History is not one-sided

The western media, particularly the American media, continues to present Islam as an esoteric cult determined to destroy Western society. While it is true that Islam has seen its fair share of war and hostility like any other civilization, it has also been the archetype of peace and progress. Here are some examples:

When the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) conquered Mecca in 630 AD without a single drop of blood, he outlawed the killing and raping of inhabitants which was a common practice at the time (Documentary: Empire of Faith, 2000).

The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) spoke against racism in his last sermon in 632 AD, 1,297 years before the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

“…All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action…” (Masnud,Hadith no. 19774).

The Ottoman Empire, one of the most powerful empires in history typically regarded as “Turkish” was in fact a peaceful mosaic comprising Central Asians, ethnic Turks, and Persians. This was also the home of Al-Khwarezmi, inventor of algebra, whose own name comes to us as the word “algorithm” (The Two Faces of Islam, Schwartz, p 60).

One can argue that white European history is riddled with accounts of bloody conquests, native subjugation, and direct imperialism. Such actions continue to this day with America’s atrocities in Afghanistan and Iraq. Furthermore, Protestants and Catholics have slaughtered each other for centuries while terrorist organizations like the IRA (Irish Republican Army) continue to exacerbate the situation. Based on these examples alone, would it be fair to equate Christianity with barbarism? - Of course not.

It is important to open our minds and look at history as a whole, rather than through a selective lens in order to justify our personal stereotypes.

Copyright Aurangzeb Qureshi 2006