Islamophobia

Islamophobia is a state of negating bravery, contempt, and convicted chauvinism that leads to the suffering of Muslims socially and politically.

Islamophobia is a challenge to the overall Muslim character that provides opportunities to non-Muslims by ignoring the teachings of Islam. It also invites attacks because the weaknesses in Muslim conduct are contrary to their message as well.

The term Islamophobia was first shown in French literature in the 20th century as “Islamophobe” specifying the sentiments of non-Muslims. For the last many years, this term has been coined verbally and then came into sight when the French and British colonies were discussed for their anti-colonial policies in Asia, Africa, and the rest. The Muslims are positioned as the main rivals of Christianity and the Euro-religious sentiments.

As specified by Conway (1997), many standpoints incite Islamophobia:

• Islam’s manifestation as a fossilized religion;
• The mindset that Islam is subordinate to the other Religions and civilizations; and,
• Islam is brutal and uplift terror.

Forms of Islamophobia

1: Labelling Islam Differently

• Islamophobia
•  Militant Islam
•  Islamism
• Extremism
• Partners in chaos
•  Fundamentalism
• Demonizing Islam

2: Cultivation of Hatred

• Images/Portrait (Denmark)
• Blasphemy (Norway)
• Burning Quran (Sweden)
• Anti-Islam (Holland, Netherland)
• Use of force against Muslims (New Zealand, Europe)
• Alliance against Islamic Countries:

1. Kuwait
2. Iraq
3. Syria
4. Yemen
5. Libya
6. Palestine
7. Indian Held Kashmir

• Condemnation:

1. Quran
2. Women
3. Minorities

To conclude, Islam is a calculated but wrongly perceived construct. Islam is a religion of peace and tranquility. It is a brethren in itself and preaches respect and honor to all other religions without any prejudice of race, linguistic entity or other considerations. Islam spreads in all corners of the world despite the rivalry, enmity or opposition to its appeal and character of love and livelihood for everyone.

Root Cause

The root cause of where Islamophobia is propagating is discussed by an article writer of “Sources of Islamophobia” who wrote about the individuals and groups working against Islam:

 1) Right-wing Christian Evangelical groups.

 2) Jewish supremacists and their supporters

3) White supremacists.

4) Hindutva supremacists.

5) ISIS and Violent Muslim groups.

6) Buddhist supremacists.

7) Democratic and Republican demagogues.

8) Far Right and multinational corporation-controlled media

9) Liberal

Incidents of hate crimes:

Last year, an Iraqi emigrant Salwan Momika in Sweden desecrated and burnt down the Qur’an. Muslims in many countries protested against this incident but the anti-Islamist activists turned this Islamophobic act into the freedom of speech.

 The hijab is banned in many countries and Muslim Women are being judged, tortured, and abused in the name of safety and national security concerns. In 2017, Australian Senator Pauline Hanson ridiculed Muslim women for wearing a Burqa when she offered to forbid hijab in the country by making an appearance in a Burqa.

 Since the time of the 9/11 incident, Muslims in the West have been facing racism, discrimination, and hatred continuously. Home invasion, arson attacks, murder, verbal abuse, rascality, ethnic cleansing, genocide, bombing, stabbing, and Qur’an burning incidents have become common in the West.

In 2019, in the Christ church mosque an unfortunate shooting incident occurred that resulted in the martyrdom of about 51 worshippers. It was a pre-organized gun assault.

How to combat it?

• Our emotional reaction is what makes the movement of Islamophobia stronger. We need to advance our media knowledge and understand what kind of strategy keeps the Islamophobic view in existence.

• Non-Muslims are squeezing our necks because they think we are defenseless. We must not respond to Islamophobia in an uncivilized way. We must not turn their allegations into reality as they want. We are portioned into sects and different Schools of thought which blaze the fire of Islamophobia. (And hold firmly together to the rope of Allah and do not be divided. Al-Imran 103) We must build our connections with non-Muslims who have faith in humanity and can stand up in front of their people to attain respect for every Muslim.

• Islam is not apologetic in its character and spirit. As Muslims, what role have we played through our actions? First, we need to learn to honor our religion. We should not get hyper when non-Muslims try to harm our religion. We need to write positively about Islam. We need to go ahead and defend our Islam through positive interpretation.

• Islam is spreading speedily. Non-Muslims are afraid that Muslims will overcome them that’s why they are maligning Muslims and Islam. On the other hand, Muslims must interpret Islam by embracing it completely.

• An extremist who claims himself as Muslim will always compromise upon the teachings of Allah and His Messenger. But true Muslims will never do so.

“You will never find a people who truly believe in Allah and the Last Day loyal to those who defy Allah and His Messenger, even if they were their parents, children, siblings, or extended family. For those ˹believers˺, Allah has instilled faith in their hearts and strengthened them with a spirit from Him. He will admit them into Gardens under which rivers flow, to stay there forever. Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him. They are the party of Allah. Indeed, Allah’s party is bound to succeed.”