Muslim Teens Dispelling Myths and Stereotypes

Did you know that the world "Islam" means submitting to the will of God and that being "Muslim" means submitting yourself to God? Children's Express learned these thing and more as we interviewed three Muslim teenagers, Hafsa Abdul Hakim, 13, Samira Karim, 13 and Abdul-Quawiy Abdul-Karim, 16, at the Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood in Harlem about their religion and how they dealt with the existing stereotypes about Muslims today.

CE: How would your life be different if you weren't Muslim?

Abdul: I wouldn't be as well-rounded and knowledgeable a person as I am because Islam exposes you to many different ways of thinking. It is a very peaceful religion.

CE: What is the basic principle or belief in your religion that you follow?

Abdul: We have the five pillars of Islam that all Muslims live by. There is only one God and his name is Allah over the month of Ramadhan which is the holy month.

CE: Have you ever encountered any problems with people making stereotypical comments at you?

Abdul: You always get that type of ignorance from people who don't know anything about the religion. When I was really young, I was getting these weird looks from people and it made me feel bad, but I've always had the support of my family and the community to counter that. Now that I'm older, the teachers and kids understand more. The teachers don't make me say the Pledge of Allegiance anymore so it's gotten a lot easier.

However, there are still too many stereotypes going around in my school, a private school that's supposed to be open. They still have that stereotype in their head that I'm going to be rowdy and disrespectful. But being Muslim means I'm polite and humble. I'm like the first Muslim that they have seen so I try to make the best impression I can.

CE: Is it hard to live in a society where everybody doesn't dress like you and where people will not understand why you look the way you do?

Samira: The kimar (religious garb worn by Muslims) is basically for modesty. We're supposed to cover our hair and bodies. It doesn't bother me because I've been wearing it all of my life.

CE: People associate terrorists with Muslims. How do you feel about that?

Hafsa: A lot of people say that they're doing it for Allah, but Allah doesn't teach that. Allah doesn't teach you to kill innocent people needlessly. That's not the teaching of Islam. So I think those people are going outside of the borders and doing their own thing. A lot of Muslims don't associate themselves with those people.

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