Islam, Christianity, Judaism, And Cultural Diversity
Islam, Christianity, Judaism and Cultural Diversity
Alicia Lue
Devry University
Course Number: SOCS350
July 2013
Islam, Christianity, Judaism and Cultural Diversity
Religion has always been and will be one of the major influences that shape our world. The three major Western religions of the world are Christianity, Islam and Judaism. Christianity is said to be the largest with an estimated two billion followers and Islam the second largest with 1.5 billion followers (Ali-Karamali, 2008). These three religions are important to cultural diversity, because religion is what shapes a culture and allows individuals to form identities. Religious beliefs are at the center of a human beings culture and provide the moral codes by which individuals …show more content…
live. Each of the three major religions have set beliefs that help to explain the reason why humans exist and helps guide their relationships and behaviors among each other. Although these religions share the same origins, there are differences amongst them.
The comparison of Islam with Christianity and Judaism
Islam, Christianity, and Judaism are all monotheistic religions, meaning the belief in one God, “Allah” according to Muslims (Ali-Karamali, 2008). They are considered to be Abrahamic religions, because they trace their history to the covenant that God made with Abraham in the Hebrew Bible. These three religions believe that God is the creator of all that exists, and he cares about all creations and desires the well-being of all (Ali-Karamali, 2008). All three religions govern and provide guidance through their basic rules to their followers, which enable them to make decisions towards being righteous in the eyes of God. Islam, Christianity and Judaism believe that all humans are children of Abraham, and God created humans full of mystery, meaning that they have the potential for continuous growth. Human beings are not perfect, however, they are capable of good and evil (Los Angeles Chinese Learning Center, n.d.). If humans grow in righteousness, goodness and love, they become exactly what God intended human goodness to be.
The three major religions have a holy book, even though they may not have the same religious teachings, they are sacred to each religion. Islam’s holy book is called the Qur’an, for Christianity the holy Bible is the key scripture, and for Judaism the key scripture is the Toran (Smith, 1999). The three religions central focus is on peace, as proven by the similar greetings in each faith meaning “peace be upon you”: ‘Shalom Aleichem’ in Judaism, ‘pax vobiscum’ in Christianity, and ‘As-salamu alaykum’ in Islam (Ali- Karamali, 2008). Islam is similar to Judaism in terms of the emphasis that is placed on its practices rather than on the beliefs, and on law rather than dogma (Esposito, 2012). Religious laws are the primary religious disciplines in Islam and Judaism, whereas in Christianity theological beliefs have been the discipline and have caused debates over “the nature of the Trinity or the relationship of Jesus’ human and divine natures” (Esposito, 2012). On the other hand, the debates and disagreements that have arisen in the past for Judaism and Islam are on the subject of religious laws concerning religious practices (Esposito, 2012).
Muslims, who are individuals who practice the Islamic faith must respect Jews and Christians as illustrated in one of the verses found in the Qur’an: “And do not argue with the Followers of Earlier Revelation, otherwise in a most kindly manner, unless it be such of them as are bent on evildoing [and are therefore not accessible to friendly argument] and say” ‘We believe in what has been bestowed from upon high upon us, as well as that which has been bestowed upon you: for our God and your God is one and the same, and it is unto him that we [all] surrender ourselves’ (Ali-Karamali, 2008). Muslims believe that the God who appeared to Muhammad is the same God that appeared to Adam, Moses, Noah, Abraham and Jesus. The only difference is that in the eyes of Muslims, God’s message was not accepted in its true form until the prophet Muhammad conveyed it (Ali-Karamali, 2008).
