I bear witness that there is no God but Allah ﷻ, and that Muhammad ﷺ was His Messenger. All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. We praise Him, seek His help, and ask His forgiveness. Peace and blessings of Allah ﷻ be upon Muhammad ﷺ, and upon his family and companions. I seek the pleasure of Allah ﷻ in creating this website — may He guide us all.
Before I get into why that is, let me start by saying that you're allowed to have your own opinion and it's fine if yours doesn't align with mine. This isn't an effort to try to get people to revert, this is just an effort to clear any misconceptions you may have, and try to make some peace in the world.
I am a 27 year old revert from America and I was kind of shocked to learn about how misrepresented Islam was, and alhumdulillah I've been a Muslim for 6+ years now. There's so much that's misrepresented, purposely taken out of context, or straight up lies. Freedom of religion is protected in Islam, the hijab is a personal choice for women, we don't worship Muhammad ﷺ, and this verse: (2:191) "Kill them wherever you come upon them, and drive them out..." is often misquoted in the Quran. The rest of that verse follows: "of the places from which they have driven you out. For persecution is far worse than killing." See: Tafsir.
The verse right before that one (2:190) "Fight in the cause of Allah only against those who wage war against you, but do not exceed the limits. Allah does not like transgressors"
From the tafsir: Al-Hasan Al-Basri stated that transgression (indicated by the Ayah), "includes mutilating the dead, theft (from the captured goods), killing women, children and old people who do not participate in warfare, killing priests and residents of houses of worship, burning down trees and killing animals without real benefit." This is also the opinion of Ibn `Abbas, `Umar bin `Abdul-`Aziz, Muqatil bin Hayyan and others. Muslim recorded in his Sahih that Buraydah narrated that Allah's Messenger ﷺ said: «اغْزُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ، قَاتِلُوا مَنْ كَفَرَ بِاللهِ، اغْزُوا وَلَا تَغُلُّوا وَلَا تَغْدِرُوا وَلَا تَمْثُلُوا وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا وَلِيدًا وَلَا أَصْحَابَ الصَّوَامِع» (Fight for the sake of Allah and fight those who disbelieve in Allah. Fight, but do not steal (from the captured goods), commit treachery, mutilate (the dead), or kill a child, or those who reside in houses of worship.)
As a little bonus, infidels, Christians and Jews can fight under Muslim command (very nuanced statement).
and prisoners of war have rights too, they have to be fed and treated humanely. (4:74)
Even in times of desperation, Muslims are told to give; (76:8-9) (3:92)
Also see: Lesser Jihad
They're not:
"Why is it that of late acts of terror seem to be more frequently committed by the followers of Islam, the Muslims? In the first place, only Muslim terrorists are linked to their religion. No one ever mentions the religions of the terrorists of Northern Ireland, of Sri Lanka, of Japan, of Germany and of many other countries or people. But if they are Muslims, they are always called Muslim terrorists. When Muslims in Bosnia-Herzegovina were being slaughtered by the Serbs, there was no mention of Christian Orthodox terrorists. These Christian Orthodox terrorists killed far more people than were killed on September 11. The world did not mobilise to fight Christian Orthodox terrorists even when they terrorised the Kosovars."
- Source: Asia Society
"In the United States, two common though false narratives about terrorists
who attack America abound. We see them on television, in the movies, on
the news, and currently, in government policy. The first is that “terrorists are
always (brown) Muslims.” The second is that “white people are never
terrorists.” These narratives likely influenced the image you conjure up in
response to the opening question, “When you hear the word ‘terrorist,’ who
do you picture?”"
- Source: Terrorists Are Always Muslim but Never White: At the Intersection of Critical Race Theory and Propaganda
What about the US bombing the Middle East for over 24 years? Or the 2% of Russian Jews who fled persecution in the 1880's and the Palestinians let them stay in their country, for them to begin their ethnic cleansing (First Aliyah). Well the ethnic cleansing didnt start until Nakba (1947-1949) when the Zionists who were allowed to stay there expelled around 800,000 people from there homes from over 400 villages. Guess who funded them? Their greatest terrorist allies, the United States (and other places in North America and Europe). What do you call that? "Justice?" for what? They were a 3rd world country, they didn't have "Weapons of Mass Destruction", Islam isn't a "terrorist religion", how many lives were lost or tortured to figure that one out?
