MYTHS ABOUT ISLAM
By Asghar Ali Engineer
There are several hostile myths around Islam thanks to Western media and
to communal forces in
India. The Western media by and large was never sympathetic to Islam but
after 9/11 it became
downright hostile and did not feel shy in spreading all sorts of myths
about it. The Zionist
factor can also not be discounted. In India the Sangh Parivar and
particularly the RSS have
gone an extra mile to defame Islam. Lastly, we should not ignore the role
the Muslim extremists
play in discrediting Islam through their own shameful role.
Generally people form their opinion about anything by reading newspaper
headlines. And
newspaper headlines tend to be sensational. The events of 9/11 provided
newspapers one more
op****tunity to sensationalize news about Islamic militancy. Even social
scientists and scholars
studying Islam in Western world project Islam as religion of violence and
fanaticism. Also,
Islam is projected as anti-modernism, anti-science, anti-democracy and
anti-women.
If not media people at least social scientists and scholars should be able
to make a
distinction between what a religion teaches and how social structures
impact a believer’s
behaviour. But most of the western scholars also do not make such
distinctions and whatever
happens in a Muslim society is blamed on Islam. A religion finds its own
level in a given
society. Thus one has to understand social structure as much as religious
faith. A religion is
not practiced in a vacuum, it is practiced in a concrete historical and
social conditions. A
religion may stand for most modern and democratic ideals, but same cannot
be practiced in a
backward feudal society.
If the Muslim countries do not have democracy and modern political
institutions, it is not
because of Islam but because these countries have feudal social structure.
There is nothing in
the Qur’an or Islamic teachings, which opposes democracy or democratic
governance. No Muslim
country has had industrial revolution without which it is not possible to
have genuine
democratic governance. Most of the Islamic countries were colonized by
western countries and it
is these countries, which foisted one or the other form of dictator****p,
monarchy or sheikhdom
and throttled democratic movements in their own interests. It is USA,
which has sup****ted
monarchies, sheikhs or military dictators in these Muslim countries. And
now they blame Islam
for lack of democracy in these countries.
The Qur’an requires even the Prophet (PBUH) to consult his companions in
all secular matters
(3:158) and also Muslims should consult each other in their affairs
(42:38). Thus the Qur’an
clearly encourages democratic institutions and this was required when the
world had not known
democracy at all. However the pre-modern society was not prepared for
democratic governance and
Muslims came under the influence of Roman and Sassanid institutions and
soon monarchy developed
in the Islamic world. Islam was totally feudalized and continues to be so
in the absence of
modern capitalist revolution.
If one studies the Qur’an carefully and impartially one will find it
refre****ngly modern,
liberal and humane in approach. It emphasized human dignity (17:70),
freedom of conscience
(2:256) and equality of all human beings without any discrimination on the
basis of caste,
creed, language or tribe or color as these distinctions are only for
identities, not for
discrimination (49:13). These are most modern ideals and part of UN human
rights declaration of
1949. The Prophet (PBUH) again and again exhorted his followers not to
discriminate among Arabs
and non-Arabs. Muslims never practiced racism and gave equal rights to
black people right from
the beginning. The western countries practiced racism until recently and
are yet not completely
free of racial discrimination. The Prophet (PBUH) appointed Bilal, a
liberated black slave as
his Muazzin (i.e. caller to the prayer) a great honour to which many of
his eminent companions
were aspiring.
Islam, as the popular myth has, is a religion of violence, religion of
jihad. It is far from
true. Contrary to this myth Islam is a religion of compassion and love, as
much as any religion
like Buddhism or Christianity is. It is true Islam came into existence in
a most violent
society and the Prophet had to face violent opposition and it was not easy
to establish peace
in that society. One has to face the situation in concrete historical
conditions and has to try
to go beyond it.
The main aim of Islam was to establish a just and compassionate society
but Muslims also had to
respond to given situation. The Qur’an no where glorifies violence but
permits it reluctantly
in the given situation making it clear to Muslims not to be tempted to be
aggressors as Allah
does not love aggressors (2:190). Also, the Qur’an requires Muslims to
fight to liberate men
and women and children who are weak from the oppressors (4:75)
The Qur’an never permitted war of aggression and never allowed Muslims to
kill a single soul as
it will mean killing whole humanity and taught them to save innocent life
as saving one
innocent life amounts to saving whole humanity (5:32). Had Muslims
followed this Qur’anic
teaching they would have been a great example for peace and non-violence
but in that violent
Arab society of the time it was so difficult to follow this exemplary
Qur’anic teaching.
