Especially amidst the current political climate and the conflict in the Middle East, Islam is a hot-button subject that gets many people heated. I always want to join in the discussions about Islam, but I've kept my mouth shut until now because I knew almost nothing about the religion. You can't speak on what you don't know!
So, in order to educate myself about Islam, I've spent the past handful months studying the Quran, cross-referencing it with the Hadiths and other explanations given by Islamic scholars to make sure I was comprehending it. And let me tell you — at least in the US, both the political right AND the political left get a lot of things wrong when it comes to Islam. (For more on this, I suggest looking up Ali Rizvi, author of The Atheist Muslim; he's a smart dude.)
First, the US political right. It's no secret that the far right has had a field day vilifying and dehumanizing Muslims. From the attempted immigration ban on Muslim-majority nations to the current ban still in effect, President Trump has kept his campaign promises and made it clear that Muslims are not welcome in the US. This has emboldened alt-right extremists to carry out acts of violence against innocent people, including vandalizing mosques, setting fire to Muslim-owned businesses, ripping off women's veils, and beating up or murdering Muslims. Hate crimes such as these have been on the rise since 2015. Some Christians, especially conservative and/or fundamentalist Christian groups, have been quick to jump on the bandwagon. This is partially due to the tension that has existed between Christians and Muslims for centuries, although this by no means justifies it.
In fact, let's clear one thing up right now: hate crimes are NEVER okay. Nothing justifies attacking/threatening people based on their religion, race, gender, or sexuality. I can't believe I actually have to say this, but whatever your opinion of Islam as a religion, it should NOT affect how you treat Muslims, whether they are US citizens, refugees, or citizens of other nations. I repeat: no matter what you think of Islam, Muslims have the right to be treated with kindness, dignity, and respect, just like any other human being!
(Honestly, why do I even have to say that? Seriously, people!)
So, is the way that the US political right treats Muslims wrong? YES, 100%! But does that mean that the US political left is automatically correct? Well . . . not exactly.
While the right makes the mistake of vilifying Muslims as a whole, the left makes the mistake of vilifying anyone who has the slightest critique of the religion itself, calling all critics "Islamophobic." The left does so to try to protect people, which is a well-meaning cause. Let me be clear: you should always defend people when you see that they are being treated unfairly! But as Ali Rizvi says, "that doesn't mean we must protect and defend all of their beliefs as well, many of which are just as illiberal as the beliefs of Christian fundamentalists." (Yes, Christian fundamentalists, we're looking at you. You pick on Islam, but your beliefs are problematic, too.)
Islamophobia is alive and well in America, perpetuated by the right and fueled by hate speech. But just because people critique the religion of Islam doesn't automatically mean that they are Islamophobic (i.e. the dislike of, prejudice against, or irrational fear of Islam/Muslims). As long as they're being respectful about their concerns, they should be free to point out issues with any religion, whether Islam, Christianity, or otherwise.
As I said earlier, I spent much of this summer studying the major Islamic texts in order to better understand the religion. After all of that study, I can confidently say that both sides of the US political debate are wrong. The right paints Muslims with a broad brush, committing hate crimes and making negative assumptions due to the actions of a few. Meanwhile, the left goes too far in the opposite direction, virulently attacking anyone who says anything negative about Islam itself, even those who have studied Islam's religious texts and history extensively and know what they're talking about.
So after all of this, what are my thoughts on Islam?
Like anything, my thoughts on Islam are more complex than black or white, right or wrong, good or bad. First, let's start with the good.
One of the biggest positives of Islam is its emphasis on charity and caring for orphans, widows, and the poor. In fact, charity (zakāt) is one of the five pillars of Islam. Many verses talk about its importance, and about taking care of those who don't have the means to take care of themselves. There are also verses about speaking nicely to and being fair to one another, settling differences peacefully, and freeing slaves, such as this one:
❝. . . righteousness is he who . . . gives money, though dear, to near relatives, and orphans, and the needy, and the homeless, and the beggars, and for the freeing of slaves; those who perform the prayers, and pay the obligatory charity, and fulfill their promise when they promise, and patiently persevere in the face of persecution, hardship, and in the time of conflict. These are the sincere; these are the pious.❞ 2:177
A few other ideas I like from Islam are its ideas about Creation and responsibility for sin:
For example, everything in Nature is in a state of islam ("submission to Allah" or "peace") and in tune with Allah and His purpose for them. I like the idea of everything in the Universe being One with everything else and fulfilling the duties it is supposed to do. The only part of Nature that can stray from islam is humanity, which has free will and can choose whether to submit to or reject Allah. The idea of humans being able to either align themselves with Creation and be One with the Universe or choose to distance themselves from that peace is a belief that resonates with me.
The other big positive is the responsibility given to humans for their sin. In Christianity, sin is an inevitable consequence of the Fall, and only Jesus's sacrifice can save you. Being a "good" person cannot save you from Hell. But in Islam, the responsibility for one's actions rests firmly on one's shoulders. After Adam and Eve were dispelled from the Garden of Eden, Allah forgave them for their transgressions. In this way, humans don't inherit their ancestors' sin. Instead, each person is responsible for what s/he does, thinks, acts, and says. On Judgment Day, good and bad will be weighed against each other. However, Islam still holds that only Muslims will be allowed into Heaven.