The Basic Tenets of Islam
The word Muslim describes any individual who practices the Islamic religion. Islam is a religion of orthopraxy, meaning the religion emphasizes the practices based on conduct, both ethically and liturgically, as opposed to faith or grace. Orthopraxy can be contrasted with that of orthodoxy, where the emphasis is placed on ritualistic ceremonies and a correct belief (Ali-Karamali, 2008). Islam is considered to be a way of life rather than a religion. There are five basic tenets of Islam in which Muslims utilize them as guidelines as a means of going about their daily lives (Ali-Karamali, 2008). These tenets are referred to as the “five pillars” of Islam. The first pillar is that of creed (Shahada), meaning the declaration of faith, this first pillar is considered to be the only requirement on becoming a Muslim. In order to become a Muslim the words “There is no god but God and Muhammad is the messenger of God” must be recited and believed with a whole heart (Ali-Karamali, 2008). The second pillar is the prayer (Salat). Muslims pray five times per day. Prayer can take place in the home, in a mosque which means the place of worship, or prayer can take place anywhere that is clean or appropriate. Prayer is very structured, in that Muslims must prepare themselves both mentally and physically. Washing of the body referred to as (wudu’) can take place inside the mosque or outside, this involves wiping water over the head, ears, neck, and feet (Smith, J. n.d.). After washing is complete (niyya) is done which means the transformation from daily activities into a prayerful mind-set (Smith, J. n.d.). The congregational prayer day is traditionally held on Friday’s.
The third pillar is that of (Zakat) also known as Alms’ giving. This is the donation of a percentage of annual earnings to charity. Muslims are responsible for providing help to those less fortunate than themselves (Smith, J. n.d.). According to (Smith, J. n.d.) “The Qur’an identifies the poor, widows, and orphans as needing attention”. The fourth pillar (Sawm) which is fasting, this requires Muslims to fast during the lunar month of Ramadan beginning at dawn and ending at sunset, during the fast Muslims abstain from food, water, sex, and smoking (Ali-Karamali, 2008). Fasting to Muslims is a way of gaining self-control, discipline, and introspection. The reason behind fasting during Ramadan is that this was the time when God first revealed the Qur’an to Muhammad. A quote from the Qur’an states “God desires your well-being, not your discomfort, he desires you to fast the whole month so that you may magnify Him and render thanks to Him for giving you his guidance” (Ali-Karamali, 2008). Children, people who are ill, the elderly, menstruating women, and those who are traveling are not required to fast. Fasting is meant to be a challenge of spirituality, not a danger to anyone. There is a special night which usually falls on the 27th day of Ramadan, it is called ‘Lailat al-Qadr’ meaning the Night of Power, and this is when Muhammad received the first revelation from God (Ali-Karamali, 2008). Prayers done on this night are said to reach God with great strength and clarity than any other prayer day during Ramadan.
The fifth pillar, is (Hajji), meaning “effort”. Muslims must pilgrimage to the sacred land in Mecca once in their lifetime, if they can do this without any hardships (Ali-Karamali, 2008). The Ka’ba which is the cubed shaped building located in Mecca is considered to be the most “important Muslim holy place and the site of the Hajji” (Ali-Karamali, 2008). The pilgrimage is said to last up to seven days, and prayer takes place where the Muslims face the Ka’ba. Rituals during the pilgrimage include walking in circles around the Ka’ba seven times, and stoning a pillar representing Satan, the walking starts at the Black Stone between two nearby hills, this depicts the story of Ismails mother searching desperately for water in the desert and the throwing of the stones at the pillar signifies the time that the devil appeared to Abraham and he threw stones to ward of the Satan’s evil whispers.
Islam in the United States
The estimated population of Muslims in the United States is around 0.5% (Bell, 2007).
The vast majority of Muslims are citizens of the United States, who abide by the law, and who do not support terrorist activities (Bell, 2007). In the United States Muslims worship in the mosque, even though the structures may not be the same as in other countries, the religious practices are the same (Smith, J. n.d.). American Muslims follow the same principles as in many other countries where Islam is practiced. In the United States at the end of Ramadan, Muslims celebrate “edi” which is like Christmas that is celebrated in the United States (Parbtani, S. personal communication, July, 23, 2013). According to Al-Karamali, Edi ul-Fitr means “Festival of Fast-Breaking”, the celebration involves a special prayer, gift giving, feasting, and wearing fancy clothing, however one old piece of clothing is worn to signify being humble followers. One of the traditional foods that American Muslims to this day prepare in celebration of “edi” is called sheer khurma which is a creamy like pudding made of milk, vermicelli noodles, and golden raisins, along with some pistachios (Ali-Karamali, 2008). The gathering at the mosque brought Muslims of different ethnic backgrounds to the feast, where all enjoy the various kinds of traditional …show more content…
meals.
