Jenna Jablonsky

A Whole New World

There is so much to learn in the world of Islam. This is especially interesting when
everything you thought you knew is completely wrong, because we are fed misleading
information from the media. I never was one to walk around and think that Muslim people
were bad people, but I also can admit that I never realized how many things are giant
misconceptions. It is interesting to learn about how similar they are to Christians, because here
in America when they refer to Muslims on the news it is typically about terrorism. It was
amazing to lean how much Islam makes it an actual duty to help and take care of others. It
seems to be a very including faith, and that may be why it is the youngest religion in the world
but remains to be the second most popular religion as well! Lastly, we need to spread the truth
about these people and what they believe. They stand on good morals, and anybody who
believes in what is right and just should be treated with utmost respect.

Islam believes that the wealthy should be doing their part to help out the less fortunate
in the world. In the Qur’an one of the core themes is justice, and poverty was something
addressed early years by implementing a tax called Zakat. (Powell 16) If you have more than
your neighbor, and they are struggling, then you should help them out. This is how Muhammed
lived his live, and it is also part of what the Five Pillars of Islam tell us. Muslim people must fast
for the entire day during the month of Ramadan, every day, from sunrise to sunset. This is one
of the Five Pillars of Islam from the Understanding Islam text, and it is referred to as Sawm. This
fasting was not in place to represent an experience that Muhammed or Allah went through, but
to show them how some of the poor and less fortunate live their lives daily. (Hill 242) I had no
clue that this was the reason for their fasting. It’s like an annual reminder of what it is like to
walk in the shoes of someone less fortunate that must go hungry some days, and it also
reminds us why it is so important to help these people. “Ramadan ends with the great feast of
Eid al-Fitra which is marked by donations of food to the poor, common prayer and feasting with
friends and relatives.” (Understanding Islam 11) Another one of the Five Pillars of Islam is called
Zakat, or almsgiving. This stands for the obligation that belongs to every Muslim to charitably
help others out if they have the means to do so. Anyone who is applicable to this donation
should be giving 2.5% of what they make annually to the poor. (Understanding Islam 11) What
makes this even more surprising is they don’t stop there. It is also expected of people to
personally go out and donate more to other charitable causes such as schools or even donating
directly to a less fortunate person. They are expected to go out of their way to do these things
on their own.

In Islam we are equal no matter what whether it comes down to social class, race,
gender, intelligence, or anything else. There is nothing that can make someone above, or better
than, another individual. “Racism is for Islam a sin that offends the unity of humanity and the
unity of God.” (Hill 240) At the end of the day we are all equally judged by our actions and
decisions that we make in our lives. It is said that if we live a righteous life of doing good and
helping others then we will be rewarded, but if you do not live a good life you are going to face
your own, not as pleasant, consequences as well. (Social Teachings of Islam) Islam says that we
are supposed to have respect for all people, and especially for our parents. In the Qur’an it
specifically says to show kindness to you parents and love them as you love Allah for as long as
they are around. The main idea is to lead a good life in the way that an all loving god would act
if they would walk this earth. Allah loves all of his children, so this is a universal faith that
welcomes all people from any race and from any place in the world. (Monier) It also goes along
with Christianity believing that there is one god, but in Islam he is referred to as Allah.

I was blown away to find out that when they talk about Allah in Islam, and God in
Christianity, they are referring to the same deity. Both religions are based from similar ideas,
but in America they get treated very differently. Both religions come from the same root, and it
is Judaism. The reason that Muslims get such a bad reputation here in the US is because of the
small group of what are called Islamists. “In this regard, it is also one of the most
misunderstood and maligned religions in America, often depicted in the media and the popular
mind as a ‘terrorist religion.’” (Hill 238) In Islam the followers are supposed to be the
advocators for the oppressed, but in a situation like this the Muslim people need someone to
help them out. People who properly practice Islam will sometimes reach out to these groups to
try to educate them and show that they are not acting as Allah would want them to. Everyone
needs to become more educated on this world of Islam, because these people do not deserve
to be thought of in the way that they are. We are all ignorant to the situation, because of the
lies that the media tells us about these people. We only see the bad when the good overpowers
the bad by a landslide, so people need their eyes opened to what most Muslims are actually
like.

These are such important lessons that need to be known by all. Between the
widespread acceptance, good deeds and overall genuine care and effort that comes from the
Muslims is incredible. They should be more understood and treated with the respect that they
deserve. They seem to go out of their way the most to help others in any type of situation, good
or bad, and they should be commended and get recognition for that
 Works Cited

Monier, Elizabeth, and Hadani Ditmars. “The Religion of Islam.” Middle East Institute, 1 Nov.
2019, www.mei.edu/publications/religion-islam#:~:text=Islam%20is%20a%20universal
%20faith,the%20universe%20and%20of%20humankind.

Russell Powell, Social Justice and Islamic Jurisprudence, 17 Seattle J. for Soc. Just. 1 (2018).
https://digitalcommons.law.seattleu.edu/faculty/816

“Social Teachings of Islam.” Weekend Post, 11 Sept. 2017,

www.weekendpost.co.bw/25772/columns/social-teachings-of-islam/.

Understanding Islam: A Guide for Catholic Educators.

www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/ecumenical-and-interreligious/interreligious/
upload/2013-Understanding-Islam-Guide-for-Catholic-Educators-Final-Version-
09112013.pdf.