Osama bin Laden said this in 1996, they were never the aggressors
(Although some Muslims have voiced grievances in political language, Islam categorically forbids attacking innocents or using terrorism as retaliation (Q 5:32; 60:8–9; 16:125))
"It is no secret to you, my brothers, that the people of Islam have been afflicted with oppression, hostility, and injustice by the Judeo-Christian alliance
and its supporters. This shows our enemies’ belief
that Muslims’ blood is the cheapest and that their
property and wealth is merely loot. Your blood has
been spilt in Palestine and Iraq, and the horrific
images of the massacre in Qana in Lebanon are still
fresh in people’s minds. The massacres that have
taken place in Tajikistan, Burma, Kashmir, Assam,
the Philippines, Fatani, Ogaden, Somalia, Eritrea,
Chechnya, and Bosnia-Herzegovina send shivers
down our spines and stir up our passions. All this has
happened before the eyes and ears of the world, but
the blatant imperial arrogance of America, under the
cover of the immoral United Nations, has prevented
the dispossessed from arming themselves."
- Source: Osama Bin Laden's Declaration of War
It was never "an attack on our Freedom", it was retaliation upon the Judeo-Christian alliance killing their people.
You just only hear about when Muslims do it.
Islam historically spread mainly by propagation through business and trading. The wars were mainly defensive and strategic. And in Islam, there's no compulsion in religion. Any "forced conversions" happening in "Islam" is against the Quran, and not Islam; "Let there be no compulsion in religion, for the truth stands out clearly from falsehood." (2:256)
If you think Christianity spread peacefully, think again.
Christianity spreading through the 5th-10th centuries was sometimes peaceful, but often political to strengthen ties with Rome. Charlemagne and the Holy Roman Empire spread Christianity by force from (768-814CE), and then the Crusades from 11th-13th centuries CE. Not peaceful preaching, but through military conquest, colonization, and religious zeal. Pope Urban II called the first Crusade in 1095, promising forgiveness of sins to those who fought. Sounds like a violation of the first commandment if you ask me, God is our Judge.
(10:60) "What do those who fabricate lies against Allah expect on Judgment Day? Surely Allah is ever Bountiful to humanity*, but most of them are ungrateful." (*by delaying His Judgement, and allowing them time to repent).
And then more military conquest by the "religion of love" after that.
I will stop the history lesson here because I think you see the point, I know there's plenty of good Christians out there who don't stand for that (5:82), nor do I want to slander anyone elses beliefs. If you want to find out more, you can find this stuff out for yourself. Note: the "Rashidun Caliphate" is the only rightly guided caliphate, as attested by the Prophet ﷺ, and later rulers did not reach that standard. So please, don't research ISIS and say that Islam spread through terrorism. And don't listen to "Christain scholars debunking Islam" because it's usally lies... Use Google please.
Because if you saw Muslims as human, you'd view the US and Israel as terrorists. The the people in charge wouldn't want that.
"In the post-9/11 climate, the spread of hysteria and fear surrounding Islam and Muslims was not accidental—it was driven by a coordinated network of voices, organizations, donor funds, media outlets, and even political parties. The Bridge Initiative’s work has exposed this cadre of voices, dubbed the “Islamophobia industry,”—a loosely connected web of individuals and groups that manufacture, amplify, and circulate anti-Muslim stereotypes and misinformation.
Bridge’s research deep-dives into their efforts to demonize a community and spread disinformation about a faith, often with the support of the political and media class. Many figures within this network have built lucrative careers by peddling falsehoods and conspiracy theories about Islam and Muslims—propaganda that has led to dangerous and even deadly consequences for Muslim communities worldwide. Given Bridge’s research, we have consistently found ourselves harassed, intimidated, and smeared by this industry."
-Source: The Bridge Initiative
Here's a really great video Benn Jordan does, The Really Dark Truth About Bots, about the bot problem on social media, mainly x.com, and he covers the election manipulation aspect of it. But if you know about the bots, you can easily see just how much anti-Islamic content is propagated by these same networks of bots; X is failing to moderate hate speech.
Also see: Islamaphobia in the media for more.
