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Slide 1: COMMON MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT ISLAM Jamal Badawi Saint Mary’s University Jamalbadawi@hotmail.com www.Islamicity.com/Multimedia/Radio/RA200
Slide 2: OUTLINE    Introduction Main causes of misunderstanding Three common stereotypes    “Holy War” and violence? Hostility & hate of “infidels” Oppression of women?  Conclusion
Slide 3: INTRODUCTION       A word of thanks Smaller “global village” Need for peaceful co-existence Role of interfaith understanding Children of Abraham Limitations on presentation
Slide 4: CAUSES OF MISUNDERSTANDING    Outright polemics & prejudice Mistranslation of the Qur’an [e.g. 5:52] Misunderstanding of the Qur’an     Out-of-context quotes [section, other texts] Ignoring historical context [e.g. early threats] Erroneous generalizations Deliberate cut-and-paste approach  Equating Islam with some Muslim actions
Slide 5: HOLY WAR & VIOLENCE?  Peace [not conflict] is the essence of Islam    Term Islam means peace in submission to God Peace in key religious terms Peace: a common theme in Islamic Law   Arabic tr. of “holy war” is nowhere in the Qur’an Qur’anic “Jihad” means exertion & struggle    Individual, social & combative levels Combative Jihad: only for defense & freedom Ref. [22:77-78, 49:15, 25:52, 2:190-193, 60:8-9]
Slide 6: HOSTILITY & HATE?    Universal human brotherhood [4:1, 49:13] Plurality & peaceful co-existence [60:8-9] Affinity with “People of the book” [2:285, 29:46]  Recognition of prophets & finding common grounds  Friendship, even interfaith marriage allowed [5:5]  Danger of disregarding textual & historical context [deliberate or by mistake]   An apparently general term may refer to a specific group, not all. E.g. 9:5 [kill unbelievers?], also 5:85 Unsubstantiated & erroneous claims of “abrogation”
Slide 7: 4. OPPRESSES WOMEN?  Spiritually & morally equal [4:1, 33:35]   Equal blame concerning the forbidden tree [7:11-25] Adam too was deceived by Satan [20:117-122] Pains of pregnancy & delivery: reasons for adoration, respect and kindness to mothers [31:14]    Equity & balance in economic matters Treatment as daughter, wife, mother, sister prophet Muhammad: example & role model Islam limited [not introduced] existing polygamy
Slide 8: CONCLUSION   Clash or dialogue of civilizations”? Ingredients of constructive dialogue     Spirit of human brotherhood, love and concern Sincerity in search for truth Avoiding stereotyping and “centrism” Learning from [not only about] each other Extremist “proof-text” and vested interests    Dealing w/anti- dialogue agendas  www.Islamicity.com/Multimedia/Radio/RA200 Gender Equity in Islam: www.Jannah.net