Summary

Islam is not inherently linked to terrorism or violence. The majority of Muslims condemn terrorism and violence. Extremist groups misinterpret Islamic teachings. Islam has a history of religious and cultural tolerance. Muslims have welcomed and protected people of other faiths throughout history. Islam does not oppress women, and women in Muslim societies have had legal and social rights for centuries. There are challenges Muslims face due to Islamophobia, but they navigate through difficulties by following Islamic teachings. Islam teaches tolerance, community, family values, and personal development. Islamic teachings provide guidance for peaceful coexistence and inspire empathy and understanding. So first, Islam is inherently linked to terrorism and Muslims are commonly associated with acts of violence. Actually, the vast majority of Muslims, which is according to Wikipedia 1.8 billion people, one fourth of the world's population, of course condemn terrorism and violence. Islam as a religion promotes peace and condemns the killing of innocent people. As Kaya Sardar suggests, it is very important to differentiate between practicing and non-practicing Muslims. Terrorist groups misinterpret Islamic teachings for their agenda, moving away from the core principles of Islam. And Muslims themselves are often victims of terrorist attacks. And this highlights that the actions of these extremist groups target Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Another misconception exists that Islam is inherently intolerant towards other faiths and beliefs. In fact, the historical context of Islam highlights a rich heritage of religious and cultural tolerance and peace building. And here are just some of historical facts providing it. So according to Nadia German in the article Wisdom in Early Islamic Thought, during the Byzantine rule in Egypt, Christians faced persecution leading to their expulsion from their land and abandoning their churches. And when Muslims led by Amir ibn Alas conquered Egypt, some Christian communities welcomed them as liberators from Byzantine oppression. Why? Because Muslims not only brought back the expelled Christians, but also encouraged them to reopen churches and freely practice Christianity. Another story, as Benjamin Broad states in the book Christians and Jews in the Ottoman Empire, during the Spanish Inquisition, Jews escaping persecution found their refuge in various Muslim majority countries, including the Ottoman Empire, North Africa and the Middle East. This migration led to a very significant period known as the Golden Age of Jews, where Jews contributed to cultural, scientific and economic advancements in Muslim societies. And Muslim rulers welcomed and protected these Jewish refugees, encouraging coexistence and collaboration. Another story, during World War II, several Muslim majority countries in Europe, such as Albania and Bosnia, and again in North Africa, in Middle East, served as places of refuge for Jews fleeing persecution from other European countries. This is claimed by Martin Gilbert in the book History of Jews on Muslim Lands. And last evidence I have today, last evidence of Islamic tolerance towards other religions, is Prophet Muhammad himself. According to Saidiya Tabassum, in the article Bernard Lewis on Islamic violence, Prophet Muhammad established the document Charter of Medina in 622 as the constitution of the city of Medina, guaranteeing the rights and protections of all its residents, including Muslims, Jews, Christians and non-Muslims. Prophet Muhammad states in the narration, Beware! Whoever is cruel and hard on a non-Muslim minority, or takes away their rights, or burdens them with more than they can bear, or takes anything from them against their free will, I will complain against the person in front of God on the Day of Judgment. From the Hadith collection Sunan Abu Dawud. And the last misconception I would like to discuss today is Islam oppresses women and restricts their rights. Referring to Mernissi Fatima in the book Women and Islam, from the early Islamic period, which is 7th century, women in Muslim majority societies had legal and social rights, including property ownership, inheritance rights, the ability to engage in business and commerce, freedom to work, access to education, and the right to refuse marriage or divorce, which were codified in Islamic law. And few people know that women in European countries received these rights a thousand years after Muslims established it. Another fact referring to history about education and women. The oldest operating university in the world was established by a Muslim woman, Fatima al-Fikhri, in 859 in Morocco. And this is only one example of historical contributions of Muslim women towards education and academia. Unfortunately, going back to Islamophobia, there exist some misinterpretations of certain cultural practices as Islamic norms that overshadow the environment that Islam advocates for women. So here I'm talking about some rules, for example, in Iran, where women must wear hijab. But this is not Islamic rule. This is a cultural practice in a particular region of the world. And such cultural practices differ from one place to another and have nothing to do with Islam itself. In other Muslim parts of the world, like North Africa, some parts of Middle East, Muslim women traditionally do not wear hijab. So it is very important to differentiate between cultural features and Islamic rules. And as we conclude, there are a lot of challenges Muslims face in the context of Islamophobia. But despite Islamophobia, Muslims have found a way to navigate through difficulties guided by their faith. As noted in the passage, European Muslims' Challenges and Opportunities by Rashid Siddiqui, Muslims turn discrimination due to Islamophobia into an opportunity to follow Islamic teachings and become a better Muslim by exercising patience and understanding. They have a chance to talk to others calmly, to clear up misunderstandings about their faith. Using sincere advice, they share Islam's teachings of living peacefully with different values. So this helps them face challenges positively and contribute to harmony, showing how Islamic teachings guide their actions. According to Zaghun Saeed Haruna in the article Tolerance and Peacebuilding, Islam teaches valuable lessons in tolerance and peacebuilding. Here are some main principles that serve as the foundation of Islam. First value is Community. Islam places a strong emphasis on the concept of Ummah, the unity and collective responsibility within the community. This is about fostering mutual support, caring for those in need. Implementing this value could lead to more cohesive societies where individuals are encouraged to support one another, contributing to a sense of belonging and social harmony. Another value, another principle is Family. Islamic teachings prioritize the family unit. They emphasize respect, care for elders, maintaining strong familial ties. These values can provide valuable insights into fostering stronger family relationships. And embracing these teachings can encourage a deeper appreciation for family cohesion and the importance of mutual care among family members, potentially addressing challenges related to family breakdown, disconnection. Another value that we already discussed is Tolerance and Interfaith Dialogue. Islam promotes tolerance, respect and dialogue among people of different faiths. And embracing interfaith dialogue and learning about different belief systems can lead to more inclusive societies where people live on the same ground but all people appreciate and respect each other's differences. And lastly, Personal Development. Islam encourages continuous personal development through education, seeking for knowledge, self-discipline. Prioritizing education, encouraging critical thinking, promoting self-discipline can contribute to the growth and well-being of individuals leading to more informed and responsible society. In closing, as Omar Suleiman, a great Islamic scholar was saying, Islamic teachings provide not only guidance but a blueprint for peaceful coexistence. Islam inspires empathy, understanding and a shared desire for harmony. Thank you for joining me on this journey through Islam. I hope it was interesting, beneficial, helpful. And I hope my audience learned something new today. I really appreciate it. Thank you. This was Stefania Spernova. Goodbye.