The #1 thing in Islam is Tawhid, the Oneness of God. We believe in Him, His Angels, His Revelations, His Prophets, The Day of Judgement, and in Divine Decree (Qadar)
Allahﷻ is the God of Abraham, the God of Moses, the God of Jesus, the God of Muhammad, may peace be upon them all. Muhammad's ﷺ purpose was to return people back to the religion of Abraham, after the true words of Jesus's revalations were lost.
Here's Christian sources saying the Bible is altered: The Story Behind Who Changed The Bible and Why; and Christian scholars saying hes right: Answering Bart Ehrman
Also here's 101 contradictions of the bible; (4:82) "Do they not then reflect on the Quran? Had it been from anyone other than Allah, they would have certainly found in it many contradictions."
So all the Prophets of God all said the same thing. Worship God Alone, love your neighbors, and call to goodness. Moses, peace be upon him, was sent during a time when magic was prevelent, and Allah ﷻ gave him signs that would be clear to those people of the time, to turn to God alone and deny false Gods. Jesus, peace be upon him, was a Prophet of the Isrealites during a time when medicine was prevelent, so Allah ﷻ gave him healing signs that would be clear to the people of that time, to return to God and worhsip Him alone (also Jesus, peace be upon him, spoke Aramaic and called God Alaha). Muhammad ﷺ came for all of humanity to the Arabs during a time when bookkeeping and records were common, and in the Arabic language, that allowed the people of the time (and today) to see the only peserved word of God, the Quran. It was a miracle that can be attested to until the end of time, even people who don't understand Arabic can understand the miracle that the Quran is. Perfect, beautiful, Arabic that can't be mimmicked by no human. Coming from a man who couldn't read or write, fortold in the bible:
In Deuteronomy 18:17-19, Moses(peace be upon him) prophesied:
“And the Lord said unto me. They have well spoken that which they have spoken, I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.”
Read more
And if it wasn't for Ethiopian (Abyssnia at the time) Christians, Islam wouldn't have survived:
"When deciding where his followers should flee to, the Founder of Islam (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم), did not choose Yemen or Egypt or any other place in the Arabian Peninsular or in the Middle East; but he decided and chose - without prejudice, rightly and wisely, Christian Aksum - a land of black African, Christians. Of all places, he believed his people would be protected, safe and secure there. And it is in predominantly Christian Axum, ruled by Al Najashi; among Christians, that Islam for the first time ever - was practiced freely and where it first thrived. It is with this in mind, that Axum, Abyssinia, Al Njashi, Ethiopia - are truly and enormously significant and special to Islam and Muslims."
Al-Najashi of Abyssnia
So why did Christians allow Muslims to live there and have "freedom from persecution and emancipation from fear"?
"the Ethiopian king, Negus Ashama ibn Abjar, undoubtedly recognized the significance of the Prophet Muhammad (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) as a Messenger of Allah, and the need to treat the Muslims with kindness and dignity. The Christian church leaders who listened to the debate between the Muslims learned the truth about Islam.
Thus, they accepted the universality of the message of the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) based on the truthful similarity with the Scripture which prophesied the advent of Muhammad (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) as a Prophet. The Qur'an describes their belief in these words:
"When they listen to that which hath been revealed unto the messengers, thou seest their eyes overflow with tears because of their recognition of the Truth. They say: Our Lord, we believe. Inscribe us as among the witnesses." Surat Al Ma'idah - 5:83"
Al-Najashi of Abyssnia
So Islam didn't spread through wars like some people try to claim, and it's not the fastest growing religion in the world because people are forcing it on anyone.
A YouTuber already did a great job at this, please watch his videos.
I praise God all day, everything I do* is an act of worship (ibadah).
*Worshipping God isn't just Salah, fasting, Ramadan etc. Worshipping the Most High is a way of life. Allow me to explain;
If you just eat food, it's a biological act. But if I eat food with the intention of gaining strength to obey Allah ﷻ (see: Ikhlas). Smiling for Allah ﷻ is worship, staying clean for Allah ﷻ is worship, even pleasing my wife is a form of worship alhumdulillah
(4:19) "And live with them (your wife) in kindness. If you dislike them, perhaps you dislike a thing and Allah has placed therein much good."
