Top 10 misconceptions about Islam

http://listverse.com/2009/07/10/top-10-misconceptions-about-islam/

(Below are some of my favorites, summarized)

1.Misconception: All Muslims are Arabs
Arabs make only 15% of the world’s Muslim population


2.Misconception: Muslims Hate Jesus
Many people are amazed to find out that according to Muslim belief, Jesus is one of the greatest messengers of God. One cannot be a Muslim without believing in the virgin birth and the many miracles of Jesus Christ. Jesus is also mentioned in many verses of the Quran and is often used as an example of good virtue and character.


3. Misconception: Children have no rights
Islam encourages children to be brought up well because it is the responsibility of an adult to raise his child to become a moral and ethical adult. Children must also be treated equally. A child is also not allowed to get hit in the face or hit by anything larger than a pencil.


4. Misconception: Islam is intolerable to other religions
There are many historical examples of Muslim tolerance towards other faith. One such example was when the caliph Umar was ruler of Jerusalem from 634 to 644 AD. He granted freedom to all religious communities and said that the inhabitants of his city were safe and that their places of worship would never be taken away from them. He also set up courts that were designated to the non Muslim minorities.


5. Misconception: The Prophet Muhammad was a pedophile
It should also be mentioned that in Islam, it is unlawful to force someone to marry someone that they do not want to marry. 


6.Misconception: Women have no rights
Islam gave back many human rights to the woman and Muhammad(s) was even reported saying that “women are the twin halves of men.” A Muslim woman is allowed to reject and accept any suitor for marriage and has the right to seek divorce. There is nothing in Islam that forbids a Muslim woman from exiting her house and is allowed to drive. Also in regards to education, a woman is obligated to seek knowledge and it is considered a sin if she refuses.


7. Misconception: Muslims are terrorists

This is by far the biggest misconception of Islam, given unfairly by stereotyping and the public image that the media gives. Has anyone else noticed how when a specific group of people attack another group of people it is labeled as a ‘hate crime’, but when a Muslim opens fire on anybody it is quickly regarded as ‘terrorism’. Many political dictators and officials or extremist groups use the name of Islam as a strategy to garner followers and attention when many of their practices go against the true basis of Islam. The media has also portrayed Islam as a cult or a club where if you join you become a terrorist and that is now part of your agenda. However all over the world people practice Islam in the true form and use it as a way of life. There are many verses in the Quran that go against the idea of terrorism. Some of these verses include “fight in the way of Allah those that fight you but do not transgress limits for god does not love transgressors.” This basically means do not fight except in self defense and even in doing so do not go beyond defense. Another verse states “if they seek peace, then you seek peace,” which means do not attack people for no reason or kill innocent people. There is nowhere in Islam, whether it be in the Quran or the teachings of Muhammad, that promotes the killing of innocent people. Pictured above is a conference of Muslims against Terrorism.

8. Misconception: Muslims are savages and barbaric during war

Quite the contrary, when it comes to the conduct of war there are ten rules that every Muslim army must obey:

• Do not commit treachery
• Do not deviate from the right path
• Do not mutilate dead bodies
• Do not kill children
•  Do not kill women
•  Do not kill aged men
•  Do not harm or burn trees
• Do not destroy buildings
•  Do not destroy an enemy’s flock, unless you use it for your food
•  When you pass people who have devoted their lives to monastic services leave them alone