Battling Islamophobia
As Muslims, what do we do? How do we handle “Islamophobia” in our country today?
Islamophobes are on high mode of attack again. We can see their hatred, intolerance, bigotry, and unreasonable attack on Muslims all over the world. They blame innocent Muslims in their countries of the crimes, terrorist acts, and aggression of the self-proclaimed righteous jihadists.
Oxford online dictionary defines Islamophobia as “dislike of or prejudice against Islam or Muslims, especially as a political force.” The word Islamophobes refers to the person with dislike of or prejudice against Islam or Muslims, especially as a political force.
I remember an article written by my brother in Islam and colleague in Al Qalam Institute, NCMF Commissioner Yusuf Morales, back in 2014. Commissioner Morales defines “Islamophobia” as “bigotry and prejudice coupled with malice and hate whether conscious or subconscious focused on one particular race or distinction.”
Like “Anti-Semitism (which is] anger and hate directed towards Jews) Islamophobia is (anger and hate) directed towards Muslims and Islam.”
As Muslims, what do we do? How do we handle “Islamophobia” in our country today?
The basic way to act and deal with Islamophobia is to educate ourselves and educate our Filipino brethren about Islam. We must understand that Islam confirms almost all Biblical and Hebrew Prophets as the Prophets of Islam. As prophets, they brought with them a message of peace, love and tolerance as the key principle in life.
These messages are also the messages of Islam and confirmed in the Holy Qur’an. As Muslims, let us learn the moral and ethical code of Islam which is similar to Judaism, Christianity and many other major world faiths and religions.
Cultural diversity and theological concepts and practices may differ. We may also differ in terms of our ways and methods of worship of Allah (SWT) and our world view about how morality and ethics should govern all spheres and aspects of our human life.
As Muslims, we must read and learn about Sahîfat al-Madinah, also known as the Constitution of Medina. This document showed how our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW) legislated for a multi-religious society, based on tolerance, equality, and justice.
Our faith and religion recognizes diversity and enjoins us to live in a pluralistic and multi cultural society. The Constitution of Madina provides each religious group, cultural and legal autonomy.
The people of Madina ( Jews, Christians, and Ansars) were equal before laws with Muslims. There was no law or code demanding their subjection. The Constitution of Madina bounded Muslims, Christians, and Jews the same duties.
This document defined them as one community, or ummah, a word that is now used almost exclusively with reference to the Muslim community. --