HOW DID ISLAM BECOME THE MOST HATED GLOBAL RELIGION?
Islam is the fastest-growing global religion in the world. A religion possessing such popularity and being hated seems absurd. However, Islam has faced this loathing over its trail from the deserts of Arabia to the monuments of the occident. A brief evolution of causes and periods of hatred for Islam, and among Islam, is wax and wane.
The emergence of Islam was an unprecedented event largely disregarded due to its restrictions and limitations. It challenged the former beliefs of people. The hatred began from the Arab tribes extending to the Jews, Persians, and Christians in Palestine, Iran, and Roman Empire respectively.
Jewish beliefs of the Last Prophet from among them had perished. Persians-Zoroastrians felt threatened by this revolution. The Christian manuscripts were massively fabricated which blinded them from the truth. The sway of Islamic legislation enacted the hatred throughout the Middle Eastern Plateau.
Later, the monarchy of Banu-Umayyad and the Abbasid tribes from 661–1258CE exacerbated the hatred for Islam and its message. It was due to the persecution of the public and subjugation of the non-believers’ lands. Freedom of speech and justice were aggravated. This chain of barbaric regimes laid the foundation of modern Islamophobia.
Not long ago, a major blow on September 11th, 2001 at the World Trade Centre sparked the hatred for Islam furthermore. Terrorists allegedly recognized as Muslims were shown responsible. The USA began invading Muslim countries in the Middle-East reporting that ‘They are protecting these terrorists and contain weapons of mass-destruction within their boundaries’. Global propaganda labeling the Muslim community as terrorists and Islam as extremist religion caused millions of Muslims to encounter abuse and religious discrimination.
The Islamic Ideology has also long been criticized as inhumane and irrational. The Quranic revelations of mass murdering of the non-believers, beheadings, cutting hands off on robbery, inheritance, veil and other limitations for women, allowance of 4 marriages to men, and so on were heavily condemned. Many Muslims instead of logical reasoning, fabricated its interpretation to fit their style. Consequently, the actual message of Islam got barricaded within the Mosques.
The hate thrown at Islam has been around so long because we have let it be. Our internal conflicts have allowed this hate to globalize and now targeting our beloved Prophet S.A.W. Uniting ourselves and confronting this misconception can undeniably turn the tables. We cannot do anything to restrict the envious hate. But at least we should change the stances of hate due to misinterpretation into love. Nobody will do it for us until we do it ourselves.