Some people either out of ignorance or with deliberate intention quote the
verse 9:5 to the
effect that the Qur’an requires Muslims to ambush unbelievers and kill
them until they believe.
It is far from the case. This verse refers to those unbelievers who broke
their pledge with
Muslims and attacked them. Naturally the Qur’an, in the given conditions,
requires Muslims to
wage war against such betrayal until they embrace Islam and establish
prayer and pay the poor
rate. But it is certainly not a general permission to kill any unbeliever
or force him at the
point of sword to embrace Islam. The very next verse (9:6) belies such an
assumption. This
verse clearly lays down that if the unbelievers lay down arms and seek
protection, provide them
with protection and convey him to the place of safety so that no harm
comes to him.
Unfortunately this verse is not referred to and only previous verse (i.e.
9:5) is quoted to
prove that Islam is a violent religion and teaches its followers to kill
non-believers or
convert them at the point of sword.
Another aspect of Qur’an which even Muslim scholars (‘ulama) are often
unaware of is
transcendent aspect of the Qur’anic teachings. The Qur’an takes realistic
attitude of the given
but does not confine itself to it but wants to go beyond the given
situation and desires to
create an ideal one based on higher values. If it exhorts Muslims to
defend themselves with
weapons, if attacked, it also requires Muslims to work for establi****ng
justice and peace so
that humanity can flourish.
It does not want to stuck with war and violence even for defense but wants
to go beyond and
forgive and show compassion. Forgiveness and compassion are certainly
higher values and
revenge, retaliation (qisas) are in keeping with human nature. The Qur’an
does not disregard
given situation but also does not take it as final and encourages to go
beyond and establish
higher values.
Thus for stealing it provides harsh punishment (for hardened criminals)
but in the very next
verse (i.e. 5:39) it says, “But whosoever repents after his wrongdoing and
reforms, Allah will
turn to him (mercifully). Surely Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” Thus it
is not punishment
alone but forgiveness and mercifulness, which is more im****tant.
Punishment should be meted out
where necessary but stress should be on reforming those who are repentant
and one must show
mercy and compassion to such people.
Similarly the Qur’an permits slavery in view of the given situation but
encourages believers to
go beyond the given situation and liberate slaves and even exhorts them to
spend part of the
zakat money on liberation of slaves. It also exhorts Muslims to treat
slaves like themselves
(i.e. feed them same food they eat and clothe them what they wear) until
they are unable to
liberate the slaves.
Similarly it requires Muslim to fight for self -defence where absolutely
necessary but work for
justice and peace so that world becomes violence-free. The situation in
the Arab society was
such that it was not possible to do away with violence easily and so
violence was permitted in
that context but ultimate aim was to establish peace, which is an ideal
condition. That is why
the Muslims were made to greet each other with peace (salam ‘alaykum and
wa ‘alaykum salam).
Thus it will be seen peace is fundamental, not war.
It is unfortunate that many Muslims themselves think that jihad is
essential part of Islam and
mean thereby that one has to use violence for establi****ng Islamic values.
In fact the Qur’an
does not use the word jihad in the sense of war or violence. The Qur’anic
use of the word jihad
is in its literal sense i.e. to make utmost efforts for spreading goodness
(what the Qur’an
calls ma’ruf). As shown by us in another article the use of the word jihad
in the sense of war
is a post-Qur’anic usage.
Thus it will be wrong to infer, as people often do, that Islam is religion
of jihad (in the
sense of war) and wages war against non-Muslims. The fact is that Islam
permitted war
reluctantly as it was absolutely necessary but made it clear that ultimate
aim is to establish
a peaceful society. In other words violence is existential and peace is
transcendent and ideal.
Ideally a Muslim should try his best to establish peace and minimize use
of violence.
It is true that there has been abundant use of violence in the Muslim
history but that is
because the Muslims hardly ever followed the Qur’anic ideals in their
lives. It happens with
the followers of all religions. All of us pay lip service to the ideals of
our religions or
quote them to prove its superiority but hardly ever follow it in our
practical lives. The
Christians too stress love and compassion but their history too is full of
violence. But the
problem is that we wrongly compare history of one religion with ideals of
other religion.
If we compare teachings of Islam with those of Christianity both stress
forgiveness and
compassion but if we compare history of Islam with teachings of
Christianity we find violence
in Islam and love and compassion in Christianity but this is not fair and
objective comparison.
