Islam, Muslims and the Quran have become a major concern to Nigerians, especially after the emergence of Boko Haram.
The misconceptions are so bad that not everybody from the Northern part of Nigeria is a Muslim and not every Muslim is from the northern part of the country.
In reality, there is a good population of Christians
in the north, even in Borno and Adamawa, there are numerous communities
that are predominantly Christians.
Muslims indigenes in Edo, Kwara, Kogi and some South-Eastern states is not a rare sight.
Description: 1. TERRORISTS ARE PROMISED 72 VIRGIN WOMEN WHEN THEY DIE
The “72 virgins” idea is probably the most overblown idea that people seem to remember
about Islam. It’s turning into a real stereotype.
There is no promise of 72 virgins for martyrs, terrorists or suicide bombers anywhere in the Quran.
In fact committing Suicide is a Major Sin
Amongst the many verses against suicide here is one that makes it very clear that the taking of one’s life is strongly prohibited and that there is no reward for anyone who does that.
But let there be amongst you Traffic and trade by mutual good-will: Nor kill (or destroy) yourselves: for verily God hath been to you Most Merciful! If any do that in rancour and injustice,- soon shall We cast them into the Fire: And easy it is for God. Qur’an 4:29 – 4:30
Description: 2. MUSLIMS HATE JESUS
Many people are amazed to find out that according to Muslim belief, Jesus is one of the greatest messengers of God.
One cannot be a Muslim without believing in the virgin birth and the many miracles of Jesus Christ. Jesus is also mentioned in many verses of the Quran and is often used as an example of good virtue and character.
However, the main difference between Christianity and Islam is that Muslims do not believe that Jesus was God.
Description: 3. CHILDREN HAVE NO RIGHTS IN ISLAM
When the idea of children in Islam comes to your mind the first image that pops ups is a child begging on the street or how awful they are treated in Islamic schools.
Children, according to Islamic law, have various rights. One of these is the right to be properly brought up, raised, and educated. Islam encourages children to be brought up well because it is the responsibility of an adult to raise his child to become a moral and ethical adult.
Children must also be treated equally. When giving financial gifts they should all be the same amount and there should be no preference among them.
Children are even permitted to take moderately from their parent’s wealth to sustain themselves if the parent declines to give them proper funds for living.
A child is also not allowed to get hit in the face or hit by anything larger than a pencil
Description: 4. ISLAM IS INTOLERABLE TO OTHER RELIGIONS
‘Kill the infidel’ is the phrase many people believe is the ideology that Muslims have towards the non Muslims. This, though, is not a correct portrayal of Islamic law.
Islam has always given respect and freedom of religion to all faiths. In the Quran it says “God does not forbid you, with regards to those who fight you not for religion nor drive you away out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them, for god loves those who are just.”
There are many historical examples of Muslim tolerance towards other faith. One such example was when the caliph Umar was ruler of Jerusalem from 634 to 644 AD. He granted freedom to all religious communities and said that the inhabitants of his city were safe and that their places of worship would never be taken away from them.
He also set up courts that were designated to the non Muslim minorities. Whenever he would visit holy areas he would ask for the Christian patriarch Sophronius to accompany him.
Description: 5. JIHAD MEANS TO FIGHT FOR THE SAKE OF GOD
The true Arabic meaning of the word jihad is struggle. However in Islam it is often used to describe the striving in the way of god.
There are many forms of jihad but the most important ones are Jihad al-nafs (jihad against ones self), jihad bil-lisan (jihad by being vocal), jihad bil yad (jihad by using action), and Jihad bis saif (jihad by using the sword).
Each jihad is ranked differently and it was reported that Muhammad returned from a battle and said “We have returned from the lesser jihad (going into battle) to the greater jihad (the struggle of the soul).”
This means that a Muslim struggling against himself and his soul is more important than the jihad of going into war.
Another misconception is that only when a person dies in war does that person becomes a martyr. This is, however, false and it is believed that anyone doing anything for the sake of god and is killed becomes a martyr.
A person who dies while performing pilgrimage in Mecca, a woman who dies while giving birth, or even someone who dies in a car crash while he was on his way to the mosque are all considered martyrs.
