Navigating Islamophobia: Understanding Its Causes and Addressing It Through Islamic Values and Principles
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Up till today, we have and are witnessing various forms of biases and prejudices against people due to race, religion, or nationality. Differences in identity are deemed as a reason for animosity towards others. This attitude manifests in various ways, be it through hate comments, physical harassment or legislation targeted towards a specific group of people. This hatred, or phobia, towards those who are different, takes place on various levels: individual, social, and governmental.
For instance, we can see the prevalence of Islamophobia – defined as “rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness” – in many parts of the world manifested in different ways. The United Nations has warned that Islamophobia is rising to “alarming levels”. Because of their religious identity, Muslims have been subjected to violence, travel bans, discrimination, and legislation banning public representation of the Islamic faith.
Notable examples would be the executive order that was signed by Donald Trump in 2017, banning people from six Muslim-majority countries from entering the USA.1 In 2023, the French government introduced legislation banning the wearing of abaya – a popular dress robe worn mainly by Muslim women – in schools.2
Read: Dismantling Islamophobia with Compassion and Understanding
Examples of Islamophobia Around the World
Islamophobic sentiments and anti-Muslim legislations are still being pushed and supported by certain politicians and political parties in some countries. A few of these leaders operate and garner support using identity politics, pitting the majority against the minority. They also act as fearmongers, playing upon the fears of their societies and directing them towards Muslims.3
In March 2024, Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories, reported to the UN Human Rights Council that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Israel's ongoing assault on Gaza constitutes genocide.4 Amidst the atrocities committed by the Israelis upon the Palestinians, Islamophobia has taken a much darker and stronger turn. In the aftermath of October 7, 2023, we are witnessing a rise in Islamophobia as reported by several organisations such as CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations) and TellMAMA (Measuring Anti-Muslim Acts).
In a report written just two months after October 7, 2023, both agencies reported a substantial increase in anti-Muslim reports and complaints as compared to the previous year.5 In this case, Georgetown University Academic, Professor John Esposito, attributed it to the strong Islamophobic rhetoric by Israel post-October 7, 2023, which was then peddled by media agencies.6
Read: Shaheed Meaning and Its Relevance Today
In addition to this, we may find from general observation, news reports, and academic analysis, that global sporting events are often the platforms when Islamophobia would rear its head. One example would be the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where the host Qatar and their football team was targeted and ridiculed due to their Muslim identity by segments of the Western media.7 While in the ongoing 2024 Olympics, it was announced by France that it has implemented a blanket ban on all its female athletes from wearing the hijab, an act that Amnesty International has described as ‘discriminatory.’8
There are also reports of well-funded entities whose purpose is to spread anti-Islam and anti-Muslim sentiments. In a report titled Confronting Fear: 2016 Islamophobia Report compiled by CAIR Oklahoma, it was documented that, “The U.S.-based Islamophobia network’s inner core is currently comprised of at least thirty-three groups whose primary purpose is to promote prejudice against, or hatred of, Islam and Muslims.” It was then observed that “Between 2008 and 2013, inner-core organisations had access to at least $205,838,077 in total revenue,” while “An additional forty-one groups whose primary purpose does not appear to include promoting prejudice against or hatred of Islam and Muslims, but whose work regularly demonstrates or supports Islamophobic themes, make up the network’s outer core.”9
Screenshot of a news coverage by CBC News, dated 19 June 2024, reporting a video made viral online. The video depicts an advertising truck driving through streets showing clips of Muslims praying accompanied with the message “Wake up Canada. You are under siege.”
It would be inaccurate to claim that Islamophobia exists solely in Western societies, for we have witnessed in recent times that even Asian societies can exhibit such an irrational mentality towards Muslims too.10 For instance, some policies and media propaganda regulated by the current Indian government are reported to be deliberately against its Muslim population.
The interconnectedness of the world now means that we can be affected and subjected to Islamophobic attitudes, be it through travelling or virtual platforms. For Muslims who bear clear religious markers, such as the hijab, there is a risk of being harmed as a result of Islamophobia. Through social media, one may easily be exposed to the violence other Muslims experience or be victims of hate speech as well. Such situations can be harmful to one’s mental health.
Read: Our Response in Crisis will Demonstrate Our Core Values as Muslims
As human beings, no matter who we are, we should always stand firm against hate and discrimination. One’s religious identity should never be the basis of hatred and violence. Despite the rise in Islamophobic trends, we acknowledge that they do not represent the entire world. In fact, Muslims all around the world have allies who clearly stand against such sentiments and acts of discrimination, such as a recent peaceful protest in Paris against racism, Islamophobia and violence against children.11
Regardless, we should still stand guard against Islamophobia, especially since it relates to our well-being and faith. For this reason, we must be aware of the nature of this phenomenon that exists in our current context. Part of this awareness would mean knowing how we should engage with an attitude that hates and fears Muslims, just because they adhere to Islam.
