MISCONCEPTION ABOUT ISLAM

1. Moslems are violent, terrorists and extremists.
"If they seek peace, then seek you peace. And trust in God for He is the One that heareth and knoweth all things." (Quran 8:61).
2. Islam oppresses women. Islam gives men and women different roles and equity between the two, is laid down in the Quran and the example of the Prophet.
3. Moslems worship a different God.
Allah is exactly the same word which the Jews, in Hebrew, use for God (eloh), the word which Jesus Christ used in Aramaic when he prayed to God.
4. Islam was spread by the sword and intolerant of other faiths. Islam has always given respect and freedom of religion to all faiths, is laid down in the Quran itself: "There is no compulsion (or coercion) in the religion (Islam). The right direction is distinctly clear from error". (2:256). Islamic law also permits non-Moslem minorities to set up their own courts, which implement family laws drawn up by the minorities themselves. Racism is not a part of Islam, the Quran speaks only of human equality and how all peoples are equal in the sight of God.
5. All Moslems are Arabs. The moslem population of the world is around 1.2 billion. Only about 18% live in the Arab world and the largest moslem community is in Indonesia.
6. The Nation of Islam is a moslem group.
Islam and Nation of Islam are two different religions. Islam and Farakhanism differ in many fundamental ways. There are many groups in America who claim to represent Islam and call their adherents moslems. In fact Bahaism is not Islam just as Farrakhanism is not Islam.
7. All Moslem men marry four wives.
Permission to practice polygamy is not associated with mere satisfaction of passion.
8. Moslems are barbaric, backward people.
Among the reasons for the rapid and peaceful spread of Islam was the simplicity of its doctrine-Islam calls for faith in only one God worthy of worship.
9. Muhammad was the founder of Islam and moslems worship him.
Moslems believe all the prophets from Adam, Noah, Moses, Jesus etc. were all sent with divine guidance for their peoples.
10 Moslems don't believe in Jesus or any other prophets.
The Prophet Muhammad said: "Whoever believes there is no god but God, alone without partner, that Muhammad is His messenger, that Jesus is the servant and messenger of God, His word breathed into Mary and a spirit emanating from Him, and that Paradise and Hell are true, shall be received by God into Heaven. "(Hadith related by Bukhari).