In the United States the month of Ramadan is not only for fasting and celebrating after, but it is a time where Muslims give to their communities, by providing for the poor and the homeless. In recent times the media has given the Muslims much needed attention during this very special time In the Muslim community (Smith, J. n.d.). The more educational materials that become available to the American people on the beliefs and practices of Islam, and the media doing its part in providing factual information on Islamic practices, the Muslims can only hope that this positive fee back will allow non-Muslim Americans to view Islam as a religion that supports peace and ethical responsibilities, rather than the “Islamic Bombers” that has stained the reputation of the Islamic community (Smith, J. n.d.).
Islamic Practices in Pakistan
Islam is the state religion of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The Central Intelligence Agency (2013) listed that the Muslim population in Pakistan is 96.4%, 85-95% belonging to Sunni, and 10-15% belonging to Shia (2010 estimate). Pakistan has the second largest Muslim population in the world after Indonesia. In Pakistan, Friday is the Muslim holy day, thus all businesses are closed. The mosque in Pakistan is called “Masjid”. Muslims are required to pray five times a day, at dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset and evening (Central Intelligence Agency, 2013). S. Parbtani asserted that in Pakistan the government gives the country three days off to celebrate “edi” (Parbtani, S., personal communication, July, 23, 2013). Eid ul-Adha meaning “Festival of the Sacrifice occurs sixty- nine days after Eid ul-Fitr, to “commemorate God’s test of Abraham’s faith”, this event was described in the Old Testament and the Qur’an. They differ in that in the Old Testament when God told Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac, and the moment he placed the knife to Isaac, God sent down a lamb in Isaac’s place, in the Qur’an the boy was Ismail, Isaac’s elder half-brother (Ali-Karamali, 2008). A traditional sacrificing of a lamb is done to celebrate Eid ul-Adha. Islam stresses the need for Muslims to empower themselves with knowledge and education. There is equality amongst genders in the present time, leading to the fact that Muslim women do not have to cover up their entire bodies, known as (Perda). Their present leader Prince Karim Aga Khan bases his leadership on equal rights for women.
How Perceptions and Misperceptions affect Muslim versus Non-Muslim Interactions
Understanding some of the terminology in the Islamic religion can help prevent misperceptions many non-Muslim believers have against Muslims. Islam has two meanings, “submission” and “peace” (Ali-Karamali, 2008). Many Muslim’s came to the United States to educate themselves, build their careers and families. They struggled to assimilate into a culture very new to them, with a new language and a new way of life. Given a Muslims appearance and accents, this was enough for them to experience prejudice first hand (Ali-Karamali, 2008). The media has had a major role in how people view the Islamic religion. After the September 11th terrorist attacks, 19 hijackers became the ideological symbol of the religion Islam of some 1.5 billion people, it is a fact that when non-Muslims commit crimes, they are not judged that all their co-religionists are criminals (Ali-Karamali, 2008). If the media brought attention to all the other Muslim people condemning the attacks, and not place so much emphasis on one group of Palestine individuals who were celebrating the attacks, Islam would not have such a bad reputation. Ali-Karamali asserted that one of the scholarly leaders, Yusef al-Qaradawi “issued a “fatwa” immediately after the attacks, declaring that Osama bin Laden could not call himself a Muslim” (2008). Seven million Muslims condemned the attacks through signatories and official statements, but none made it to the headlines.
