyping or making invalid inferences on 3.3 million Muslims currently living in the United States. Such stereotyping conveys negative impressions, leads to social categorization, and prejudicial attitudes. The “Separation of church and state” a phrase written by Thomas Jefferson to express an understanding of the intent and function of the Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution was introduced to give American citizens the right to practice religious freedom. Why then, should Muslims be judged, stereotyped, and shaped to fit the ISIL mold?
In lieu of sending ‘hate’ letters to mosques and Muslim organizations or to deliberately murder and antagonize Muslim men, women, and children why not draw on Muslims’ positive traits and avoid equating them with terrorism? Why execute a ban on Muslim refugees? Those who committed the unforgettable 9/11 attacks on innocent citizens, were not refugees. The majority were from Saudi Arabia, a country not included on the ban list. How is banning refugees going to make this country safer when more than 30,000 people are killed from firearms each year? In sum, Muslims respect all religions and they closely abide by the tenants of the Ten Commandments, including specifically, ‘Thou Shalt Not Kill.’
In the end, no religion is flawless. Are there disagreements in certain Muslim countries regarding misogyny, honor killings, and tyranny? Yes, but, is there disagreement among Catholics after Pope Francis said, “If a homosexual person is of good will and is in search of God, I am no one to judge… it is not right to interfere spiritually in the life of a person?” Yes, but only God will judge among mankind, not people. Viewed from this lens, it’s time to have courageous conversations with Muslims. Conversing with others of the Muslim faith can be a painless way of giving up a former way of thinking in favor of a new, more open one.
Published in Detroit Free Press – February 5, 2017