The West’s perception of Islam

November 26, 2023

The West’s perception of Islam is changing. The west has always been a place that has been reluctant to fully embrace Islam and its followers. However there has always been a secret curiosity of this faith.

History

During the period of King Charles II there was an interest in Moroccans due to a gift upon marriage where he was given the port city of Tangier that had been captured by the Portuguese. However when unrest set in between the now British settlers and locals, King Charles II decided to invite an Ambassador from the court of the Moroccan King Mawley Ismail. Hoping for a truce.

Later during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, history teaches us that after she left the Catholic church, Queen Elizabeth was isolated and her ‘throne’ was at risk. She decided to reconsider her allies and looked further afield into the Orient – which includes Asia, South Asia and the Middle East. Here she began creating trade routes between Britain and the corresponding countries. Communicating with the Ottoman emperor Sultan Murad III in Turkey and his wife. They would have regular letters sent to each other as well as expensive gifts. This curiosity led to opening up the British doors to Muslims from Eastern shores.

Islam and Muslims have always been present on British land but due to not being present in British history books, we are led to believe that a sudden insurgence occurred during the 50s and 60s.

In later years Islam became a political talking point. With the power situated in middle Eastern countries where there was an expanse of oil and gas. These areas became hot spots for the UK as well as other Western countries. To be able to get their hands on this expensive commodity they would either need to build ties with the middle east or disrupt them.

Choices

Throughout history the decision to destabilise the Middle East has been in the forefront of western ideology.

The Europeans used ink to draw lines on maps: they were lines that did not exist in reality and created some of the most artificial borders the world has seen. An attempt is now being made to redraw them in blood. – Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall

The idea of divide and conquer has always been a forefront tactic of the West, especially Britain. Over the years they have played chess in the Middle East to their benefit. Brokering deals with rulers and other western states, then switching them last minute to move their agenda through. By controlling the situation from A to Z the West allows little negotiation unless it in their favour. You can see this clearly with the Palestine-Israel situation.

Here Britain made deals with France [who helped them during WW1 to now share the Arab lands between themselves.] The Arabs [who were encouraged by the British to revolt against the Ottoman Empire in exchange for land – including Palestine] and the newly formed Zionist regime [offering them a safe haven for the Jewish people in Palestine.] Once the Arabs took hold of Makkah and Madina, France was given Lebanon and Syria and Britain kept Palestine and Iraq for themselves. This way through the Balfour Declaration they could provide the Zionist regime their Jewish safe haven – Israel.

Helping to implement wars, conflicts and genocides across the Middle East to keep the west as the stronghold power machine of the world is key to the strategy of destabilisation. With the Middle East always in problems they will look towards the western power heads for support against each other and therefore continuing the vicious cycle of control and colonialism.

Rise in Islamophobia

After the attacks of 9/11 and 7/7 there was a rise in hate crimes and Islamophobic incidents in the West. Within a few moments of tragedy the world for Muslims changed for the worst. The western world held Muslims as terrorists – the enemy of the state.

George W. Bush began his coordinated attacks in the Middle East as a form of revenge as well as the eradication of Al-Qeeda. Backed by Britain and other European countries, America waged war and power for over 20 years with the East and the Muslims in the West were collateral.

Muslim men have always been portrayed as controlling but now they were being called terrorists, their entire identities were being stripped from them and we had a loss of what a real Muslim man was, rather a westernised version was recreated and splattered across the world. Women were subjected to more abuse and media portrayals implicated in programs to articles that Muslim women had no choices, they should become more revealing ‘to fit into society’ and that the religion on the whole was archaic.

From Quran burnings to drawings of the Prophet Muhammad, Islam was a talking point but not in a good way.

Islam as a religion was tarnished in the mainstream media and by political leaders. From comments of Niqabis being called ‘letterboxes’ by Prime Minister Boris Johnson or the strategy plans of stopping immigration from Muslim countries like Syria or Sudan.

The truth of Islam and the wealth of the Quran was being misrepresented. This made many Muslims afraid to show their identity and caused visible Muslims to become invisible.

An increase in surveillance [through programs like prevent], dividing communities, losing job opportunities or just plain racism. The hate and islamophobia was hitting the average Muslim in all parts of their life.