Another misperception that especially Americans have about Muslims is that they think most Muslims are from the Middle East or of Arabic ethnicity, and the fact is that most Muslims are not Arabic. Edward Said “pointed out that the West came up with a self-sufficient, internal view of Islam that was never corrected and has still not been corrected as cited in (Ali-Karamali, 2008).
Conclusion
Islam is considered to be one of the most controversial and sensitive issues in our world today.
This affects how diverse individuals interact with each other and because of the many misperceptions about Islam’s values, its goals, and its beliefs, a lot of prejudice and discriminatory acts have been witnessed. In addition to the media stereotyping, adding the negative medieval mythology regarding Islam, “the result is a picture that resists erasure” (Ali-Karamali, 2008). Add also confusion of what is religious versus what is cultural or socioeconomic, the language barriers, and people who use Islam to commit crimes, the end result is a major misunderstanding of Islam and Muslims. Islam teaches compassion, self-control, tolerance, forgiveness, and generosity. In closing the three major religions, Christianity, Islam and Judaism, all link religion and morality together. Religion is manifested by showing concern for the well-being and dignity of others, in a life of service to others, and in personal, social and ethical
behaviors.
References
Ali-Karamali, S. (2008). The Muslim next door, the qur’an, the media, and that veil thing. (1st ed., pp. 5-7). Ashland: White Cloud Press. Retrieved from: http//site.ebrary.com/lib/ docDetail.action?docID=10335123
Bell, M.P. (2007). Diversity in organizations. Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning.
Central Intelligence Agency (2013). The world fact book. Pakistan. Retrieved from: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/pk.html
Esposito, J. (2012). How is Islam similar to Christianity & Judaism? Retrieved from: http://www.islamicity.com/articles/articles.asp?ref=ic0805-3575 Los Angeles Chinese Learning Center, (n.d.). Judaism, Christianity, and Islam similarities. Retrived from: http://chinese-school.netfirms.com/Judaism-Christianity-Islam.html
Smith, J. I. (1999). Islam in America. Columbia University Pr. Retrieved from: http://www.nytimes.com/books/first/s/smith-islam.html
Alicia Lue
Devry University
Course Number: SOCS350
July 2013
Islam, Christianity, Judaism and Cultural Diversity
Religion has always been and will be one of the major influences that shape our world. The three major Western religions of the world are Christianity, Islam and Judaism. Christianity is said to be the largest with an estimated two billion followers and Islam the second largest with 1.5 billion followers (Ali-Karamali, 2008). These three religions are important to cultural diversity, because religion is what shapes a culture and allows individuals to form identities. Religious beliefs are at the center of a human beings culture and provide the moral codes by which individuals …show more content…
live. Each of the three major religions have set beliefs that help to explain the reason why humans exist and helps guide their relationships and behaviors among each other. Although these religions share the same origins, there are differences amongst them.
The comparison of Islam with Christianity and Judaism
Islam, Christianity, and Judaism are all monotheistic religions, meaning the belief in one God, “Allah” according to Muslims (Ali-Karamali, 2008). They are considered to be Abrahamic religions, because they trace their history to the covenant that God made with Abraham in the Hebrew Bible. These three religions believe that God is the creator of all that exists, and he cares about all creations and desires the well-being of all (Ali-Karamali, 2008). All three religions govern and provide guidance through their basic rules to their followers, which enable them to make decisions towards being righteous in the eyes of God. Islam, Christianity and Judaism believe that all humans are children of Abraham, and God created humans full of mystery, meaning that they have the potential for continuous growth. Human beings are not perfect, however, they are capable of good and evil (Los Angeles Chinese Learning Center, n.d.). If humans grow in righteousness, goodness and love, they become exactly what God intended human goodness to be.
