The Myth of the Islamic Threat
Nermien Al-Ali
(BA:Islamic Jurisprudence & Political Science, LLB/LLM)
ISLAMAPHOBIA
Islamaphobia
Myth 2 : “Jihad”
Basic Tenets of Islam
Myth 3: Islamic
“Fundamentalism”
Myths
Myth 1 - Homogenous bloc
7/1/2016
(C) N. Al-Ali, 2001
Myth 4: Islam & women
1
ISLAMAPHOBIA: Definition

A phenomenon reported & studied in EU(UK), US, AUST.,
& Russia

A form of Xenophobia: phobic fear & hatred of what is
‘foreign’ or the ‘other’ because seen as a danger that
threatens way of life

Islamaphobia: phobic fear for person, family, community,
society, way of life, country, civilization of some Islamic
threat
 Mildest form - indulgence in seeing Islam as deplorable &
not worthy of attention
7/1/2016
(C) N. Al-Ali, 2001
2
ISLAMAPHOBIA: Features

Negative stereotypes about Islam as the next threat to western
civilization after communism: “the enemy within” - “Islamic
terrorists”, “A Holy War Heads Our Way”

Stereotypes of Muslims as barbaric, irrational, fanatic,
supportive of terrorism, oppressive of women - simply: AntiAmerican

Works on deeply embedded cultural biases that rationalize &
spread prejudices & stereotypes - “only natural”
7/1/2016
(C) N. Al-Ali, 2001
3
ISLAMAPHOBIA: Consequences
Prejudice
Defamation
Profiling
Discrimnation Breach of
Stereotyping Slander Attack
by Media Alienation
Civil
liberties
Hate Crimes:
Verbal & Physical
Abuse Vandalism
& Arson of
Mosques & shops
Murder
7/1/2016
(C) N. Al-Ali, 2001
4
Category
April 19, 1995
September 11,
2001
Violence
13
303
Threat
56
72
Hate messages/Harassment
149
687
False arrest/ Intimidation by
authorities
4
224
Airport profiling
-
191
Workplace discrimination
-
166
School discrimination
-
74
222
1,717
Total
7/1/2016
(C) N. Al-Ali, 2001
Source: www.CAIR-net.org
ISLAMAPHOBIA: Consequences
5
ISLAMAPHOBIA: Consequences
Year
1995/1996
1996/1997
1997/1998
Number of Discrimination Complaints
80
240
284
1998/1999
1999/2000
2000/2001
285
322
366
2001/2002
525
Source: www.CAIR-net.org
7/1/2016
(C) N. Al-Ali, 2001
6
ISLAMAPHOBIA: Origins
Based on deeply embedded cultural biases

Crusades & Inquisition - 11-16th: 5 Centuries of Holy War
against infidels & heretics (Catholic Encyclopedia
www.newadvent.org.cathen)

Renaissance 17-18th: Voltaire: excluded Muslims from the right
to tolerance in his essay (Springboard)

Colonial times - up to 1960s- Orientalists portrayed Arabs &
Muslims as barbarian & primitive to justify colonial conquests
(Said)
7/1/2016
(C) N. Al-Ali, 2001
7
ISLAMAPHOBIA: Feeds on Myths
Myth 1: Islam is a monolithic bloc - will spur in an act of
‘Holy War’ by a ‘fatwa’ of some bearded leader
Myth 2: Islam preaches violence against non-Muslims as
infidels in the name of ‘Jihad’
Myth 3: Terrorism is Islamic - a religious duty of the
fundamentalists. You never know when your Muslim
friend will turn more fundamental!
Myth 4: Islam is oppressive of women
7/1/2016
(C) N. Al-Ali, 2001
8
BASIC TENETS: General


Islam means: Peace & Self-surrender to the Will of
God
A universal message - confirms preceding Divine
revelations. Prophet Mohamed is God’s messenger
sent to complete & compliment previous revelations:

Abrahamic religion: “… it is the belief of your father
Abraham. It is He (God) Who has named you
Muslims, both before and in this (Revelation)” 22:78

6 pillars of faith and 5 pillars of religion
7/1/2016
(C) N. Al-Ali, 2001
9
BASIC TENETS: Pillars of Faith
6 Pillars of faith: To believe in
 God
 His angels
 His Messengers (prophets)
 His Books (Scriptures)
 Day of Judgement
 Fate & Destiny - good & bad
7/1/2016
(C) N. Al-Ali, 2001
10
BASIC TENETS: Pillars of Islam
5 Pillars of Practice