However October 2023 came and with it began a shift.

Shifting the Narrative

On October 7th 2023 the world started to take notice of the plight of the Palestinians. This was the first time ever that the public in the West took a real interest in what was occurring in front of their eyes, in their hands, on their socials and devices. For the first time real questions were being asked, on the ground footage was being released by amazing press journalists and photographers like @motaz.azaiza and @hindkhoudary. Accounts like @sbeih.jpg and @anat.international took it upon themselves to begin educating the online world about the Palestinians; their past and present situations.

This, with the addition of videos and imagery coming straight out of Gaza, Palestine created a vortex of information that hadn’t been accessible to this height in previous attacks. Combined with the lies coming out of the mainstream media, more people began to question the truth and narrative.

It is now over a month since this genocide began. I say genocide because Israel cut off water, electricity, fuel. Bombed the resources within Gaza such as bakeries, wheat stores, water tanks, hospitals and safe zones. We have actually now reached a point where it can be called a concentration camp.

However even with all of that the Palestinians have never cursed Allah or their fate. Instead they call out “Allhamdulliah” [Praise be to Allah]. They show clarity and strength. These people still smile, they work together, they strive to be one Ummah. This is nothing short of what Islam teaches us and now the Palestinians are showing it to the world. Islam and being a true Muslim is being captured on our screens. There is a quote that has been shared online:

we are not freeing the Palestinians, instead they are freeing us.

This quote speaks out to everyone. As a Muslim, we see it as something we aspire to become. That integral faith they have is something we want to reach. To count our blessings and remind us that this life is temporary and the afterlife is what we should be striving for. It has moved our focus towards inner work and re-educating ourselves on our deen [religion].

For the non-Muslims it has opened their eyes to the faith that these Palestinians hold. They have never seen faith like this before. Losing everything yet still being able to carry on with a belief in Allah.

A change is upon us

This garnered a newfound interest in researching Islam, reading and listening to the Quran. Online book clubs started to study the Quran together. One such book club is being run in America by a TikTok influencer Megan Rice @megan_b_rice. She began listening to the Quran and then putting up videos to her followers about her thoughts on what she had listened to. This instantaneously gauged an interest with her audience where many were influenced to try it themselves. Megan later created a book reading called ‘World Religion Book Club’ on Discourse that was open to everyone and anyone who wanted to understand, read and learn about the Quran firstly and then move on to other religions.

“…This club is to directly combat islamophobia, prejudice, discrimination, hate towards religion, ethnic, nationalities. This club is bringing a whole community together of all different people of all different walks of life. To celebrate our differences and celebrate a beautiful religion that is Islam. Other religions we will be studying down the line aswell…” – Megan Rice

This step towards learning, understanding and communicating with others encouraged her to ultimately take her shahada [profession of faith] on the 6th of November. Her journey is encouraging others to open their eyes and hearts to Islam and Muslims.

Following Instagram accounts like @reverted_muslims has given the world an insider look at non-muslims not only attempting to pray namaz for the first time, but also read sections from the Quran as well as taking their shahadas and reverting to Islam. These people have documented their first interactions and some their entire journeys. The emotional rollercoaster they are going through as well as looking for answers to their questions.

For the first time social media has been a positive influence. Previously we have not been able to use the online world to our benefit. However this time through the genocide in Gaza we as Muslims have become journalists, reporters and educators. We have taken it upon ourselves to infiltrate the wider online communities that we have already built from our personal pages and influence and provide direct sources and information. With social media accounts and news coming directly from the ground in Gaza we are able to spread the truth and quash the fake news. The social medium has become a challenger to mainstream media outlets like the BBC, CNN and even Sky News. By reposting and sharing the truth, videos and images, more people who were unaware of the Palestinian – Israel apartheid are educating themselves through the resources being shared.

Even though we may not know each other personally, it feels like most of the online world is united and focused. They are helping to push the cause further which is what is needed. It is also changing the narrative on islamophobia as questions are now being asked and understandings are being created.

This increased awareness is helping to bring about alleyship from the most unexpected places. There is a saying we Muslims say and believe in: