What is that Muslim thinking?

Whether it is an issue overseas or on our very doorstep, it seems Islam cannot stay out of the news very long.    Everyone seems to have an opinion and yet it appears that these issues seldom get true closure.   Something more newsworthy pops up and it just lies dormant.

From all this coverage how much does the average Aussie truly know about Islam and Muslims?  Many people are curious about what those Muslims are really thinking.  On suburban streets people shyly smile at me, seeming wary of what my response may be.  When I smile in return they smile brightly. 

I truly believe that most Australians still have very little idea of our beliefs.  In fact, I would say that most of us have very little understanding of each others' faith, be it Buddhist, Christian, Hindu or Jewish.  Many in western culture have been told from childhood that there are three social taboos - politics, sex and religion.  These are not topics of discussion outside the family home.  Also, because we live in a very multi-cultural environment we have to be 'PC' (politically correct) and careful of what we say and do, just in case we offend somebody.  Yet as a society I believe we are fairly ignorant about what actually offends different groups of people.

We also need to have knowledge about ourselves. Too many people label themselves by a faith they have little true knowledge of.  They are born into a family who declare themselves as Muslim, Christian, Buddhist and so on, yet often they do not even know the basic tenets of their own faith.  This, I have discovered, seems to be true across all faiths, including Islam.  Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) told Muslims:  "Seeking knowledge is a duty upon every Muslim".  The Quran (49:13) says:. O mankind!  Lo!  We have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another.  Lo!  the noblest of you, in the sight of Allah, is the best in conduct. Lo! Allah is the Knower, Aware.

No-one wants to be, nor should be, abused.  This is clear.  But I feel we should be comfortable to talk about and understand our similarities and differences.  There have been a number of occasions where people have told me that someone asked them why I wear hijab (the head scarf).  When they say: "Why you don't ask her yourself?"  they answer;:  "Oh, I couldn't do that".  Yet I am happy to explain my reasons.  I have learnt over the past five years that people in general are curious, not hostile.  However, many people Google their questions instead of taking the risk of insulting someone unintentionally.

Through his research on Islam, my father, has become aware that Muslims and Christians have many misconceptions about each other.  He points out the simple truth that Christianity was born out of the Middle East just as Islam was and there is a profound kinship between Christianity and Islam.  We definitely have our differences, I am not denying this.  If there weren't major differences there would be no reason for me to leave Christianity and embrace Islam. Yet Islam shares a number of the same beliefs.

The Quran (2:136) states:  "Say (O Muslims):  We believe in Allah and that which is revealed unto us and that which was revealed unto Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, and that which Moses and Jesus received, and that which the prophets received from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and unto Him we have surrendered".

We need to stop living in ignorance of each other.  Ignorance breeds fear, fear breeds hate.