Testify (declare) that no gods but God and that Mohamed is His
Messenger

Pray 5 times a day (Ritual - ablution)

Fast the month of Ramadan (lunar calendar)

Pay alms (2.5% of annual savings)

Pilgrimage to Mecca (Rituals traced to Abraham & Hajar)
7/1/2016
(C) N. Al-Ali, 2001
11
BASIC TENETS: Pillars of Islam
PRAYER: Ruk’a
7/1/2016
(C) N. Al-Ali, 2001
12
BASIC TENETS: Pillars of Islam
7/1/2016
(C) N. Al-Ali, 2001
13
BASIC TENETS: Pillars of Islam
7/1/2016
(C) N. Al-Ali, 2001
14
ISLAMAPHOBIA: Feeds on Myths
Myth 1: Islam is a monolithic bloc - will spur in an
act of ‘Holy War’ by a ‘fatwa’ of some bearded
leader
7/1/2016
(C) N. Al-Ali, 2001
15
Myth 1 - Islam is a monolithic bloc

Around 1.4 Billion Muslims in the world - Only 18% are Arabs

Largest Muslim population in Indonesia 201M. 55M Russia,
100M India, 24 in EU, 7-10 US (2nd largest religion)

Muslims comprise 4000 ethnic groups in 128 countries

So-called Islamic nations are members of Islamic league

Muslims follow no single religious authority – no priesthood
7/1/2016
(C) N. Al-Ali, 2001
16
7/1/2016
(C) N. Al-Ali, 2001
http://islamicweb.com/begin/population.htm
Myth 1 - Islam is a monolithic
bloc
17
Myth 1 - Islam is a monolithic bloc:
America
7/1/2016
(C) N. Al-Ali, 2001
18
Myth 1 - .. Can be mobilized by a
‘fatwa’

Fatwa is a non-binding juristic opinion usually passed by Muslim
scholars to respond to a new situation. A fatwa that is contrary to
Islamic ‘law’ is void prima facie

Sources of Islamic law/jurisprudence:
1. Quran: Actual words of God revealed to Prophet
Mohamed through Gabriel remained & will remain
unchanged
2. Hadith: Prophet teachings - authenticity 7000 of 600,000
3. Reasoning by Analogy (drugs)
4. Consensus
7/1/2016
(C) N. Al-Ali, 2001
19
ISLAMAPHOBIA: Feeds on Myths
Myth 2: Islam preaches violence against non-Muslims
as infidels in the name of ‘Jihad’
7/1/2016
(C) N. Al-Ali, 2001
20
Myth 2: Islam condones violence
against non-Muslims
Aggression is a vice in Islam



The Prophet defined the Muslim as one causing no verbal or
physical harm to others
Islam’s greeting to everyone is “peace be upon you”
Murder of one person or causing devastation of any form is
equated with killing all humanity

“Jihad”: Striving to do good for the sake of God - A broad concept

Coming from a battle the Prophet said to the Muslims: “You came
from the minor ‘Jihad’ back to the major ‘Jihad’” Asked to explain,
he replied: “Inner self ‘Jihad’”
7/1/2016
(C) N. Al-Ali, 2001
21
Myth 2: Islam condones violence
against non-Muslims
Even in cases of war





7/1/2016
General: “Don’t fight those who don’t declare war on you for
your faith or don’t attempt to take over your homeland” 60:8-9
“Fight for the sake of God (ie not for economic or political gain)
those that fight you and do not attack first” ”
If the other side want peace then make peace 4:90, 8:61
If a member of the other side seeks asylum award it & ensure
safety 9:6
Forbidden to kill the elderly, women, children, animals or to cut
a tree
(C) N. Al-Ali, 2001
22
Myth 2: Islam condones violence
against non-Muslims
Religious Tolerance most fundamental to Islam

“No compulsion in religion, Truth stands out clear from Wrong”
2:255-256 - Applies to Muslims & Non-Muslims

Christians & Jews called “People of the Scriptures” - under an
Islamic state are regarded as “protected subjects” with complete
autonomy
The Prophet’s Charter to the Monks of Sinai


