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As a Muslim, I consider myself an ambassador for my religion, my beliefs, the Qur’an and Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W). With that responsibility, I believe that it is necessary for me to stand up to all of the negative comments that are being made towards our religion, and to make known all the amazing things that Muslims have contributed to today's society. It is astonishing, how shallow generalizations made by people have been: “Islam is a religion of war!”, “The world would be at peace without Islam!”  The public is blinded by the bias of the media and do not look further to prove the pervasiveness of these claims. Now, in the wake of the Paris attacks, the prevalence of Islamophobia is increasing at an alarming rate.

 

 

As the attack in Paris shook the world, all our prayers were and are still with the victims of this heinous attack. But in hindsight, what toll has this terrible act of war had on Islam? How are Muslims being affected by this and what are they being accused of? Public misconceptions about Islam remain high. People do not seem to understand that terrorists like Isis, and Bin Ladin are human that use Islam as an excuse for their terrible deeds. Many people consider Islam to be a religion of war, when in reality, they do not know even the basis of the religion. Islam can be a beautiful religion when looked as a whole.

 

 

Ever since 9/11, Islamophobia has become a popular belief. Those who haven’t even read the Qur’an have begun to believe that they know more than Islamic Scholars around the world. But what people do not take into consideration, is all the contribution that Muslims have brought into society today. For example,  Al-Khwarizmi was one of the greatest mathematicians of all time, and has come up with not only algebra but also algorithms. Without algorithms we would not have computers and without computers, our society would not be where it is today. There wouldn’t be any Google, no internet, no Apple and no Microsoft. Without Al-Khwarizmi, there really wouldn’t be any progress in our society today.

 

 

Now I am not saying that Islam does not have a violent side. What I am saying is that it has an even more beautiful side − a more progressive, accomplished side. We need to understand that Islam, like any other religion, has followers that interpret it  into something else; into something violent, when in actuality, it is not. This is exactly what terrorists like ISIS and Osama Bin Laden have done. They have and still are, using Islam as an excuse for their terrible deeds. Islam is not a religion that condones this type of violence. Due to the actions of a few, Islam is now perceived as a religion that supports nothing but violence.

 

 

In 1980 and 2005, studies showed that 94 percent of the terror attacks were committed by non-Muslims. The word “Islam” comes from the word “peace” in Arabic. It is said in the Qur’an “O You who believe! Enter absolutely into peace (Islam). Do not follow in the footsteps of Satan. He is an outright enemy to you.” (Holy Quran: 2, 208). Islam is a religion that teaches its followers to love, respect every human being, no matter what their religion. At such a time of terror, we must come together, rather than disperse on terms of unfounded and unjust .