Haters have existed since the beginning of time. Even the greatest human beings who ever lived, including Jesus and Muhammad (peace be upon them both), were mocked, slandered, and called mad men. If the Creator Himself has been wrongfully criticized by His creation, then it is only natural that His religion will face hatred too. This powerful spoken word piece addresses every common criticism of Islam and Muslims with wit, wisdom, and an invitation to move from hating to educating.
Why Do People Hate Islam?
The piece systematically addresses every superficial reason people give for hating Muslims: the way they look, dress, speak, eat, and pray. It responds to each one with logic and context. Muslims come from every ethnicity and nationality on earth. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was recognized by secular historians as the most influential person in all of human history. Mary the mother of Jesus wore a covering similar to the hijab. Halal food ensures animals are treated with mercy from farm to fork. And the Quran explicitly states there is no compulsion in religion.
“Is it because of her hijab? But didn’t Mary the mother of Jesus wear a hijab too? Is it because of how we treat our women? The Prophet Muhammad said the best of you in character is the best to his wife, and he was the best to his wife.”
Islam Is Perfect, Muslims Are Not
Perhaps the most honest and disarming statement in the entire piece is the acknowledgment that Muslims themselves are partly to blame for the hatred directed at Islam. When Muslims fail to live up to Islamic teachings, they give critics ammunition. But Islam was not sent to a bunch of perfect people; it was sent to perfect people. The invitation is clear: judge Islam by its sources, not by imperfect followers, and replace hatred with education by picking up the Quran and reading it for yourself.
“Maybe it’s because we made you believe that Islam was sent to a bunch of perfect people, when in reality Islam was sent to perfect people. Islam is perfect. Muhammad was perfect. But Muslims aren’t.”
- The great scholar Imam Al-Shafi’i said: “He who thinks he is free from the criticism of people is a mad man, for the Lord of the worlds Himself has been wrongfully criticized”
- Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was named the most influential person in human history by Michael Hart in his book “The 100”
- Islam teaches that injustice must be opposed with action, words, or at the very minimum the heart, making Muslims advocates for justice worldwide
- The best response to hatred is not more hatred but education: reading the Quran and learning about Islam from its authentic sources
