Muslims Are Not Terrorists

Nowadays, when information reaches people very quickly, it is important to counter stereotypes, most importantly those that blame an entire community for the few bad choices of some of its members. Many people still falsely think that terrorism has a connection to Islam. As a result of this stereotype, Muslims around the world have suffered greatly and this has also negatively affected the public’s views of Islam.

It’s clear that Muslims do not equate to terrorism. In reality, more than 1.9 billion people around the world practice Islam which encourages peace, kindness and justice. Comparing a religion and its followers to the crimes of a few reckless people is both wrong and unfair.

Learning about How the Stereotype Began

The strong link between Islam and terrorism is mostly because the media reports many serious attacks by organizations such as Al-Qaeda and ISIS. They represent themselves as supporters of Islam, yet most Muslims and scholars say their views are fringe and are condemned by many.

Following unfortunate attacks such as 9/11, the Paris attacks or the London bombings, the media and politicians tend to classify people by broad groups. Rather than highlighting who the extremists are, news reports start framing the situation by pointing to Islam. The result? A lot of Muslim people who follow the rules are still judged harshly, discriminated against and viewed with fear.

Islam is based on the principles of peace.

The name of the religion comes from the Arabic word “Salaam” which is linked to peace. A phrase that many Muslims say is “As-Salaamu Alaikum” — “Peace be upon you.” The Quran, as the main text of Islam, underlines mercy, forgiveness and how valuable life is.

You can find several Quranic verses that remind us of Islam’s emphasis on peace:

• “To kill a single person is the same as killing all the people on earth."(Quran 5:32)
• “There is no requirement for coercion in following a religion."(Quran 2:256)
• “Be sure not to be unjust simply because a people are your enemies.” (Quran 5:8)

Obviously, these Islamic teachings stand in total opposition to what violent extremists do. These organizations distort the teachings of Islam to meet their political or power-related aims instead of following religious beliefs.

Today's Reality of Global Terrorism

We must keep in mind that terrorism is not linked to any religion. Groups and people with many backgrounds such as political extremists, white supremacists, nationalists, separatists and even individuals with personal reasons, have carried out acts of terrorism.

Often, right-wing extremism and white nationalist terrorism are considered a bigger danger than jihadist terrorism in several countries. The information from the FBI and Europol shows that, over the past decade, more terrorist incidents occurred in the US and Europe that were committed by far-right or separatist extremists than those committed by Muslims.

In addition, Muslims are often those affected by terrorism more than any other group. Lately, the countries where the highest number of terror attacks and casualties have taken place are Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Pakistan and Nigeria, most of whose populations are Muslim. These areas face hardship from violent attacks and from the bad reputation given to them at the international scene.

The Muslim community pushing for peace and development

All over the world, Muslims are playing a major role in different sectors—for example, in medicine, education, science, art, business and human services. Muslims, as seen through Nobel Prize winners such as Malala Yousafzai, plus school teachers, heart surgeons, engineers and first responders, contribute to society in many ways.

Many believers of Islam have sacrificed and perished battling against terrorism. Many Muslim soldiers have fought in different countries’ armies, taking on extremists and supporting peace. Many Muslim religious figures and leaders still talk about the wrongness of violence, even when it is very risky for them.

In addition, a lot of anti-terrorism strategies depend on professionals and organizations from within the Muslim community. Many of these ideas work the best because they help establish trust and show that guilt-by-association is wrong.

The Problem with Islamophobia

There is little doubt that Islamophobia is a concrete problem that impacts people’s lives. It becomes real and hurts people as hate crimes, discrimination at work, spying on groups, bullying in schools and rules against travel or religion.

This kind of discrimination increases division and makes people feel angry and upset. A practice of assuming that Muslims have done something wrong takes away the support of many allies who want safer, kinder communities. Notably, just such conditions may encourage the feelings of rage and exclusion out of which extremism emerges.

Moving Toward Understanding and Solidarity

It needs bravery, information and caring to challenge the common stereotype of Muslims equaling terrorists. These are some actions everyone can do:

• Get your knowledge of Islam from those who are qualified and those who live it every day.
• Let others know when someone says things filled with hateful content or incorrect facts.
• Get to know individuals from a variety of cultures.
• Help media organizations that work to present detailed and accurate stories.

It’s important to realize that not knowing about each other can lead to fear and that fear eventually turns into hatred. When knowledge and compassion come together, they can unite people where division used to be.

Conclusion: One Humanity, Many Faiths

Muslims should not be seen as terrorists. They include our friends, peers, colleages, doctors and neighbors. All refugees hope for a good future, appreciate their families and seek peace, as everyone else does.

We should face our fears. It’s time to get away from stereotypes. Can we decide to support humanity instead?

Since terrorism is not linked to any religion. However, humans change things by their actions.