Causes and Motives of Islamophobia
An individual or a society’s irrational fear and hatred towards fellow human beings may be understood in the sense that it is built upon stereotypes of other groups. This irrational prejudice may be formed through Islamophobia by dehumanising Muslims on mass media, where they are, in some examples, portrayed as anti-West, terrorists and extremists, and threats to Western values and lifestyle. Though it is easy to take the simple route of generalisation, each manifestation of Islamophobia, be it on an individual or social level, must be seen through a nuanced lens that takes context into account. Islamophobia may be one of many factors in someone’s bias and prejudice towards Muslims, with essentialism, ethno-nationalism, xenophobia and racism being reasons as well.12
In the case of Islamophobia, it is relevant for us to understand it in the Western context. The reason for this is due to the significance and wide influence of the Western or euro-centric worldview, to the point where one may unknowingly and uncritically adopt its ideas and beliefs, deeming it as morally superior or correct. Though we should not claim that only Western societies are guilty of Islamophobia, as previously mentioned, their role in it should not be underplayed. This ‘biasness’ can be traced back to the Orientalist and Imperialist worldview, one which views those different in terms of race and religion, especially those from the Middle East, as inferior in every possible way. Even the value of a life.
The origin and similarities of Islamophobia in Orientalism – a term coined by Palestinian-American Edward Said, on the Western’s perception of the East also known as “The Orient” – have been widely discussed and acknowledged by academics. We see common tropes in both discourses, where Muslims – often conflated with Arabs – are seen as violent, ignorant, backwards, and so on. They are deemed as threats to a way of life, to the point where they are demonised and dehumanised. In the eyes of Islamophobes, the value of a Muslim’s life is worth less, as seen in the ongoing crises of the Israeli Genocide.14
What’s happening in Palestine is only possible through the dehumanisation of Palestinians by the Israeli state and the supporting nations who utilise Islamophobic rhetoric to vilify, dehumanise and even trivialise the Palestinian lives. One example is the conflation of Arabs and Muslims with the Palestinian identity. In an article by Middle East Monitor, it was aptly observed that, ‘Anti-Palestinian sentiment is deeply rooted in an economy driven by Islamophobia, where Arabs, Palestinians, and Muslims are often lumped together as an indistinct mass, collectively stereotyped under the banner of Islam and subjected to broad-brush attributions of failure, violence, and supposed cultural defects.’
Islamophobic discourse also inaccurately portrays Islam as a religion that is anti-women and anti-modernity, as well as an abomination that seeks to undermine culture. For example, the Prophet s.a.w. was caricatured in a demeaning light in France.16 It is from the uncritical adoption of these Islamophobic biases and prejudices, aided by the political rhetorics and portrayals in the media, that other societies are influenced by Islamophobic tropes. Muslims are also unfairly deemed as threats in several aspects: security, political, social, cultural, and even seen as invaders and infiltrators.17
Read: The Muslim response to provocation
In certain countries, it has reached the point where public displays of Islam are banned in the name of secularism.18 From the dehumanising media portrayals of Muslims, abetted by certain news agencies and journalists, isolated individuals may be influenced by this and spurred on to act against Muslims.19
In Singapore, we are fortunate that we do not have widespread Islamophobia due to our strong social harmony and cohesion, although we have witnessed in the past some cases of individuals who perpetuate such an attitude towards the Muslim community here. It is due to the endless efforts of our leaders and the community at large that we are able to reject such acts and understand that it is an anomaly.
An example is the Harmony Centre at An-Nahdhah Mosque in Singapore, operated by Muis. This centre aims to educate the public about the true teachings of Islam and accurately present Muslim life and culture to Singaporeans. It also functions as a hub for fostering greater understanding and engagement among people of all faiths.
How Can Muslims Deal With Islamophobia?
As Muslims, our faith is unequivocally clear about how our stance should be on discrimination of any kind. We must reject all forms of discrimination, be it due to race, religion, gender, or nationality. To discriminate goes against the ethos and essence of Islam. Allah s.w.t. states in the Quran that every child of Adam a.s. has been honoured. Every human soul possesses an honour and dignity that is intrinsic to its existence, regardless of who they are.
