International Day to Combat Islamophobia
DELMARVA- Islam is the second-largest religion in the world after Christianity, with about 1.8 billion followers, about 25% of the world population. However, Islamophobia is still on the rise and on March 15 the world is asked to combat those fears, and instead, make a friend.
No Place for Hate
Islamophobia is defined as a fear, prejudice and hatred of Muslims motivated by institutional, ideological, political and religious hostility.
Farah Yahya, originally from Pakistan, has been an American citizen for 35 years and is the Community Outreach Director for Delmarva Muslim Community. “This term islamophobia did not exist pre 9/11, first of all, like the term jihadist did not exist before that.”
Education is Key
She says that closed worlds create closed minds and the only way to combat fear truly is to get to know the person you’re afraid of. Yahya says Muslims are integrated all over Delmarva and are contributing to the community. She says you may find that they shovel their driveway just like you do.
“We don’t prepare our children to be, first of all we don’t teach them the true history of this county either right? So, we do not prepare them for the children of the world. We just prepare them for that county they’re living in, literally. And we close their world. So, when they become adults, they’re not concerned about what’s happening outside their county or their city.”
Girl Power
In light of women’s history month, Yahya says she wanted to clear up some common misconceptions many may have about Muslim Women.
“Being a Muslim woman who covers her hair, that the first question I’m asked. It’s like ‘oh my God, you must be so oppressed who made you do this?’ Let me tell you, first of all, Allah, my Creator has asked me to do this so I’m doing this to please him Almighty. Muslim women are not oppressed. 90 percent of the women choose to do that.”
Ignorance surrounding Islam
Yahya says many people harbor confusion about her faith and make assumptions that don’t align with their beliefs. She wanted to make it known that all Muslims who truly practice Islam do not believe in or participate in any form of terrorism.
“One of the students said, “Well I think you guys don’t like Jesus.” and I said ‘Oh my God, no. He is a beloved prophet… Muslims have to believe in Allah, monotheism is the main pillar of Islam, then the prophet. We cannot be Muslim if we believe in every prophet- Moses, Jesus, Noah- every prophet.”
Get Involved
Yahya says other things people may not understand is that the Muslim faith only allows physical contact with family members, and men cannot make eye contact with women who are not their wives. Yahya is on Wicomico County’s Library Board of Trustees and encourages other Muslims to get involved in their community.
She says they greatest way to break the ice, is with a smile. “Nothing will offend us, Ask. We are better off asking theses tough questions than assuming what is not right.” If you would like more information about the Delmarva Muslim Community you can visit their website.
