PERCEPTIONS ABOUT ISLAM — What Needs To Be Done

PERCEPTIONS ABOUT ISLAM What Needs To Be Done O NE of the greatest causes of anti-Islamic sentiment among many non-Muslims is the way many Muslims themselves understand, interpret and express Islam—for instance, in a highly supremacist, extremely ritualistic and sometimes violencedriven manner. But these phenomena, it must be clearly understood, are part of Muslim culture, not part of Islam. Muslims must abandon them and follow the true teachings of Islam. Islam cultivates equality and not supremacism; it is a spirit-based religion rather than being a form-based religion; and Islam exhorts its followers to adopt the peaceful method, as against the violent method. Related to this above-mentioned issue, some Muslims claim that some non-Muslims are biased against Islam because, so they allege, such people are inherently opposed to God and the Truth. But these allegations are completely wrong. Simply by being born a Muslim one cannot become good. And, similarly, by merely being born a non-Muslim, one cannot inherently become an enemy of the Truth. Islam is a matter of discovery and choice for both Muslims and non-Muslims. It is not something that is received as an inheritance. Islam cultivates equality, not supremacism. In many parts of the world today, violent movements in the name of ‘Islamic Jihad’ are being fought. No doubt this has greatly contributed to anti-Islamic sentiments among many non-Muslims and to the wrong image of Islam as a violent religion. What is the way out of this situation? The real solution is to disarm all non-governmental actors that engage in violence. According to Islam, only an established government has the right to possess and use arms. It is not permissible for non-state actors or non-governmental organizations to keep arms. Non-governmental actors or organizations have only one choice—which is of peaceful activism. No excuse whatsoever can make it lawful for non-state actors to pick up arms. Muslim governments must make sure that in their countries, no one other than the military, should have access to arms. This rule must be implemented effectively by Muslim governments.