“When a man gives his wife something to drink, he will be rewarded.” (Musnad Ahmad, vol. 4 pg. 128,)
"The best of you are those who are best to their wives" (Riyad as-Salihin 278; Introduction, Hadith 278)
So everyting I do, revolves around the Pleasure of Allah ﷻ and what He commands me to do. And He commands me to believe in Him, do good, urge others to goodness, and do not spread corruption in the land. That's it.
"The Children of Israel split into seventy-one sects, and my nation will split into seventy-two, all of which will be in Hell apart from one, which is the main body."
Source
Simply put, it's ignorance. They made innovations (bid'ah) and read stuff like: (4:34) "...then discipline them gently" (Arabic can have many meanings, this is usually translated to "strike them", which is also true but a misrepentation of the meaning); and then they beat their wives/take away their rights.
The full verse outlines a staged process for addressing serious marital discord (nusyuz), not casual disobediance, and "striking" is symbolic and restricted. Read tafsir
The saved group are those who adhere to the Quran and Sunnah, upon the understanding of the Companions. Judgement is with Allahﷻ, may Allah ﷻ guide the oppressors;
(2:11-12) "When they are told, “Do not spread corruption in the land,” they reply, “We are only peace-makers!” Indeed, it is they who are the corruptors, but they fail to perceive it."
(22:38) "...Allah does not like whoever is deceitful, ungrateful."
If you don't know, ask someone who does. If you cannot find a scholar, use trusted educational tools or verified fatwa databases such as IslamQA, IslamWeb, or SeekersGuidance - always cross-checking with Quran and sunnah. It is also permissible to use AI if you need. "But AI is destroying the planet" If you use AI for goodness, the goodness outweighs the harm and (2:29) "He is the One Who created everything in the earth for you." so use His Gifts to us, to bring goodness. We are in the Age of Information, yet people are ignorant. They fill their brains with rot, may Allah ﷻ guide them all.
The whole purpose of Shariah is the preservation of 5 universal necessities.
1. The Preservation of Religion; protection of the freedom of worship of all people.
The west is centered around greed and self interest, doesn't the Bible say money is the root of all evil? Why are we so focused on money, and not God? Islam would restore moral and spiritual direction to these societies struggling with anxiety, addiction, and meaninglessness.
2. The Preservation of Life; every life is sacred, protecting that is our divine command.
Islam strictly forbids murder, suicide and harm to oneself or others, promoting social justice, care for the poor, and equitable distrabution of resources. A moral foundation for valuing life beyond politics, rooted in divine accountability, not just social consensus.
3. The Preservation of Intellect; protecting reason, education, and critical thought.
Islam forbids intoxicants or things that cloud the mind, and encourages seeking knowledge (religious and worldly). This encourages rational, disciplined minds and curbs self-destructive habits like addiction and overindulgence.
4. The Preservation of Lineage and Family; protectin family structure, modesty, and moral upbringing.
Islam values family as the basic unity of society, not businesses as Western socity has. Islam protects marriages, discourages sexual exploitation, and safeguards childrens rights. Men are protectors/providers, women are honored and safeguarded partners - both with dignity and mutual rights.
5. The Preservation of Property; protecting ownership, economic justice, and social welfare.
Shariah forbids theft, fraud, interest-based exploitation (credit cards, interest fees etc.), and gambling. It promotes fair trade, honesty and charity. Stuff that the West is against apparently.
So what about the laws you're thinking of.
Can you have dogs? Yes, only trained and serve a purpose though (guard dogs, service animals etc.)
Can you have cats? Yes.
What about Music? Music that distracts from rememberence of Allah ﷻ or promotes sin is impermissible, but harmless melodies within limits may be tolerated in Shafi'i view.
Are women oppressed? No, read The rights of Muslim women
And as I said before, hijab is a choice (well it's obligatory, but enforcement is by personal accountability, not coercion). We cannot force women to put one on, that's between her and Allah ﷻ. Same with pretty much everything, as long as it doesn't affect anyone else, (like playing loud things in public, where community and talking of goodness is what's best.) the best we can do is warn you, and then leave it to Allah ﷻ to guide you. We are not The Judge though, so it's unislamic to impose a harmless rule like that onto someone.
Now for murder, or robberies or anything like that, us Men are supposed to be the reformers, but has to be done with elegance, and not vigilantism. (ie. has to go to court and be tried and held accountable according to their law)
If you have any other questions, Google is one click away. Eventually I will add contact info and answer questions personally, inshaAllah.