But this is what we often do and derive wrong conclusion. It is necessary
to compare teachings
with teachings and history with history.
The Qur’an in fact repeatedly stresses four fundamental values i.e.
justice (‘adl), benevolence
(ihsan), compassion (rahmah) and wisdom (hikmah) and these are Allah’s
names too. Thus a good
Muslim should be just, benevolent (for humanity), compassionate and wise.
If he does not
practice these values he cannot qualify as good Muslim. These values must
be established and
one must constantly struggle to establish these values. That is real
jihad. The Prophet (PBUH)
is also re****ted to have said that real jihad is to speak truth in the
face of a tyrant and he
also is re****ted to have said that to fight with the sword is ‘small
jihad’ and to control ones
desires is ‘great jihad’.
Also, one has to bear in mind that in any religious tradition there is no
single trend but
there exists multiple trends and one should not cite example of one
particular trend and
generalize it. What media does is to cite example of few extremists among
Muslims and then
generalize it for all Muslims. It is most unfair and unscientific method.
It is true a few
Muslims use violence and justify it in the name of jihad but it is wrong
to say all Muslims
agree with such an untenable position. Most of them oppose such
indiscriminate use of violence
but media hardly listens to their voices, as it does not make sensational
news and the media
hungers for sensational news.
There are peaceful trends in Islam represented by Sufi Islam, which is
followed by a great
majority of Muslims. The very basic doctrine of Sufis Islam is sulh-I-kul
i.e. total peace and
peace with all. There is absolutely no place for violence and intolerance
in the Sufi Islam.
Peace, tolerance and respect for all faiths is very basic doctrines among
the Sufis. One of the
Sufi schools believes in what is called wahdat al-wujud (i.e. Unity of
Being) which implies all
are manifestation of one being and so all distinctions of caste and creed
become irrelevant.
This is the most inclusive trend in Islam. Ibn al-Arabi of Spain was
founder of this doctrine.
Love is very central to this school of Sufism. Most of the Muslims all
over the world follow
Sufi Islam and not Wahabi Islam which is purist and tends to be quite
intolerant.
Unfortunately the western media often cites example of Wahabi Islam of
Saudi Arabia and show
that Islam is intolerant. In Saudi Arabia too reality is not static. It is
changing and now
changing fast. The Muslims, as well as the ruling family, is realizing the
consequences of
sectarian and intolerant approach and are bringing about changes and
working for peace and
attacking terrorism. One should understand that Islamic world is no more
static. It is changing
and trying to adjust with new realities although its pace may not be
satisfactory for some.
People take time to adjust in matters of religion and tradition. Social
change is very complex
process and requires great deal of patience.
There is another powerful myth about Kufr and kafir. It is thought that
Muslims regard all
non-Muslims as kafir and hate them and either want to convert them or to
kill them. Once again
it is far from true. It is unfair to quote some of the Qur’anic verses to
this effect without
understanding its context. Qur’an clearly distinguishes between harbi
(warmongering) and
non-harbi Kafirs and advises Muslims to live in peace with the latter. Not
only that it
requires Muslims to fulfil covenant with Kafirs, if any and never to
renege on the covenant
unless they renege. To honour a covenant with Kafirs is a must for
Muslims.
The verse 9:4 makes it clear to Muslims that they must honour the covenant
with polytheists. It
says, “Except those of the idolaters with whom you made an agreement, then
they have not failed
you in anything and have not backed up any one against you, so fulfil
their agreement to the
end of their term. Surely Allah loves those who keep their duty.” It is
clear from this verse
that Muslims must keep their agreement with the idolaters as long as they
do. There is no
question of reneging on it and killing anyone of them or even forcing them
to embrace Islam.
The chapter 109 of the Qur’an is quite seminal in this respect. The Kafirs
are free to follow
their religion as Muslims are to follow their own. It is clear declaration
of harmonious
co-existence with anyone, whatever their belief. And even if one calls
someone to the way of
Allah it has to be not only in peaceful but also in the best possible
manner and with wisdom.
Thus the Qur’an says, “Call to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and goodly
exhortation, and
argue with them in the best manner.” (16:125)
In view of this verse who can say that the Qur’an wants to impose Islamic
beliefs with
coercion? Its very basic doctrine is freedom of conscience as pointed out
above and in the
Verse 2:256. Faith and freedom go together; one cannot separate one from
the other. And in fact
there can be no real faith without genuine freedom. Faith is matter of
conviction and
conviction cannot be imposed with coercion, it can be acquired only by
exercising ones freedom.