Description: 7. ISLAM AND TERRORISM
This is by far the biggest misconception of Islam, given unfairly by stereotyping and the public image that the media gives.
Has anyone else noticed how when a specific group of people attack another group of people it is labeled as a ‘hate crime’, but when a Muslim opens fire on anybody it is quickly regarded as ‘terrorism’.
Many political dictators and officials or extremist groups use the name of Islam as a strategy to garner followers and attention when many of their practices go against the true basis of Islam.
However all over the world people practice Islam in the true form and use it as a way of life. There are many verses in the Quran that go against the idea of terrorism.
Some of these verses include “fight in the way of Allah those that fight you but do not transgress limits for god does not love transgressors.” This basically means do not fight except in self defense and even in doing so do not go beyond defense.
Another verse states “if they seek peace, then you seek peace,” which means do not attack people for no reason or kill innocent people.
There is nowhere in Islam, whether it be in the Quran or the teachings of Muhammad, that promotes the killing of innocent people.
Description: 6. MUSLIMS ARE SAVAGES AND BARBARIC DURING WAR
Quite the contrary, when it comes to the conduct of war there are ten rules that every Muslim army must obey:
1. Do not commit treachery
2. Do not deviate from the right path
3. Do not mutilate dead bodies
4. Do not kill children
5. Do not kill women
6. Do not kill aged men
7. Do not harm or burn trees
8. Do not destroy buildings
9. Do not destroy an enemy’s flock, unless you use it for your food
10. When you pass people who have devoted their lives to monastic services leave them alone
Description: 8. ISLAM ALLOWS STONING TO DEATH
Some think that ‘stoning to death’ is a punishment laid out in The Quran or promoted by Islam for acts such as adultery.
The Quran never sanctions stoning to death as a punishment for anyone. In fact, the only time it is mentioned in The Quran is as a threat to believers from non-believers:
11:91, 18:20, 19:46, 36:18, 44:20, 26:116
Also, the misconception of ‘stoning to death’ as punishment for adultery is disproved by the Quran. According to the Quran, the punishment for proven adultery is lashes [24:2].
Furthermore, this punishment is halved for formerly slave woman due to their past circumstance [4:25]. Since half ‘stoning to death’ is not possible, this indicates ‘stoning to death’ for adultery is not permitted.
Interestingly, in many popular translations of The Quran, for verse 24:3 they state an adulterer can only marry another adulterer, but if stoning to death for adultery was a punishment, this translation would be unnecessary and illogical.
Stoning to death as a punishment for adultery is from traditional narrations (called “hadith”) attributed to the prophet Muhammad, as recorded by later generations.
Description: 9. ALLAH IS THE GOD FOR MUSLIMS
Some think that the word “Allah” refers to a special God for use by Muslims only.
Arabic like Aramaic and Hebrew, is a Semitic language.
The word that described God in Aramaic was pronounced “AaLaH” or “AaLoH”.
In Hebrew it was “Eloah” or “Elohim”, and in Arabic is “Allah”, which is considered a conjunction of “Al-ilah”, which is Arabic for “The-God” in English.
The English word “God” describes the same entity.
Remember that the language spoken by Jesus when he was alive was Aramaic, thereby leaving a possibility that he pronounced God as “AaLah” or “AaLoH”.
Besides Hausa’s and Arabs (Yes, some Arabs are Christians) refer to God as Allah. It does not make them any less of a Christian from you.
Description: 10. MUHAMMAD WAS THE FOUNDER OF ISLAM
Some think that a man named Muhammad from Arabia was the first to introduce Islam or it came into existence with him and The Quran.
The word “islam” can be translated as “surrender/submission” (to God). A “muslim” can be translated as “one who surrenders/submits” (to God).
According to The Quran, everything in the universe, willingly or unwillingly has ultimately surrendered to God, thus the basic concept of islam/surrender/submission is as old as the universe itself: [3:83]
The Quran clearly states that Muhammad was a messenger and inspired just as the prophets before him:. [4:163] [3:84] [3:144] [3:79]
Also, The Quran specifically mentions the term “muslim” for those before prophet Muhammad, including: Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Jacob, and the companions of Jesus. [see 2:128, 2:131, 3:67, 3:52, 5:111, 10:72].
