Courtesy of ABC News

It is easy to be afraid of those you don’t understand. With “strange” customs and traditions and horrific displays of false faith, Islam has often been given a bad rep. When one thinks of terrorism, part of the mind naturally drifts to the idea that the aforementioned religion promotes brutality and savagery. History and the present day don’t help to fix or change this narrative. One must only look at the horrific events of 9/11 or the current state of Afghanistan to form a subconscious opinion of what Muslims believe. For those who have not been raised within the religion, it is hard to distinguish between the violent and the peaceful. Because most of us live in a reasonably liberal town, in a very liberal state, we don’t see the actual impacts of Islamophobia.

It goes beyond just clandestine thoughts, though these thoughts are what lead to acts of cruelty and hatred. I can confidently say there have been many occasions in which either my family or I, or all of us, have been treated cruelly simply because we are Muslim and my mother wears a hijab. This has happened in Winthrop itself, which is not as liberal as it may seem; I have been called a terrorist, on multiple occasions, and have also been out with my family and experienced hate, from dirty looks to an unknown person keying my mom’s car after seeing the headscarf she wore. When I share these things, I don’t look for pity or for anyone’s “I’m sorry that happened to you”- my motivation only comes from wanting others to look beyond their own bubble and understand that their lives and comforts are not the same as those around them. Despite the beliefs of many Islam is a religion of peace.

“وَأُدۡخِلَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَٰتِ جَنَّـٰتٖ تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا بِإِذۡنِ رَبِّهِمۡۖ تَحِيَّتُهُمۡ فِيهَا سَلَٰمٌ”
“And those who believed and did righteous deeds will be admitted to gardens beneath which rivers flow, abiding eternally therein by permission of their Lord; and their greeting therein will be, Peace!” – (Surah Ibrahim, Ayah 23 & Sahih International)

In this ayat (verse) above, it is evident that the religion promotes good. Its core is rooted in peace and altruism, despite the misconceptions some may have. Those who go to heaven are those who have used their time on Earth to do good. There are many instances, however, when people mention how violence is brought up in the Quran. I will not write about this like it does not exist because it does. A handful of ayat in the holy book do not spread the same messages of love and peace – though those rooted in good are far more plentiful. I will instead remind you of Christianity and how there have been many violent acts “rooted” in faith. This is not to say I think Christianity is a violent religion, or one that doesn’t deserve respect, because I don’t. I simply mean to point out a contradiction within the minds of those who think of Islam as brutal and barbaric. In modern times, all acts of violence committed in the name of a higher power are wrong, which is indisputable. Real, true Muslims believe that peace is the only way to solve a problem.

I write all of this because I want to convey the message that the only way we can better our world is if we stop looking at those who have done no wrong and instead turn our hateful gazes to those who have and continue to act wrongly in the name of Islam, and all other religions. There will be no improvement unless we realize that it is not Muslims who are terrorists; it is terrorists who are terrorists. The name of Allah is used as a justification for their heinous acts, but it is not – and it never will be. Once we make this distinction, we can finally aid those who need the help, like the women who are being terrorized in Afghanistan and the unseen Uyghur Muslims who are being heavily persecuted in China. I ask you to please understand who it is you are blaming because if it is continually placed on peaceful Muslims, like my family, this world will never change.