It is a global problem promoting a great deal of hatred, prejudice, and discrimination against Muslims known as Islamophobia. The rise of Is
It is a global problem promoting a great deal of hatred, prejudice, and discrimination against Muslims known as Islamophobia. The rise of Islamophobia is attributed to deep-rooted historical misconceptions, narratives associating Islam with extremism-post 9/11 associated narratives, and negative portrayals of Muslims leading to widespread anti-Muslim narratives in Western media. This rising anti-Muslim rhetoric, driven by misinformed campaigns and political interests, only serves to further divide societies, breed interfaith tensions and xenophobia, and deny fundamental human rights. The paper explains the causes of Islamophobia, its socio-political and psychological impacts and pointed out possible solutions according to Qur’ānic teachings and contemporary legal views. The Quran has been emphasizing the values of tolerance, justice and peaceful co-existence, calling for dialogue and mutual understanding among the heterogenous communities while highlighting the importance of justice and non-discrimination. Fighting islamophobia is no easy task, in the same way as racism. Governments and international organizations including United Nations, must be courageous to concern that hate speech and all Islamophobic acts are criminalizing and they should set up legal framework to end this hatred. The media can be held responsible for sharing anti-Islamic narratives and encouraged to share accurate depictions of Islam and Muslims. Moreover, promoting interfaith engagement and educational programs are critical in challenging stereotypes and building mutual respect. The challenge posed by social media platforms in enabling the spread of misinformation as well as awareness poses a question of whether Islamic communities should take ownership in tackling Islamophobic messaging.
