Rising Trends of Islamophobia from the Western World and Its Eradication: An Exploratory Study in the Light of the Seerah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

Abstract

Islam has been misunderstood religion by the West, mainly due to the media's focus on just negative associations such as oppression, war, and terror, fist waving, or jumping on burning flags.  The negative propaganda and projection of other religions would also yield the same results. Why the other side of the picture which is of pain and suffering by Muslims are not presented the same way? When some members of society are afraid of others it may lead to disturbance in society. Is Islam a religion of violence and a potential threat to Western societies? The history of Islamophobia begins from the medieval Makkan period since its foundation of Islam. But we see how enemies became best friends of Islam. How early Muslim community cope with the challenges of an anti-Islamic sentiment? How do they manage to build trust with other communities? The Sīrah heritage of the Prophet of Islam ((PBUH)) contains much material, guidance, and strategies to deal intelligently with this contemporary challenge of Islamophobia (an anti-pluralistic notion for a healthy society). This paper also examines the possible causes and sources of anti-Muslim and anti-Islamic sentiments over the last couple of decades and discusses possible ways of overcoming this phenomenon of fear as reflected by Sīrah of Prophet Muhammad ((PBUH)). This study will analytically examine the existing content of Islamophobia and will conclude with a qualitative research paradigm. It is perceived that Islamophobia is a growing trend in non-Muslim Societies’ especially in the Western world in response to the grooving pace to spread of Islam. However, the teachings of the Prophet of Islam may become an active strategy to overcome that issue with proactive legislation against this antiemetic activity.