Islamic Scholar Sheikh Abdur Rahman highlighted myths about Muslims and clarified the meaning of Islam in a speech, with his colleague Sheikh Amr Khalifi, at the Santa Barbara Public Library Oct. 9.
“Don’t worry, it’s not all going to be in Arabic,” Rahman said after introducing his speech by reciting lines in Arabic. The speakers, sponsored by local Islamic groups, including some City College students, focused on the spiritual underpinnings of Islam, but also touched on what they called the “myths” that color Islam as a religion of extremists and terrorists.
Literally Islam means “peace through the submission to God” and it forbids terrorism, violence and killing of innocent people, Rahman said.
Islam is a way of living that should bring peace to whether it’s in a Muslim society or not. Rulers responsible for terrorism actions are simply not following Islam, Rahman maintained. So it is not always accurate to talk about “religious wars.”
He went on to say that terrorist actions are the result of anger and ignorance. Therefore it is important to give Islam a second glance and not judge only from the message from the government and the media.
Rahman comes from India, and he noted that many more Muslims live in India than in the Middle East. It is a common myth to believe that all Muslims are Arab, even though they only constitute around 20 percent of Muslims worldwide, Rahman said.
Islam is one of the fastest growing religions, now counting some 1.5 billion practitioners. It is spread not only by spiritual leaders, but also by Muslim traders and businessmen. It is difficult to live by the proper Islamic system because it often can’t be completely applied because of laws and regulations of nations, Rahman said.
Rahman added that he could not give example of a perfect Islamic country.
“You can not force someone to convert, but because we believe we have a good system, we like to share it,” he said.
Sheikh Khalafi came to America by choice from Egypt and now lives in Portland, Ore.. Khalifi said that to live by a proper Islamic system you should always ask yourself, “Is this something God wants?”
He said that all religions provide different opportunities, and that people have a duty to themselves to look into it. In the Qur’an (the Koran) God challenges us to reflect upon ourselves.
“Let’s get on the right track. The right track for me is Islam,” Khalifi said.
While talking about his religion and love for Allah Rahman used a lot of hand gestures and his facial expression varied from seriousness to joy. He said that Islam is a comprehensive religion because it holds an answer to every issue in his life.
He discovered the religion and all the answers it provides while studying in North England. There he memorized the Qur’an by age 15. Muslims accept the Torah and the Bible as well, but they believe that the Holy Qur’an is the final message from God, Rahman said.
“Take the Qur’an and read it, interact with it. The Qur’an is a living miracle and you can see it, true word of God, a challenges,” Khalifi said.
For dealing with life Islam holds five dimensions. Prayer, Fasting, Pilgrim, Guidance and Heart tells how to interact with people, animals and the environment and Rahman pointed out the importance of cleansing your heart.
Both speakers were eager to hear what the audience of around 70 people had to say and ask. A couple of women in the audience were concerned about oppressed Muslim women, but a fact sheet handed out said that any Muslim man that oppresses a woman is not following true Islam.
Rahman, who lectures at schools and universities in southern California, talked from personal experiences and said that some women students wear a veil even if their family don’t want them not to. He said that the family doesn’t want the women being harassed, but the women themselves wear them because their love to God.
“Islam to me is under my T-shirt, in the heart. Islam is not a part time thing. It’s a full time thing,” Khalifi concluded.

Read more about Islam in “What everyone should know about Islam” and “Muslims” by Suzanne Haneef or in Islam in focus by Dr. Hammudah Abdalati. Also visit www.islam.com for additional information