وَلَقَدۡ كَرَّمۡنَا بَنِيٓ ءَادَمَ وَحَمَلۡنَٰهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡبَرِّ وَٱلۡبَحۡرِ وَرَزَقۡنَٰهُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَٰتِ وَفَضَّلۡنَٰهُمۡ عَلَىٰ كَثِيرٍ مِّمَّنۡ خَلَقۡنَا تَفۡضِيلًا
“We have honoured the sons of Adam; provided them with transport on land and sea; given them for sustenance things good and pure; and conferred on them special favours, above a great part of our creation.”
(Surah Al-Isra’, 17:70)
When faced with discrimination, Muslims must condemn peacefully, be it in our hearts or vocally, by being mindful in our response to these acts. Discrimination is not the solution, nor violence should be the answer. We must be principled in our engagement with such perpetrators and not stoop down to their level.
Allah s.w.t. teaches us several ways to respond to Islamophobic acts that seek to provoke Muslims. The best would be to respond with what is better. This would mean educating others about the true nature of Islam and Muslims.
The responsibility to educate individuals and societies is crucial as it seeks to reform dogmatic and uncritical minds. For this, we are fortunate to have numerous individuals around the world who are qualified to do as such. As Allah s.w.t. teaches us in the Quran:
ولَا تَسْتَوِي الْحَسَنَةُ وَلَا السَّيِّئَةُ ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ فَإِذَا الَّذِي بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُ عَدَاوَةٌ كَأَنَّهُ وَلِيٌّ حَمِيمٌ
“And not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel (evil) by that (deed) which is better; and thereupon the one whom between you and him is enmity (will become) as though he was a devoted friend.”
(Surah Fussilat, 41:34)
At the same time, we must be aware that the Quran allows us to respond in a way that is based on justice. In the context of Singapore, as well as some countries, where the rule of law still prevails and is impartial, this would mean not taking matters into our own hands. Rather, in the case of harm and discrimination due to Islamophobia, one should use the law to bring the perpetrators to justice. Such a response is the wisest and in accordance with our religious teachings, as it enacts justice while also preserving the peace and harmony of our society.
وَإِنْ عَاقَبْتُمْ فَعَاقِبُواْ بِمِثْلِ مَا عُوقِبْتُم بِهِ وَلَئِن صَبَرْتُمْ لَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لِّلصَّابِرينَ
“And if you punish (an enemy, O believers), punish with an equivalent of that with which you were harmed. But if you are patient - it is better for those who are patient.”
(Surah An-Nahl, 16:126)
To educate and enlighten others is an endeavour that requires deep knowledge and much resources, while to enact justice in the face of transgressions is a deed that is beyond our means and capabilities. For this reason, the Quran informs us that we may choose to respond in another way, which is to forgive and turn away from those who are ignorant.
In hindsight, such acts are preferable to those that seek to hurt or maim others, breaking the established rule of law and further damaging the perception of Muslims, which happened in the Charlie Hebdo affair. This is exemplified in the Prophetic Tradition as well, where the Prophet s.a.w. would choose to forgive and ignore those who hurt and insult him.
فَاعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَاصْفَحْ إِنَّ اللّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
“Therefore, forgive those who err against you. Verily, Allah loves the doers of good. ”
(Surah Al-Maidah, 5:13)
وَأَعْرِضْ عَنِ ٱلْجَـٰهِلِينَ
“… And turn away from the ignorant.”
(Surah Al-A`raf, 7:199)
Read: Addressing Misconceptions: What Is Shariah Law?
Conclusion
The teachings of our beloved messenger, the Prophet s.a.w, is a rope that must be held tightly today. Allah s.w.t. declares that He did not send the Prophet s.a.w. except as a mercy for all of creation. To bring about mercy, justice must be enacted. As Muslims, we should hold on strongly to both pragmatic and ideal teachings of Islam where it teaches us to take the world as it is, both its good and bad, while still advocating for us to rise above the hatred, injustice, and oppression we have witnessed. The religion of Islam is an ethical religion, one that is built upon the foundation of mercy and justice.
But in our attempt to advocate mercy and justice, we may inevitably find ourselves in the crosshairs of Islamophobes who enforce their biases and prejudices upon Muslims and Islam. Recent events have shed a light on the true power dynamics of the world today. Those who protest the genocidal acts of Israel and criticise the support of other conspiring nations are labelled as anti-semitic, extremists and terrorists.20 Academics and intellectuals are banned from campuses for advocating the pro-Palestinian cause. The principle of free speech, it seems, is not extended to those who wish to uphold justice and human rights to protect Muslims.
Be as it may, it is part of the Islamic faith that we should never lose hope in humanity; there are those who are still redeemable and able to be reformed. For them, we seek to educate and enlighten.
