There has been a dramatic increase of books published, news stand articles covering, and news broadcasts reporting on topics related to Islam since September 11, 2001. Due to the already general ignorance about the religion, this abrupt interest in coverage created a recipe for destructive reporting. The media coverage on Islam can be more or less identifiable in two groups; genuine exploration of the topic or deliberate attempts to pursue religion defamation and/or political agendas.

Unfortunate remarks were made about Islam immediately after 9/11, which could be considered as a normal response to an event of such great emotion provoking magnitude. What isn't understandable is that years later slanderous literature about Islam is still hitting our book stores and news stands. Why is it so easy for material that is obviously anti-Muslim to be published? It appears that an atmosphere has evolved where it is not only accepted to produce anti-Muslim literature, but it has also become expected that literature take that course. The bottom line is; it has become politically correct to be anti-Muslim.

We must take notice of individuals such as Paul Sperry and Daniel Pipes who have set agendas to create hatred towards Islam. Paul Sperry's most recent delusional book entitled INFILTRATION is so dangerously misguiding that it should not be promoted by any book seller. I am a Muslim who is proud to live in a free country where we can express ourselves feely, despite what Mr. Sperry may claim. But when literature creates a dangerous environment for a group of people, some action should take place.

If you buy into Mr. Sperry's delusion, you will hate Muslims. The ideas presented in his book INFILTRATION will most likely prompt accepted racist views towards Muslims living in the United States. Mr. Sperry's irrational fear can only result in an irrational solution, which is to deport all Muslims and close the borders to anyone who is Muslim. Well I suppose Muslims wouldn't miss living in the United States, because "freedom and democracy is incompatible" with their religion, as Mr. Sperry claims. 

When reading a book or article, ask yourself "where do we go from here?" If the answer is irrational and does not follow a true free democratic society, then the ideas presented in the book are most likely irrational and/or agenda seeking.

Unfortunately within Muslims there are some intolerant individuals who are taking advantage of the current geo-political environment and pushing their own irrational agendas. Intolerance should not be accepted in any form.

Muslims do belong in the United States. What doesn't belong in the United States is intolerance and racism. We are currently living in a society that is intolerant of a specific group of people. I hope that this is only a phase and not a regression to the intolerant American past.

Munther Barakat is is a graduate in psychology from the University of Wisconisn at Milwaukee. He is currently working on a doctorate in clinical psychology.

I can't agree more with this article.

If I may suggest a way out. The American Muslims must come together irrespective of all differences and face the enemy squarely. What does the enemy has? Ability to write and  the media to communicate. These two key elements need funds. Why shouldn't the muslims get together and fund this project. They can even make use of the millions being collected as zakkat money (though not permitted but the situation American Muslims find themselves now this is inevitable, it is a lalurah). You have to reply these guys with equal venom, otherwise the most american populace already corrupted with the "democracy" idea and all its bad anticedents will opt for these tugs as role models and the end will be terrible for muslims, Allah forbids.  

I fully agree with the point this article raises. Muslim bashing and Islam bashing has become politically correct not only in USA but in the rest of the world where Muslims are in minority. Brother from Nigeria is right that we have to have funds to counter the mischief.

But Muslims will need more than just money. Where is the expertise ? Where is unity ? Where is planning ? Where is organization ? Dr. Mahathir had very aptly pointed out that the adversary today is too clever. Muslims must practice to "think" coolly, be moderate, understand the priorities.

If they wish to demolish the current financial system and start Islamic Banks before attending to counter Muslim bashing, we can wait till the cows come home.

If the Muslims living as minorities wish to struggle for establishment of Shariah laws in their host countries, we must wait further.

If Muslims wish to clash on every little thing beginning with celebrating birthdays or holidays & consigning all non Muslims to hell because they did not utter "there is one God", we must wait more.

We must wait endlessly if Muslims keep glorifying Muslim as superior to the whole world ( You are best Ummah ever created) no matter how low the community may have sunk, compared to the times of revelation of The Book, in morals, education, sciences, finance and every thing that matters �today�.

Saying Islam is excellent, only Muslims are bad does not wash. We will always be judged for what we do & not what we should have done. No outsider is interested in glorifying Islam when he encounters bad Muslims. This hypocrisy is our pastime. And it is counter productive. It angers the other man.

Strategy today should be to retire the current specialists (extreme fundamentalist) Muslims. Bring forward the moderate ones who understand that now we need more friends, Muslim and non Muslim, less antagonism within & without.