That is why the Qur’an stresses the im****tance of freedom of conscience.
Also, every non-Muslim cannot be described as kafir. In Arabic the word
kafir means one who
hides truth and refuses to accept it. Those who possess truth in the form
of earlier scriptures
like Torah or Bible or any other scripture (like the ones possessed by
Hindus) are not Kafirs
as they possess truth from Allah. Allah has sent his guides (hadis) to all
the nations (13:7).
The Sufi saints in India accepted Hindus as possessing truth through their
scriptures like
Vedas and others. They refused to call them Kafirs.
Thus the word kafir should be applied with cir***spection and not loosely
as many Muslims tend
to do. It is either out of ignorance or arrogance of possessing ‘superior’
faith. They need to
be educated in the Qur’anic terminology. The problem is of religious
leader****p also. They
insist on traditional meanings which themselves were product of specific
historical situation.
That historical situation exists no more but the tradition persists and
these traditions are
adhered to.
The word kafir has assumed very different internal dimensions too. Every
sect of Islam
considers the rival sect as being kafir. Thus one can say the Muslim
theologians have declared
more Muslims as Kafirs than non-Muslims. Thus there is great need to
sensitize Muslim religious
leader****p itself in this matter. In fact the word kafir has been used by
the Qur’an for those
who actively opposed Islam when the Prophet (PBUH) was preaching. They
were not only opposing
but persecuting him and his followers. The whole concept of Kufr has to be
related to that
historical situation.
If we carefully study the general tenor of the Qur’an it should be left
only to Allah to decide
who is kafir and who is not. Secondly, even if there is consensus on
someone’s being kafir, one
must coexist harmoniously with him unless he adopts hostile and aggressive
attitude towards
Muslims. It is also im****tant to note that in history of Islam there has
not been general
consensus among Muslims who is and who is not kafir. In view of all this
it is best left to
Allah to decide, as He alone knows the inner thoughts of human beings.
Thus it will be seen from above that there are so many myths about Islam
and these myths are
not grounded in reality. These myths must be critically examined before
being accepted. One
should not, as it often happens, quote the Qur’anic verses without
understanding their
historical context. It is, to say the least, being either unaware of
methodology of
understanding a scripture, or adopting a priori hostile view. Most of the
scholars take a
priori hostile view and help spread such myths about Islam.
Such myths create unnecessary hurdles in promoting peaceful co-existence,
which is so vitally
needed in modern world which is becoming more and more diverse and plural,
thanks to the faster
means of communication and economic migration which is taking place on
ever increasing scale
due to globalisation. There is great need to understand world religions
more objectively and
sincerely to promote world peace. There was time when religious rivalries
were rampant. But now
time has come to shed these rivalries and promote peaceful co-existence.
However, there may or may not be religious rivalry there are powerful
political interests who
misuse religion and religious hostilities for their own ends. The USA
under the leader****p of
Bush deliberately chose to pursue the policy of confrontation with Islam
and built up
anti-Islam ethos through use of media. Huntington also wrote a book Clash
of Civilizations to
serve the US political agenda after collapse of communist regime in
Russia.
One has to be wary of such developments and political misuse of religion.
We must do everything
possible to create proper understanding of every religion so that in our
pluralist world
everyone can live in peace and harmony.
[Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer is a renowned Indian scholar and activist,
recognized for his work in
promoting communal harmony and peace in India. Dr. Engineer has received
numerous awards for
his work, notably the 1997 Communal Harmony Award by the Government of
India. In over forty
years of exhaustive fieldwork, he has investigated and do***ented nearly
every riot in
post-independent India. He is the recipient of the prestigious R.B. Jo****
Inter-Faith Award.
He was conferred a Doctorate of Literature by Calcutta University in 1993.
Dr. Engineer has
written extensively on Indian Muslims and Indian communalism in countless
articles, weekly
newsletters and books. He has forty-five books to his credit, both on
communalism and Islam,
and is currently the chairman of the Center for the Study of Society and
Secularism (CSSS) and
the Institute of Islamic Studies, both in Mumbai, India, whose address is:
98, Himalaya Apts.,
1st Floor, 6th Road, Santa Cruz(E), Mumbai 400 055, INDIA
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