How much do you know about Islam?

There is a great deal of misunderstandings about Islam both from Muslim and Non-Muslims – and this is leading to problems in our society.

If your friend is ill – maybe he is epileptic and suffering a fit – and you think you know which is the right medicine but you’re not sure, you probably wouldn’t give it to him, because you’re not a doctor and you don’t have the right medical knowledge.

Even if you want to save his life, giving him the wrong medicine could not only do more harm than good. It could be fatal. And so it is with understanding Islam.

There are so many people out there who are talking about what Islam means but they don’t have the knowledge to interpret the Qur’an correctly; they are confused about what their own faith means and so they are spreading a mistaken message to others.

The Qur’an is a complex book. You need the Hadith – which is the teachings of the prophet – to interpret it correctly and guide you through to give you a much better understanding of Islam: for example how to do your prayers and postures and positions.

I cannot stress enough to you that to get a better understanding if the Qur’an you need to know Arabic. Arabic is a very subtle, sensitive language and the true meaning of the words of God can become lost in translation.

People tend to say, ‘I’m living as a MuZlim’ (pronounced like a Z), when what they really mean is, ‘as a MuSlim’ (with an S). The pronunciation is very delicate, but it changes the meaning of the words completely. The first word means ‘dark’, whereas the second correct version means a ‘person who submits’. Look at the pronunciation of another word: Kalb means dog but Qalb means heart. That’s a big difference in meaning, isn’t it?

Because of the time and age we are living in – post 9/11 and 7/7 – all the eyes in Britain and in the Western world are upon Muslims. With the pressure upon us, it is even more important than it ever has been that we have a good understanding of our own faith.

If we as Muslims misunderstand our own faith and perpetuate the myth surrounding the Qur’an and our way of life, how can we ever expect non-Muslims to understand us?

But it is up to you to find this truth in your own hearts and in the words of the Qur’an and the Hadith. You must learn it and read it for yourselves. If you haven’t learnt something first hand, but it is based on the interpretations and judgements of others, how can you say that you really know it to be true? If you open your mouth and spread the wrong message you are causing other people to misunderstand Islam. And like giving your friend the wrong medicine – this could lead to others being harmed and even be fatal.

Remember, knowledge is power; once you have it you can dispel misunderstanding and defeat prejudice. Don’t just repeat what your Mum and Dad told you.

Question.

Learn.

Tell me what YOU think about your own faith!