Wassalaam,

Mukhlis

Mukhlis wrote: We must wait endlessly if Muslims keep glorifying Muslim as superior to the whole world ( You are best Ummah ever created) no matter how low the community may have sunk, compared to the times of revelation of The Book, in morals, education, sciences, finance and every thing that matters �today�. Saying Islam is excellent, only Muslims are bad does not wash. We will always be judged for what we do & not what we should have done. No outsider is interested in glorifying Islam when he encounters bad Muslims. This hypocrisy is our pastime. And it is counter productive. It angers the other man. Strategy today should be to retire the current specialists (extreme fundamentalist) Muslims. Bring forward the moderate ones who understand that now we need more friends, Muslim and non Muslim, less antagonism within & without. Wassalaam,   Mukhlis

I totally agree with you. We must get our act together.

I very much agree to the views expressed by my colleagues.  The epicentre of global polarisation is Islam bashing.  It is taken as the best tool to achieve ones goal from individual level to the national and international level.  Some times knowingly or otherwise one fells into the cobweb woven by the people of vested interest.  Islam bashing has become such a good tool that even so called modern muslims use it to achieve their personal goal.

Anyway, it is a process which has been applied since inception of Islam itself. For countering it, we have to look into the history and tradition of Islam.  True Islamic knowledge based on Quran & Sunnah and moulding our lives accordingly is the only way to achieve the goal.  It is not mere dialogue but it has been well tested on the anvil of time.  I would like to go a step further & explore that true islamic spirit will never let a momin recite the vereses of 'Bukhari Sharif" while the Bukhara is on fire.  Was it Islamic tradition of Islam's golden period? Who taught us such lessons?  Who compelled the Ummah to sleep when his house is on fire?  The most diputed area of our life is tolerance with respect to our own religious matters.  We are always suspicious to our momin brother if his symbolic action or thinking does not match with our own.  Instead of thinking to change the world we must individually change ourselves.  Believe, still we posses the tools the world is looking for disparately.  If we can not use these tools, it will be given to someone else and we will be thrown aside as an expire force.  It is law of nature, "Sunnatullah".  Quran's explains such instances as "Aiyamullah".  History repeats the same in 7/8th century with the advent of Mongols & Tataris.  It may be my illusion but today Europe seems to be matured for advent of this "sunnatullah" inspite of it's present Islam bashing.  They deserve better for Islam.  We will be individually & collectively loser.  Islam is not going to lose anything. The possessor of Gold is reckoned by Gold, not the Gold is reckoned by it's possesor. 

My comments will remain incomplete without giving an insight solution.  Let us try to achieve ,explore & practice true Islamic spirit based on Quran & Sunnah, which is available in various languages.  Our young generation should try to achieve the best tools of modern age(science, technology and the best brain), which Islam does not prohibit them. Modern Scintific exploration with Islamic way of life will really produce the glimpses of paradise on earth.  A lot of man-made havocs will automatically disappear and we will enjoy a peaceful & glorious life.  Let us try to achieve it.  "Uquabi Ruh Jab bedaar hoti hai Musalman men, Nazar aati hai unko apni manzil asmanon men". Aamin 

There will always be bad Muslims. At least, Muhammad(S.A.W.S) didn't succeed in making every Muslim of his time perfect/sinless. But to conceal the mischief of the West behind the acts of those Muslims is a supreme example of servile flattery.

Alwardah wrote: Mukhlis wrote: We must wait endlessly if Muslims keep glorifying Muslim as superior to the whole world ( You are best Ummah ever created) no matter how low the community may have sunk, compared to the times of revelation of The Book, in morals, education, sciences, finance and every thing that matters �today�. Saying Islam is excellent, only Muslims are bad does not wash. We will always be judged for what we do & not what we should have done. No outsider is interested in glorifying Islam when he encounters bad Muslims. This hypocrisy is our pastime. And it is counter productive. It angers the other man. Strategy today should be to retire the current specialists (extreme fundamentalist) Muslims. Bring forward the moderate ones who understand that now we need more friends, Muslim and non Muslim, less antagonism within & without. Wassalaam,   Mukhlis I totally agree with you. We must get our act together.

a good way to begin any type of media or publication of Muslim/Isamic views and culture would be to DJ a show on a community radio station.

as an American, I love community radio because I get tired of the mainstream stuff that is played and repeated.  I get to listen to Celtic Irish, Indian, Arabic, European music.  World news, etc..

There are talk shows in which a host can take callers for discussion and questions.  There is Latin radio as well.
So if Muslims want to create a voice of their own in American Society, radio would be a good place to start.

its all a matter of seeing the opportunity and creating positive experiences for other people where they are open to learn. 
even an idea would be to host maybe an open event to welcome non-Muslims  ... dont know how taboo that may be???
talking-circles or discussion to create that unity... of course if there is a factor of glorification that Muslims are superior to others - that would have to be removed from the environment to enable visitors to remain interested.

me, i would love to attend other cultural events with dancing, food, music, discussion, etc.... but the fear of being out-casted remains....

or publishing local newspaper that is within reach to non-Muslim citizens of the US.

