Islamophobia Lingo for Dummies

Being a Muslim, #MyJihad Activist has been like boot camp.

I learn more about my faith and get stronger in my faith through activism.

I also get the opportunity to interact with Islamophobes of various degrees.

(Tip:  Islamophobes are OFFENDED when you call them ISLAMOPHOBES.  Wierd huh?)

Degree 1 = Degree 1 Islamophobes are those who hate Muslims and hate Islam bar none.  They are not changing their minds.  No way. No how.  Willful ignorance is the name of the game with Degree 1 Phobes- and any lingo goes- including cursing!  (Say what? You ask.  I know! I say back.)  A degree 1’s best friend is their computer.  Their only knowledge of Islam is from Islamophobic websites.  They drink a lot of milk to get Vitamin D since they don’t go outside much into the real world.  If they do step outside once in awhile to get the mail, you will see them squinting at the sun and screaming, “My eyes!  My eyes!”

Degree 2 = Those who thought they hated Muslims and weren’t afraid to say it until they met a few Muslims and learned a few things that changed their minds quite quickly.  It’s like they didn’t mean to be Islamophobes to begin with- but they just didn’t know any better.  These are peeps that eventually become happy to call Muslims friends and will hang out with Muslims and think its pretty cool.

Degree 3 = These folks truly have unfounded fears of Muslims and Islam.  They think that Muslims are hiding under their beds, are going to enter their nightmares and scare them silly, and are going to take over the world with Sharia, Taqiyya and other really scary “IAs” that they haven’t learned of yet- but that they are sure are out there!  There is hope for Degree Three-ers!  If they would just come out from under the covers and TALK with Muslims in real life.

LINGO

There is common lingo among Islamophobic circles.  Some use real words with made-up, distorted definitions.   Others use words that are seemingly made up.  In any case, these Islamophobic words seem to be like security blankets to the Phobes.  The more they use them, the more they think they are getting ahead in the life of Islamophobic hysteria.

YOUR RUN-OF-THE-MILL-“IST”-LINGO

Supremacist, terrorist, Islamist, Imperialist, Fascist, Communist etc.  No Islamophobic rant would be complete without spewing lots of ISTs at Muslims online.  When Islamophobic blogger, Pam Geller, tweeted at me and fellow Activist, Angie, calling us “Islamic Supremacists!” we were flattered that she recognized our SuperMom powers.  We are Supremacists, darn it!

TAQIYYA!

No- not tequila, but taqiyya. This is a word Islamophobes use when a Muslim (or other person properly versed in Islam,) provides truthful information that they can’t argue with.  When an Islamophobe is at a loss for a counter-punch, they scream TAQIYYA! implying that Muslims are allowed to LIE at will according to Islamic doctrine.  TAQIYYA!  (For the real scoop on taqiyya- read this:  Taqiyya Explained)

SHARIA!

Sharia is a word that Islamophobes use much more than actual Muslims use.  Sharia is a favorite word of Degree 3 Phobes because it represents the essence of manic hysteria.  Sharia is certainly a supremacist, imperialist THING that is coming to get you!  Get us!  GET THE UNIVERSE!  MWAAAAAAH  (For the real scoop on Sharia, read this:  Sharia explained by an actual Muslim who actually understands actual Islam- no really— I’m being serious ….. )  (Where is the mass hysteria about getting struck by lightening?  I urge you to write your Congressman and insist  on anti-lightening strike legislation.  It only makes sense.)

INFIDEL!

This is another one Islamophobes like to use WAY more than Muslims ever say in real life.  Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever even heard anyone BUT Islamophobes use this word.  They love to hear themselves say that Muslims hate infidels and want to put them on sticks and roast them over an open pit fire whilst screaming “SHARIA FOR EVERYONE!”  Here is the real scoop on how Islam views INFIDELS:

Do Muslims Hate Infidels?

Wait for it …..

Wait for it ….

JIHAD!

Islamophobes love this word because they have decided that it means blood and guts and war and everything that is bad about anything anywhere- but oh yea- only when Muslims are involved.

Nope!  Gotcha again, Islamophobes.  Jihad does not mean blood and guts and war and all that.  Jihad means struggle.  (I know.  Sorry to burst your bubble.  Jihad can actually be boring.)  There is an entire, world-wide, public education campaign dedicated to explaining the proper meaning of Jihad:  The MyJihad Public Education Campaign

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) lived life as an example of how a perfect man should live.  As an example for humankind. He was humble, moderate, patient and selfless.  And whenever us Muslims get into a jam or are confused about what to do next, we often ask ourselves (or ask each other): “What would the Prophet do?” And then usually someone (who actually knows the real stories about the Prophet) will remind us of an instance from his life that relates to the circumstance at hand.  They will draw a comparison offering inspiration and guidance as how to behave today.

Islamophobes love tearing into the Prophet which is very offensive to Muslims.  Tearing into any Prophet (ie Moses, Jesus, Abraham etc. peace be upon them all) is offensive to Muslims.  Here are a few articles that address Islamophobic misconceptions about our beloved Prophet Muhammad (pbuh):

Was Prophet Muhammad a terrorist who killed innocent people? (Yeah, right.)

No- our beloved Prophet was not a pedophile.

Did the Prophet plan genocide against the Jews? The story of banu qurayza

Did the Prophet kill apostates?

WOMEN ARE OPPRESSED

Are there some bad men on this planet of ALL faiths that treat women badly?  Yeah.  Are there women on this planet that take crap from bad men who treat them badly?  Yeah.  Does Islam teach that women are inferior to men and should be abused?

NO!

Women are put on a pedestal in Islam.  Big time.  Don’t believe me?  Go out and talk with some Muslim women and ask them about this topic.  Women are treated better in Islamic doctrine—- than any other doctrine I have ever known or learned about.  So enough about this women are oppressed business.  It’s getting old, Islamophobes.  What else ya’ got?

There are SO many great websites for, about and by Muslim women.  Here is just one that I happen to like that explains just how empowered and respected women are in Islam.  It answers questions about marriage, the hijab (head covering) and great women in Islam: Islams Women

Trust me.  I am a stubborn Muslim woman.  I would never subscribe to a doctrine that would make me a second class citizen.  It is one of the primary reasons I love my faith and am drawn to it.  Islam empowers me to be who I am- a strong woman- sister, daughter, mother, wife, friend, neighbor, activist, worker.  Islam gives me that empowerment to be who I am.  SubhanAllah.

WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS

When all else fails, you can resort to curse words that you can randomly tweet at people on Twitter.  You can also download apps that will auto-tweet the same Islamophobic hate speech over and over again since you will surely run out of things to say.

Like this guy does:

I mean- when you run out of ISTs and ISMs and IAs, you can always just call Muslims “Welfare Parasites.”  Who can argue with that kind of logic?

No- not really. It’s just the same old Islamophobia.

About the Author

About the Author: I'm a Writer, Speaker and Muslim Activist. I'm a former Board Member of the #MyJihad Public Education Campaign. Follow my blog at yasminareality.com or follow me on Twitter: @yasmina_reality. I'm also now on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YasminaReality Peace! More from this author.