(Mis)conceptions of Islam
image 1: A visualization i created from a software
image 2: a visualization i created manually
On peace: “Of those who answered the call of Allah and the messenger, even after being wounded, those who do right and refrain from wrong have a great reward.” Qu’ran 3: 172
On Submission: there is no god but God, and Prophet Muhammad is the messenger to Allah.
“whoever submits his whole being to God and is a doer of good shall have his reward with his Lord and all such need have no fear and neither shall they grieve” Qu’ran 2:112 (cited in lecture)
“Islam is not a religion but a violent political system bent on the overthrow of goverments” Pat Robertson
This piece was inspired by the discussion on islam vs Islam, and how the religion of Islam, and its followers are perceived around the world. In a post-9/11 world, where the perception of Islam was, and continues to be shaped by the events of that fateful September, I think the discussion both in section and lecture did a good job in highlighting the key tenets of Islam, and what it means to be Muslim. For this piece, I went around asking folks in my house what first came to their minds when they hear the word Muslim or Islam. Examples – PEACE, LOVE, JIHAD, HATE, EXTREMISM, TERROR, QUR’AN, SUBMISSION, DEVOTION, ALLAH, etc.
This is what I learnt in class. islam means “submission or surrender to God”. Anyone can practice islam. In the Qu’ran, the word islam is used to for one who submits to God. Islam on the other hand is the name of the religion. Islam is a religion of peace; s,l,m form the root of the word salama, which is peace in Arabic (and I should add, also Swahili). Muslims are the followers of the creed preached by Prophet Muhammad; the messenger of Allah. Prof. Ali shared a very interesting story in lecture, about an American representative who was greeted during Arab/Israeli peace talks, and asked “are you a muslim?” The lower case muslim in Arabic refers a person of peace.