The three major religions have a holy book, even though they may not have the same religious teachings, they are sacred to each religion. Islam’s holy book is called the Qur’an, for Christianity the holy Bible is the key scripture, and for Judaism the key scripture is the Toran (Smith, 1999). The three religions central focus is on peace, as proven by the similar greetings in each faith meaning “peace be upon you”: ‘Shalom Aleichem’ in Judaism, ‘pax vobiscum’ in Christianity, and ‘As-salamu alaykum’ in Islam (Ali- Karamali, 2008). Islam is similar to Judaism in terms of the emphasis that is placed on its practices rather than on the beliefs, and on law rather than dogma (Esposito, 2012). Religious laws are the primary religious disciplines in Islam and Judaism, whereas in Christianity theological beliefs have been the discipline and have caused debates over “the nature of the Trinity or the relationship of Jesus’ human and divine natures” (Esposito, 2012). On the other hand, the debates and disagreements that have arisen in the past for Judaism and Islam are on the subject of religious laws concerning religious practices (Esposito, 2012).
Muslims, who are individuals who practice the Islamic faith must respect Jews and Christians as illustrated in one of the verses found in the Qur’an: “And do not argue with the Followers of Earlier Revelation, otherwise in a most kindly manner, unless it be such of them as are bent on evildoing [and are therefore not accessible to friendly argument] and say” ‘We believe in what has been bestowed from upon high upon us, as well as that which has been bestowed upon you: for our God and your God is one and the same, and it is unto him that we [all] surrender ourselves’ (Ali-Karamali, 2008). Muslims believe that the God who appeared to Muhammad is the same God that appeared to Adam, Moses, Noah, Abraham and Jesus. The only difference is that in the eyes of Muslims, God’s message was not accepted in its true form until the prophet Muhammad conveyed it (Ali-Karamali, 2008).
The Basic Tenets of Islam
The word Muslim describes any individual who practices the Islamic religion. Islam is a religion of orthopraxy, meaning the religion emphasizes the practices based on conduct, both ethically and liturgically, as opposed to faith or grace. Orthopraxy can be contrasted with that of orthodoxy, where the emphasis is placed on ritualistic ceremonies and a correct belief (Ali-Karamali, 2008). Islam is considered to be a way of life rather than a religion. There are five basic tenets of Islam in which Muslims utilize them as guidelines as a means of going about their daily lives (Ali-Karamali, 2008). These tenets are referred to as the “five pillars” of Islam. The first pillar is that of creed (Shahada), meaning the declaration of faith, this first pillar is considered to be the only requirement on becoming a Muslim. In order to become a Muslim the words “There is no god but God and Muhammad is the messenger of God” must be recited and believed with a whole heart (Ali-Karamali, 2008). The second pillar is the prayer (Salat). Muslims pray five times per day. Prayer can take place in the home, in a mosque which means the place of worship, or prayer can take place anywhere that is clean or appropriate. Prayer is very structured, in that Muslims must prepare themselves both mentally and physically. Washing of the body referred to as (wudu’) can take place inside the mosque or outside, this involves wiping water over the head, ears, neck, and feet (Smith, J. n.d.). After washing is complete (niyya) is done which means the transformation from daily activities into a prayerful mind-set (Smith, J. n.d.). The congregational prayer day is traditionally held on Friday’s.
The third pillar is that of (Zakat) also known as Alms’ giving. This is the donation of a percentage of annual earnings to charity. Muslims are responsible for providing help to those less fortunate than themselves (Smith, J. n.d.). According to (Smith, J. n.d.) “The Qur’an identifies the poor, widows, and orphans as needing attention”. The fourth pillar (Sawm) which is fasting, this requires Muslims to fast during the lunar month of Ramadan beginning at dawn and ending at sunset, during the fast Muslims abstain from food, water, sex, and smoking (Ali-Karamali, 2008). Fasting to Muslims is a way of gaining self-control, discipline, and introspection. The reason behind fasting during Ramadan is that this was the time when God first revealed the Qur’an to Muhammad. A quote from the Qur’an states “God desires your well-being, not your discomfort, he desires you to fast the whole month so that you may magnify Him and render thanks to Him for giving you his guidance” (Ali-Karamali, 2008). Children, people who are ill, the elderly, menstruating women, and those who are traveling are not required to fast. Fasting is meant to be a challenge of spirituality, not a danger to anyone. There is a special night which usually falls on the 27th day of Ramadan, it is called ‘Lailat al-Qadr’ meaning the Night of Power, and this is when Muhammad received the first revelation from God (Ali-Karamali, 2008). Prayers done on this night are said to reach God with great strength and clarity than any other prayer day during Ramadan.