For those who are persistent in their hatred and injustice, we strive to enact justice, while acknowledging there exists a time and place for them to be held accountable for their conduct in this world. In engaging with those who hate and fear Muslims, we should seek to be gracious, merciful, and compassionate but also firm in repelling harm, hatred, and injustice. Only then can we stand upright as Muslims.
Notes
1 (2020, October 6). A Licence to discriminate: Tump's Muslim & Refugee Ban. Amnesty International,
2 (2023, 3 October). France: Authorities must repeal discrimanotry ban on the wearing of abaya in public schools. Amnesty International.
3 Lean, N. (2017). The Islamophobia Industry: How the Right Manufactures Hatred of Muslims, 2017: Pluto Press. Ed. What is Islamophobia? Racism, Social Movements and the State. Pluto Press.
4 (2024, March 26). Flights expert finds ‘reasonable grounds’ genocide is being committed in Gaza. United Nations.
5 Allison, I. (2023, December 7). CAIR Received ‘Staggering’ 2,171 Complaints Over Past Two Months as Islamophobia, Anti-Palestinian Hate ‘Spin Out of Control’. Council on American-islamic Relations (CAIR).
6 Saber, I. F. (2023, Decemeber 21) ‘Seen as less human’: Why has Islamophobia surged amid Israel’s Gaza war? Aljazeera.
7 Aljazeera Staff. (2022, November 8). ‘Racism’: Qataris decry French cartoon of football team. Aljazeera. Beydoun, K. A.The Western media’s World Cup coverage has put its anti-Muslim bias on full display. San Francisco Chronicle.
8 Blus, A. (2024, July 19). The Olympics should be for all women, including Muslim women. Amnesty.org. Farge, E. (2024, July 17). Paris Olympics 2024: Amnesty denounces France's hijab ban as ‘discriminatory’ against Muslim athletes. Middle East Eye.
9 Soltani, A. (2016). Confronting Fear: 2016 Islamophobia Report. CAIR Oklahoma.
10 Seo, M. Islamophobia without Islam: Islamising the refugee issue in South Korea, Journal of Contemporary Religion, Volume 38, 2023. Takahashi, S. J. Islamophobia in Japan: A Country at a Crossroads, 2021: Islamophobia Studies Journal, Vol. 6, No. 2. Hawaleshka, D. (2023, April 18). The Rise and Rise of Islamophobia in India. Aljazeera.
11 Ausloos, M., & Dalmasso, L. (2024, April 21). Parisians protest against Islamophobia amid Gaza war tensions. Reuters.
12 Sufi, M. K., & Yasmin, M. Racialization of public discourse: portrayal of Islam and Muslims, 2022: Heliyon.
13 Zebiri, K. The Redeployment of Orientalist Themes in Contemporary Islamophobia, Studies in Contemporary Islam 10, 2008: SOAS, pp. 4-44. Badrane Benlahcene, Orientalism as a Cultural Root of Western Islamophobia, 2021: Ibn Khaldon Center for Humanities and Social Sciences, Qatar University. Damir Skenderovic and Christina Späti, From Orientalism to Islamophobia: Reflections, Confirmations, and Reservations, The Journal of Critical Muslim Studies, Vol. 4, No. 2, 2019: Pluto Journals, pp. 130-143.
14 Plitnick, M., & Aziz, S. Presumptively Antisemitic: Islamophobic Tropes in the Palestine Israel Discourse. 2023: SSRN Electronic Journal.
15 Sammak, T., Ghumkhor, S., & Mohamud, H. (2023, December 7). Islamophobia is 'always again' and Palestine is its permanent fixture. Middle East Eye.
16 Karara, M. A. (2023, October 9). From caricatures to prejudice: Prophet Mohammad's complex portrayal in the west. Raseef 22.
17 Kathju, J. (2024, April 23). India election: Modi falls back on anti-Muslim rhetoric in bid to boost BJP’s poll fortunes. South China Morning Post (SCMP). Agerholm, H. (2018, January 9). Refugees are ‘Muslim invaders’ not running for their lives, says Hungarian PM Viktor Orban. Independent.
18 Ferrara, C. (2023, October 6). In France, schools’ ban on abayas sends powerful message about who ‘belongs’ in French culture. South China Morning Post (SCMP).
19 Bleich, E., & Van Der Veen, A. M. (2022, May 27). Opinion: Perpetuating Islamophobia by Policing Student Protesters. The Conversation.
20 Selod, S. (2024, May 15). Opinion: Perpetuating Islamophobia by Policing Student Protesters. Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU)