Im just suggesting ideas here.....

Assalamu Alaikum:

The easiest way to combat the anti-Muslim hype is for Muslims to get out into the world and publicly be Muslim.  Participate.  Where I live, Muslims hang out mainly with other Muslims... preferably Muslims from the same ethnic background is their own.  That does nothing to help dispell the myths that the Average American holds about Islam.

How many Americans really know a Muslim? As a friend. 

• How many of our masjids are set up to receive non-Muslim visitors?? Talk to your American converts to see just how far your masjid needs to go before a typical American (or American revert) would be comfortable there. 
• Having Sisters in some damp, dusty room with screaming babies is not a way to do dawa.
• Having a khutbah in Arabic or Urdu that visitors cannot understand (and most likely your second and third generation kids have trouble understanding)... won't work
• What about having a visitors session or khutbah on the weekend where everything is in English... so non-Muslims know exactly what we're saying when we pray.

If you have kids, do you volunteer at your kids' school??  What about taking younger kids to Gymboree or Music classes??? Do you go to these things publicly as a Muslim (wearing hijab) so that others know that Muslims care just as much about their kids as non-Muslims do?? (This is a myth that many Americans believe. That we all want our kids to grow up to be suicide bombers.)

Do you encourage your kids to follow their hearts in career paths other than medicine or engineering?? We need Muslim actors, Muslim teachers (in nonMuslim schools!), Muslim newscasters, Muslim artists, Muslim businesspeople, etc.

Do you and others in your community volunteer in the community? How rare is it for somebody to meet a Muslim volunteering at the local soup kitchen, or hospital, or wherever.  Get out there.  Be a public Muslim who cares about the community.

The solution is to stop being so isolated.

Peace.

Wow !

Who said Muslims are only fanatics with blinkers - can not think ? Who said Muslims live either centuries behind or jump staright to life here-after.

Here are some brothers with great ideas. They want to be Momin & yet they want to live this life as a Muslim with honour, and the head held high.

May Allah bring that day when these small streams will join to become a forceful river.

Mukhlis

�Who said Muslims are only fanatics with blinkers - can not think ? Who said Muslims live either centuries behind or jump staright to life here-after.�

I have to say - USA-bashing is fairly fashionable at the moment, too.

I might even suggest that this gives Muslims and the USA something in common. 

So - what conclusion(s) might be drawn from this?

Kim...

Oh, I think you misinterpreted me. I didn't mean "Muslims in particular say bad things about the US", I meant that _lots _ of people all over the place abuse Americans/the USA.

Sometimes it's justified, sometimes it isn't and I'm not going to say that I don't indulge in it occasionally. Some of their business decisions and cultural imperialism mean that many of us get extremely angry and frustrated sometimes.

Kim... 

Are Human Rights just measured in terms of who gave what to the world? Didn't realise good peaceful behaviour was actually a trade?

It's not just politically correct to hurle a few abuses at the Muslims, the Prophet or anything Islamic. It actually gets you a five star suit in a hotel and turns you into a regular celeb.

[QUOTE=firewall] i think many nations do not prefer US, even the non-muslims. it's because of their "hawkish, arrogant" policies. when they come, they seems like they want to takeover & think they're of higher intelligence than the others. that's the impression i get, from their speeches. honetsly, it can get obnoxious.

Kindly keep "Hawkish" out of all of this. I know birds well. Hawk is one of the most dignified birds. Amreekan policies are "Vulturish" not hawkish.

Plus it's absolute sheer natural thing that people who happen not to have even two cells to rub together are the only ones who think they are intelligent. God bless us all when they hold nothing better than MacCulture.

Well, for what it's worth I don't think I'm better than any other culture, race, or religion.  I'm an American and a Roman Catholic.  My friends and relatives love our country and our faith, but then doesn't everyone around the world love their county and their religion?  We are supposed to be loyal to our country and our faith, as my Mother told me many, many years ago.  At least most people are happy with what and who they are.  I could mention many times our church has worked very hard to earn money to give to those less fortunate or those in need of help....but that would be bragging and would not be humble.  I have absolutely no more control over the improper actions of those in my country than you have for people in your country who are disrespectful of Americans, Europeans, etc., etc.  It is all wrong, and I believe God is very unhappy when he sees His children acting in such a sinful manner.  We are all sons of Abraham, even if we do have different beliefs, are we not?  How can we ever hope to have peace if we continue to disrespect and exhibit rudeness toward those whom we really know very little about?  Knowledge is power.  We need to pray for wisdom as well as peace.

Peace to All,

Patty