The fifth pillar, is (Hajji), meaning “effort”. Muslims must pilgrimage to the sacred land in Mecca once in their lifetime, if they can do this without any hardships (Ali-Karamali, 2008). The Ka’ba which is the cubed shaped building located in Mecca is considered to be the most “important Muslim holy place and the site of the Hajji” (Ali-Karamali, 2008). The pilgrimage is said to last up to seven days, and prayer takes place where the Muslims face the Ka’ba. Rituals during the pilgrimage include walking in circles around the Ka’ba seven times, and stoning a pillar representing Satan, the walking starts at the Black Stone between two nearby hills, this depicts the story of Ismails mother searching desperately for water in the desert and the throwing of the stones at the pillar signifies the time that the devil appeared to Abraham and he threw stones to ward of the Satan’s evil whispers.
Islam in the United States
The estimated population of Muslims in the United States is around 0.5% (Bell, 2007).
The vast majority of Muslims are citizens of the United States, who abide by the law, and who do not support terrorist activities (Bell, 2007). In the United States Muslims worship in the mosque, even though the structures may not be the same as in other countries, the religious practices are the same (Smith, J. n.d.). American Muslims follow the same principles as in many other countries where Islam is practiced. In the United States at the end of Ramadan, Muslims celebrate “edi” which is like Christmas that is celebrated in the United States (Parbtani, S. personal communication, July, 23, 2013). According to Al-Karamali, Edi ul-Fitr means “Festival of Fast-Breaking”, the celebration involves a special prayer, gift giving, feasting, and wearing fancy clothing, however one old piece of clothing is worn to signify being humble followers. One of the traditional foods that American Muslims to this day prepare in celebration of “edi” is called sheer khurma which is a creamy like pudding made of milk, vermicelli noodles, and golden raisins, along with some pistachios (Ali-Karamali, 2008). The gathering at the mosque brought Muslims of different ethnic backgrounds to the feast, where all enjoy the various kinds of traditional …show more content…
meals.
In the United States the month of Ramadan is not only for fasting and celebrating after, but it is a time where Muslims give to their communities, by providing for the poor and the homeless. In recent times the media has given the Muslims much needed attention during this very special time In the Muslim community (Smith, J. n.d.). The more educational materials that become available to the American people on the beliefs and practices of Islam, and the media doing its part in providing factual information on Islamic practices, the Muslims can only hope that this positive fee back will allow non-Muslim Americans to view Islam as a religion that supports peace and ethical responsibilities, rather than the “Islamic Bombers” that has stained the reputation of the Islamic community (Smith, J. n.d.).
Islamic Practices in Pakistan
Islam is the state religion of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The Central Intelligence Agency (2013) listed that the Muslim population in Pakistan is 96.4%, 85-95% belonging to Sunni, and 10-15% belonging to Shia (2010 estimate). Pakistan has the second largest Muslim population in the world after Indonesia. In Pakistan, Friday is the Muslim holy day, thus all businesses are closed. The mosque in Pakistan is called “Masjid”. Muslims are required to pray five times a day, at dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset and evening (Central Intelligence Agency, 2013). S. Parbtani asserted that in Pakistan the government gives the country three days off to celebrate “edi” (Parbtani, S., personal communication, July, 23, 2013). Eid ul-Adha meaning “Festival of the Sacrifice occurs sixty- nine days after Eid ul-Fitr, to “commemorate God’s test of Abraham’s faith”, this event was described in the Old Testament and the Qur’an. They differ in that in the Old Testament when God told Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac, and the moment he placed the knife to Isaac, God sent down a lamb in Isaac’s place, in the Qur’an the boy was Ismail, Isaac’s elder half-brother (Ali-Karamali, 2008). A traditional sacrificing of a lamb is done to celebrate Eid ul-Adha. Islam stresses the need for Muslims to empower themselves with knowledge and education. There is equality amongst genders in the present time, leading to the fact that Muslim women do not have to cover up their entire bodies, known as (Perda). Their present leader Prince Karim Aga Khan bases his leadership on equal rights for women.