Thus, the prophet Muhammad was not the founder of islam/submission, but simply continued this universal message as one of many messengers of God.
The misconceptions are so bad that not everybody from the Northern part of Nigeria is a Muslim and not every Muslim is from the northern part of the country.
Muslims indigenes in Edo, Kwara, Kogi and some South-Eastern states is not a rare sight.
Description: 1. TERRORISTS ARE PROMISED 72 VIRGIN WOMEN WHEN THEY DIE
The “72 virgins” idea is probably the most overblown idea that people seem to remember
about Islam. It’s turning into a real stereotype.
There is no promise of 72 virgins for martyrs, terrorists or suicide bombers anywhere in the Quran.
In fact committing Suicide is a Major Sin
Amongst the many verses against suicide here is one that makes it very clear that the taking of one’s life is strongly prohibited and that there is no reward for anyone who does that.
But let there be amongst you Traffic and trade by mutual good-will: Nor kill (or destroy) yourselves: for verily God hath been to you Most Merciful! If any do that in rancour and injustice,- soon shall We cast them into the Fire: And easy it is for God. Qur’an 4:29 – 4:30
Description: 2. MUSLIMS HATE JESUS
Many people are amazed to find out that according to Muslim belief, Jesus is one of the greatest messengers of God.
One cannot be a Muslim without believing in the virgin birth and the many miracles of Jesus Christ. Jesus is also mentioned in many verses of the Quran and is often used as an example of good virtue and character.
However, the main difference between Christianity and Islam is that Muslims do not believe that Jesus was God.
Description: 3. CHILDREN HAVE NO RIGHTS IN ISLAM
When the idea of children in Islam comes to your mind the first image that pops ups is a child begging on the street or how awful they are treated in Islamic schools.
Children, according to Islamic law, have various rights. One of these is the right to be properly brought up, raised, and educated. Islam encourages children to be brought up well because it is the responsibility of an adult to raise his child to become a moral and ethical adult.
Children must also be treated equally. When giving financial gifts they should all be the same amount and there should be no preference among them.
Children are even permitted to take moderately from their parent’s wealth to sustain themselves if the parent declines to give them proper funds for living.
A child is also not allowed to get hit in the face or hit by anything larger than a pencil
Description: 4. ISLAM IS INTOLERABLE TO OTHER RELIGIONS
‘Kill the infidel’ is the phrase many people believe is the ideology that Muslims have towards the non Muslims. This, though, is not a correct portrayal of Islamic law.
Islam has always given respect and freedom of religion to all faiths. In the Quran it says “God does not forbid you, with regards to those who fight you not for religion nor drive you away out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them, for god loves those who are just.”
There are many historical examples of Muslim tolerance towards other faith. One such example was when the caliph Umar was ruler of Jerusalem from 634 to 644 AD. He granted freedom to all religious communities and said that the inhabitants of his city were safe and that their places of worship would never be taken away from them.
He also set up courts that were designated to the non Muslim minorities. Whenever he would visit holy areas he would ask for the Christian patriarch Sophronius to accompany him.
Description: 5. JIHAD MEANS TO FIGHT FOR THE SAKE OF GOD
The true Arabic meaning of the word jihad is struggle. However in Islam it is often used to describe the striving in the way of god.
There are many forms of jihad but the most important ones are Jihad al-nafs (jihad against ones self), jihad bil-lisan (jihad by being vocal), jihad bil yad (jihad by using action), and Jihad bis saif (jihad by using the sword).
Each jihad is ranked differently and it was reported that Muhammad returned from a battle and said “We have returned from the lesser jihad (going into battle) to the greater jihad (the struggle of the soul).”
This means that a Muslim struggling against himself and his soul is more important than the jihad of going into war.
Another misconception is that only when a person dies in war does that person becomes a martyr. This is, however, false and it is believed that anyone doing anything for the sake of god and is killed becomes a martyr.
A person who dies while performing pilgrimage in Mecca, a woman who dies while giving birth, or even someone who dies in a car crash while he was on his way to the mosque are all considered martyrs.
Description: 7. ISLAM AND TERRORISM
This is by far the biggest misconception of Islam, given unfairly by stereotyping and the public image that the media gives.
