Dar al Islam: Teaching about Islam - Challenges and Opportunities

Karima Alavi, director of Dar al Islam, spoke about the chance that individuals have to promote understanding of Islam and some of the current misconceptions (challenges).

If you would, skip down to the Comments button - just above "Google Earth". Choose the Anonymous option. Type what immediately comes into your mind, without time for comtemplation, when you think of Muslim or Islam.

Take a break and leave a comment (below).

My thoughts are not much different from the average American's view. Muslims seem have been an invisible population in the States, and it was only a small portion my travels in West Africa which displayed some of the active practices of Islam. One good friend of mine in college which I have sadly lost track of, Ayesha Kadir, shared with me her perspective of being a Muslim. She impressed me with her genuine and caring demeanor, as well as her devote nature.

I am leaving off the views of Muslims and Islam discussed in class, in the hopes that readers will leave their own comments...

The media makes women in hijabs look perpetually sad. The image of a white American Muslim seems to be a paradox. The Middle East seems to comprise much more than 18% of the Muslim world population. Even the history of Jews, Christians, and Muslims seems to deny commonalities, and rather focus on conflict and violence. The challenges of misconceptions abound (largely, in my opinion, because for the most part Muslims do not try to cram their religion in our faces - which is a good thing).

Here are a couple half-truths that Karima gave us.

First half-truth, the Prophet Muhammad had a number of Jews executed for treason. The larger story is that, at a time when Jews and Muslims were both in Madina, Jews had let attackers into the town. Okay, so what's the deal? Well, the Prophet Muhammad allowed the Jews to be judged under Islamic or Jewish law. The Jews chose the rabbi's jugdment which was subsequently established as guilty - and Jewish law states the penalty for treason is execution. The Jews were condemned by their own laws.

Second half-truth, men get twice as much inheritance as women, under Islamic law. Pigs! The larger story is that Muslim men are responsible for supporting these women for life. Not only must the men support the women for life, they must continue to support the women despite the woman's financial security. That's right, even a millionaire female could expect support despite her adequate condition. Support for women lasts a lifetime.

Dar al Islam runs this teacher's institute to reconcile these misconceptions - but it goes further to promote a fundamental understanding of Islam (the religion, not necessarily the actual practices of each and every Muslim).

Key concept: Here is a perspective to keep in mind as one thinks about the history and origins of Islam: the times have changed. People tend to view historical acts in a... prepare for academia's new buzz word... tempocentric way. If it is wrong today, it was wrong back then. If it could happen now, it could happen then. Realize as you take a mental journey through history that the attitudes and environment of the times are different. We will visit this concept again later.

For more resources that Karima Alavi thinks provide an accurate view of Islam, see:
Videos of Ovideo Salazar
Frontline programs of PBS
Heart of Islam and Young Muslim’s Guide to the Modern World by Seyyed Hossein Nasr
Comedy shows of Allah Made Me Funny