How Perceptions and Misperceptions affect Muslim versus Non-Muslim Interactions
Understanding some of the terminology in the Islamic religion can help prevent misperceptions many non-Muslim believers have against Muslims. Islam has two meanings, “submission” and “peace” (Ali-Karamali, 2008). Many Muslim’s came to the United States to educate themselves, build their careers and families. They struggled to assimilate into a culture very new to them, with a new language and a new way of life. Given a Muslims appearance and accents, this was enough for them to experience prejudice first hand (Ali-Karamali, 2008). The media has had a major role in how people view the Islamic religion. After the September 11th terrorist attacks, 19 hijackers became the ideological symbol of the religion Islam of some 1.5 billion people, it is a fact that when non-Muslims commit crimes, they are not judged that all their co-religionists are criminals (Ali-Karamali, 2008). If the media brought attention to all the other Muslim people condemning the attacks, and not place so much emphasis on one group of Palestine individuals who were celebrating the attacks, Islam would not have such a bad reputation. Ali-Karamali asserted that one of the scholarly leaders, Yusef al-Qaradawi “issued a “fatwa” immediately after the attacks, declaring that Osama bin Laden could not call himself a Muslim” (2008). Seven million Muslims condemned the attacks through signatories and official statements, but none made it to the headlines.
Another misperception that especially Americans have about Muslims is that they think most Muslims are from the Middle East or of Arabic ethnicity, and the fact is that most Muslims are not Arabic. Edward Said “pointed out that the West came up with a self-sufficient, internal view of Islam that was never corrected and has still not been corrected as cited in (Ali-Karamali, 2008).
Conclusion
Islam is considered to be one of the most controversial and sensitive issues in our world today.
This affects how diverse individuals interact with each other and because of the many misperceptions about Islam’s values, its goals, and its beliefs, a lot of prejudice and discriminatory acts have been witnessed. In addition to the media stereotyping, adding the negative medieval mythology regarding Islam, “the result is a picture that resists erasure” (Ali-Karamali, 2008). Add also confusion of what is religious versus what is cultural or socioeconomic, the language barriers, and people who use Islam to commit crimes, the end result is a major misunderstanding of Islam and Muslims. Islam teaches compassion, self-control, tolerance, forgiveness, and generosity. In closing the three major religions, Christianity, Islam and Judaism, all link religion and morality together. Religion is manifested by showing concern for the well-being and dignity of others, in a life of service to others, and in personal, social and ethical
behaviors.
References
Ali-Karamali, S. (2008). The Muslim next door, the qur’an, the media, and that veil thing. (1st ed., pp. 5-7). Ashland: White Cloud Press. Retrieved from: http//site.ebrary.com/lib/ docDetail.action?docID=10335123
Bell, M.P. (2007). Diversity in organizations. Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning.
Central Intelligence Agency (2013). The world fact book. Pakistan. Retrieved from: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/pk.html
Esposito, J. (2012). How is Islam similar to Christianity & Judaism? Retrieved from: http://www.islamicity.com/articles/articles.asp?ref=ic0805-3575 Los Angeles Chinese Learning Center, (n.d.). Judaism, Christianity, and Islam similarities. Retrived from: http://chinese-school.netfirms.com/Judaism-Christianity-Islam.html
Smith, J. I. (1999). Islam in America. Columbia University Pr. Retrieved from: http://www.nytimes.com/books/first/s/smith-islam.html