Has anyone else noticed how when a specific group of people attack another group of people it is labeled as a ‘hate crime’, but when a Muslim opens fire on anybody it is quickly regarded as ‘terrorism’.
Many political dictators and officials or extremist groups use the name of Islam as a strategy to garner followers and attention when many of their practices go against the true basis of Islam.
However all over the world people practice Islam in the true form and use it as a way of life. There are many verses in the Quran that go against the idea of terrorism.
Some of these verses include “fight in the way of Allah those that fight you but do not transgress limits for god does not love transgressors.” This basically means do not fight except in self defense and even in doing so do not go beyond defense.
Another verse states “if they seek peace, then you seek peace,” which means do not attack people for no reason or kill innocent people.
There is nowhere in Islam, whether it be in the Quran or the teachings of Muhammad, that promotes the killing of innocent people.
Description: 6. MUSLIMS ARE SAVAGES AND BARBARIC DURING WAR
Quite the contrary, when it comes to the conduct of war there are ten rules that every Muslim army must obey:
1. Do not commit treachery
2. Do not deviate from the right path
3. Do not mutilate dead bodies
4. Do not kill children
5. Do not kill women
6. Do not kill aged men
7. Do not harm or burn trees
8. Do not destroy buildings
9. Do not destroy an enemy’s flock, unless you use it for your food
10. When you pass people who have devoted their lives to monastic services leave them alone
Description: 8. ISLAM ALLOWS STONING TO DEATH
Some think that ‘stoning to death’ is a punishment laid out in The Quran or promoted by Islam for acts such as adultery.
The Quran never sanctions stoning to death as a punishment for anyone. In fact, the only time it is mentioned in The Quran is as a threat to believers from non-believers:
11:91, 18:20, 19:46, 36:18, 44:20, 26:116
Also, the misconception of ‘stoning to death’ as punishment for adultery is disproved by the Quran. According to the Quran, the punishment for proven adultery is lashes [24:2].
Furthermore, this punishment is halved for formerly slave woman due to their past circumstance [4:25]. Since half ‘stoning to death’ is not possible, this indicates ‘stoning to death’ for adultery is not permitted.
Interestingly, in many popular translations of The Quran, for verse 24:3 they state an adulterer can only marry another adulterer, but if stoning to death for adultery was a punishment, this translation would be unnecessary and illogical.
Stoning to death as a punishment for adultery is from traditional narrations (called “hadith”) attributed to the prophet Muhammad, as recorded by later generations.
Description: 9. ALLAH IS THE GOD FOR MUSLIMS
Some think that the word “Allah” refers to a special God for use by Muslims only.
Arabic like Aramaic and Hebrew, is a Semitic language.
The word that described God in Aramaic was pronounced “AaLaH” or “AaLoH”.
In Hebrew it was “Eloah” or “Elohim”, and in Arabic is “Allah”, which is considered a conjunction of “Al-ilah”, which is Arabic for “The-God” in English.
The English word “God” describes the same entity.
Remember that the language spoken by Jesus when he was alive was Aramaic, thereby leaving a possibility that he pronounced God as “AaLah” or “AaLoH”.
Besides Hausa’s and Arabs (Yes, some Arabs are Christians) refer to God as Allah. It does not make them any less of a Christian from you.
Description: 10. MUHAMMAD WAS THE FOUNDER OF ISLAM
Some think that a man named Muhammad from Arabia was the first to introduce Islam or it came into existence with him and The Quran.
The word “islam” can be translated as “surrender/submission” (to God). A “muslim” can be translated as “one who surrenders/submits” (to God).
According to The Quran, everything in the universe, willingly or unwillingly has ultimately surrendered to God, thus the basic concept of islam/surrender/submission is as old as the universe itself: [3:83]
The Quran clearly states that Muhammad was a messenger and inspired just as the prophets before him:. [4:163] [3:84] [3:144] [3:79]
Also, The Quran specifically mentions the term “muslim” for those before prophet Muhammad, including: Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Jacob, and the companions of Jesus. [see 2:128, 2:131, 3:67, 3:52, 5:111, 10:72].
Thus, the prophet Muhammad was not the founder of islam/submission, but simply continued this universal message as one of many messengers of God.
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