Christians & Jews never persecuted for their beliefs in Islamic
empire. Then & now Christians keep customs, start schools,
visited by missionaries
7/1/2016
(C) N. Al-Ali, 2001
23
ISLAMAPHOBIA: Feeds on Myths
Myth 3: Terrorism is Islamic - a religious duty of the
fundamentalists. You never know when your Muslim
friend will turn more fundamental!
7/1/2016
(C) N. Al-Ali, 2001
24
Myth 3: Terrorism is Islamic - a
fundamentalist duty

“Fundamentalist” is meaningless - Used to denote Muslims that
believe in Islam fundamentals support terrorism

Originally used to describe Protestants & other Christian groups
adopting literal interpretation of the Bible

Terrorism : Defined as “devastation on land” “killing people &
destroying crops”. Recognized as most heinous crime

Punishment for terrorism: execution, crucifixion or exile 5:33. Trial
first.
7/1/2016
(C) N. Al-Ali, 2001
25
Myth 3: Terrorism is Islamic - a
fundamentalist duty

“Islamic terrorism” is an oxymoron

Terrorism as a phenomena - Hitler is of the Christian faith
as Saddam is of Muslim faith

Terrorists justify their acts by citing authoritative sources:
religion, the Constitution
Church of the World Creator (rejoiced 9/11)
Christian Identity Movement (many terrorist acts in 1996 but FBI cant identify them as such)


www.religiousintolerance.org/cr_ident.htm
7/1/2016
(C) N. Al-Ali, 2001
26
ISLAMAPHOBIA: Feeds on
Myths
Myth 4: Islam is oppressive of women
‘Role captivity’
‘HAREM’
NO SELFDETERMINATION
‘Chadour’
7/1/2016
(C) N. Al-Ali, 2001
27
Myth 4: Islam is oppressive of
women
LEADERS
Professional
Working Women
7/1/2016
(C) N. Al-Ali, 2001
28
Myth 4: Islam is oppressive of
women
General

Equality - “We created you from one self”

Taking care of home & children not obligatory. Housework is
work - wages - 1991 law

Can divorce her husband if not like him

“If you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the
orphans, marry women of your choice, two or three or four;
but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal fairly (with
them), then only one”4:3 “you cant be fair ..”
7/1/2016
(C) N. Al-Ali, 2001
29
Myth 4: Islam is oppressive of
women
Economic rights




Seek education/knowledge is duty of every Muslim
Right to own & inherit property
Right to contract
Financial independence - “To men is allotted what they
earn, and to women what they earn” 4:32Political rights
Political Rights
 Prophet confirmed as leader by men & women
separately - mentioned in Quran 60:2
7/1/2016
(C) N. Al-Ali, 2001
30
Myth 4: Islam is oppressive of
women
Islamic dress
 A voluntary good deed - difference of opinion - part of
the good deeds that women may take in their
religious/spiritual devotion
 Mentioned once in 24:31– basic principle is that of
purity – emphasis first on lowering one’s gaze
 Emphasis not on appearance but mainly on piety &
conduct – 7:26.
 No coercion or compulsion as to Islamic dress
7/1/2016
(C) N. Al-Ali, 2001
31
Myth 4: Islam is oppressive of
women
Panazir Bhutto Pakistan
88-90 & 93-5
Tansu Ciller - Turkey 93-5
Megawati
Sukamaputri
Indonesia
Khaleda Zia
Bangladesh
91-6
Hasina Wajed Bangladesh 96+
7/1/2016
(C) N. Al-Ali, 2001
32
References

Quran online: www.islamicity.com/mosque/quran
 Index: www.islamicity.com/mosque/TOPICI.htm
 Council on American Islamic Relations: www.Cair-net.org

www.themodernreligion.com/terror/terrorism_compare.html

Tolerance:http://salam.muslimsonline.com/~azahoor/toleran1
.html
 Women in Islam - www.mwlusa.org
Books
 Patricia Springborg (of Sydney University), Western
Republicanism and the Oriental Prince, Polity Press, 1992
 Edward Said, Orientalism: Westerners Conceptions of the
Orient; 1978, Routledge & Kegan
7/1/2016
(C) N. Al-Ali, 2001
33
THANK YOU
7/1/2016
(C) N. Al-Ali, 2001
34