Lubna Hamid War
Islamophobia is a wide concept that isn’t as such easy to comprehend for all and everyone but in simple this complicated term can be simplified as hate, grudge, fear and sheer anti approach towards the Islam and its followers. The word ‘Islamophobia’ if broken down, can seen as a blend of two words ‘Islam’ and ‘Phobia’, where ‘Islam’ means ‘Peace’ and ‘Phobia’ as fear, threat or worry and there is complete mismatch among the two for something conveying peace can never be a reason of someone’s unease or discomfort. However those coining the term are simply anti-Islamist, bigots, hypocrites, cultists and consider Islam a threat to humanity. But if given a deeper look, Is Islam really that scary, that dreadful religion that someone could get phobia of it? No, it absolutely is not, not even remotely!
Islam is a religion of peace. It never allows its followers to ruin someone’s happiness, to spread hatred or to mistreat someone. Islam works on certain principles that nobody is great except for almighty Allah and that Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) is the last prophet. Muslims are bestowed with a precious sacred religious book Holy Quran to follow, which is immaculately peaceful and full of grace and moral values.
We Muslims have a faith that Allah keeps eye on everything, everyone, and nothing can happen in this world without His might and will.
It is really regretful that this world is seeing this beautiful religion Islam as a threat to them. The people other than Muslims treat the believers of Islam as trouble mongers. Those people don’t know the worth and height of eloquence of Islam that does away darkness with bright light, that provides peace to your soul and mind, that vanishes your fears and blooms the buds of hope, that makes you emotionally strong with its principles.
Islam is the religion that gives the ultimate respect to women, a religion that spreads brotherhood, harmony, trust, faithfulness. A religion that has given the highest place to parents, that has a strong influence on learning and teaching. A religion that teaches to help people in need, to be empathetic, to be truthful and promote fraternity. However unfortunately, Islam has been seen as a form of xenophobia or sometimes like racism by anti-Islamists and some religious and socio cultists and bigots. Muslim immigrants are seen like parasites, a disgrace in certain countries. The prejudice that people have for Islam and its followers is exponentially increasing with passage of every day. Muslims are misunderstood and this beautiful religion is misinterpreted by some extremists as threat to the world.
No doubt 9/11 attacks, the rise of militant group ‘Islamic State’ has led people viewing this peace loving religion a kinda menace and has deteriorated the image of Muslims worldwide, but that is not all, these incidents should define the essence of Islam and its followers.
Islamophobia encompasses distinction, aversion, hatred, discrimination against Muslims and thereby nullifying their bliss, enjoyment and their rights vis-à-vis followers of other religions. This also intrudes and impairs their human rights In whatsoever way be it in political, social, economical and other spheres of public life. We are witnessing enormous amount of cases, incidents where Muslim women are even constrained from wearing Hijab. Not only this Muslims are oppressed, mistreated and there have been many incidents where the Holy Quran was also desecrated.
If seen globally there are always some unfavorable views hold by people about Islam, without any specific knowledge about this religion and such unscrupulous elements go on to pass on their filthy judgments and comments which unfortunately reach a larger audience.
Without further beating around the bush now let me come to the point that the views of anti-Islamist forces are jaundiced and mostly based on hearsay or cooked up stories. So as a Muslim girl I would like to acknowledge and urge non Muslim people to not pay heed to anti-Islamists and ask them to look and learn about this religion by their own conscience and vision. I ask them not to get blurred by deception and mirage. One should use his/her wisdom to get an insight about this religion to know the truth. Once a person gets to know about the beauty of Islam, the views for sure will change one’s overall perception.
Differences in culture, religion and political interest may shape one’s opinion towards but there is beauty in diversity which can only be revealed when one rises from his/her hate for others. Once we develop mutual understanding for each other then only we can struck a balance and to make this world a better place for those living around us.