But, like all religions, Islam has its problems, some of which are bigger than others.
I believe that anyone who says that Islam is a religion of peace hasn't read the full Quran before. It is chock full of imagery of disbelievers perishing in a fiery Hell designed by God Himself and of commandments to kill disbelievers until all worship is to Allah alone. Nor is it very friendly to Jews or Christians. Here are just a few examples:
❝Those who reject Our revelations — We will scorch them in a Fire. Every time their skins are cooked, We will replace them with other skins, so they will experience the suffering. Allah is Most Powerful, Most Wise.❞ 4:56
❝The worst of creatures in Allah's view are those who disbelieve. They have no faith.❞ 8:55
❝The Jews and the Christians will not approve of you, unless you follow their creed. Say, 'Allah's guidance is the guidance.' Should you follow their desires, after the knowledge that has come to you, you will have in Allah neither guardian nor helper.❞ 2:120
❝Fighting is ordained for you, even though you dislike it. But it may be that you dislike something while it is good for you, and it may be that you like something while it is bad for you. Allah knows, and you do not know.❞ 2:116
❝The punishment for those who fight Allah and His Messenger, and strive to spread corruption on earth, is that they be killed, or crucified, or have their hands and feet cut off on opposite sides, or be banished from the land. That is to disgrace them in this life; and in the Hereafter they will have a terrible punishment.❞ 5:33
❝Fight them until there is no more persecution, and religion becomes exclusively for Allah. But if they desist — Allah is Seeing of what they do.❞ 8:39
❝O you who believe! Retaliation for the murdered is ordained upon you: the free for the free, the slave for the slave, the female for the female. . .❞ 2:178
Now, I cannot claim that other religions don't also have problems with violence and violent passages. But it is worth noting that while Jesus preached turning the other cheek instead of any form of retaliation, Muslims are specifically told that retaliation is an order from Allah. In addition, disbelievers are "the worst of creatures," and dissenters should be "killed, or crucified, or have their hands and feet cut off on opposite sides." Unlike Christianity, where God is seen as separate from Hell, Allah Himself will roast evildoers for all eternity. And while most other religions, by and large, moved past most of the violence and warlike passages in their Scriptures, much of the Islamic world stays stuck in the past, torn apart by war and jihad. It shouldn't be considered "Islamophobic" to point out the real issues with Islam and how its texts are currently interpreted.
I also firmly believe that anyone who says that Islam is a feminist religion either hasn't read the Quran before, or must be thinking about how progressive the religion was hundreds of years ago instead of how it lags behind in women's rights in the present day. Here are just a few example verses that bothered me:
❝O you who believe! When you incur debt among yourselves for a certain period of time, write it down. And have a scribe write in your presence, in all fairness. . . And call to witness two men from among you. If two men are not available, then one man and two women whose testimony is acceptable to all. . .❞ 2:282
❝Allah instructs you regarding your children: The male receives the equivalent of the share of two females. If they are daughters, more than two, they get two-thirds of what he leaves. If there is only one, she gets one-half. As for the parents, each gets one-sixth of what he leaves, if he had children. If he had no children, and his parents inherit from him, his mother gets one-third. . .❞ 4:11
❝Divorced women shall wait by themselves for three periods. And it is not lawful for them to conceal what Allah has created in their wombs. . . . Meanwhile, their husbands have the better right to take them back, if they desire reconciliation. And women have rights similar to their obligations, according to what is fair. But men have a degree over them. . .❞ 2:228
❝Tell the believing men to restrain their looks, and to guard their privates. That is purer for them. Allah is cognizant of what they do. And tell the believing women to restrain their looks, and to guard their privates, and not display their beauty except what is apparent thereof, and to draw their coverings over their breasts, and not expose their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women, what their right hands possess [slaves], their male attendants who have no sexual desires, or children who are not yet aware of the nakedness of women. And they should not strike their feet to draw attention to their hidden beauty. And repent to Allah, all of you believers, so that you may succeed.❞ 24:30-31
❝Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, as Allah has given some of them an advantage over others [men over women], and because they spend out of their wealth [men care for their wives]. The good women are obedient, guarding what Allah would have them guard. As for those [wives] from whom you fear disloyalty, admonish them, and abandon them in their beds, then strike them. But if they obey you, seek no way against them. . .❞ 4:34
I hope I don't have to explain why these passages are problematic, but in case I do:
A man's testimony in court is worth two of a woman's, daughters get less of their parents' will and wealth, men have the final say in all marital relations, women have much more stringent restrictions on what they can and can't wear, men have "an advantage" over women, and men are allowed to strike their wives.
All in all, Islam has both pros and cons that people on both sides of the political debate forget or conveniently ignore. I'm not a huge fan of Islam — in fact, it's one of my least favorite religions for the above reasons — but nor am I Islamophobic. People are allowed to practice and believe whatever religion they want. It's only when their beliefs and/or practices encroach on other people's freedom that it becomes a problem.