Religion has the power to both unite and divide people and sometimes a few bad apples are enough to ruin our perceptions of certain groups. One religion, in particular, is used to getting a bad rap - Islam. Islamophobes focus on those who have gone on the radical path, which has resulted in violence against others, but one Muslim educator is trying to change all that with his messages of peace on Twitter.
Imam Mohammad Tawhidi rose to fame in Australian media back in 2016 as the voice for Muslim reform and combatting against the spread of extremists in his religion. "When I am worried about what I see is happening from my community and religion, trust me that there is something going on," he told the Seven Network's Today Tonight program on February 27, 2017. Since then he has used Twitter to not just talk about his own religion but shout out love and support for members of other groups. There have been disputes over Tawhidi's educational qualifications as an Imam, and his past ideologies, however as of now it appears he wants to use his platform for positivity.
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A person for whom critical thinking is banned by religion would not ask such a question and would rather see the man as doing a self sacrifice for not going to paradise himself straight away.
Tawhidi was the one who started the vendetta against Ilhan Omar. He Tweeted a clip of her speech out of context, claiming she was minimizing the Holocaust. This led to her receiving numerous death threats. https://religionnews.com/2019/04/17/how-a-controversial-muslim-figure-helped-ignite-the-controversy-over-rep-ilhan-omars-9-11-comments
Mohamed Tawhidi is not actually an Imam. He is not recognized as an Imam by the Australian National Imams Council. He's on the right wing, and stirs up a lot of hate against Muslims. (For example, suggesting that the number of mosques constructed in Australia be limited, and saying that Halal certification goes against the Australian way of life.)
This has actually really moved me. Given how long the Jewish and Muslim faiths have been at war, showing such respect is rarely seen. This man is a credit to Islam.
First, he's not actually Imam. He's not recognized as an Imam by the Australian National Imam's Council. He's a right winger who stirs up a lot of hate towards Muslims. So many of his tweets dwell on self-aggrandizement. (BTW, in May 2013 there was a group of 11 Imams, sheiks and religious leaders who met at Auschwitz). https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-22644206
Also check out his #22... he does not want to join that council. But i agree with you he is prob not the first Islam visiting in almost F-ing 75 years!! But pretty sure the first one to "strike a pose" inthere shamelessly.
Load More Replies...This guy is shameless to declare that he is the first *shia* muslim imam to do so. He visited this place in 2019, whereas several islamic religious imams from several countries had visited in 2013. And they also didnt behave in this arrogant way. This is not a place to show off urself. This is not paying respect. Dont believe me? Check this youtube vdo. https://youtu.be/6BQQ9sLm-iY
They get tons of respect look at America’s capitols football team
Load More Replies...How convenient that christianity with more extremists then all other religions put together never has any extremists because gotta love hypocrisy
as usual people still trying to attack a religion when that's the exact opposite of what these posts are about. Christianity has no more extremists than any other religion.
Load More Replies...This! it drives me nuts that people are so Islamophobic when in reality EVERY religion has its extremests!
Blaming all Muslims for 9/11 is like blaming all Christians for the Holocaust (but more present day)
I feel like a lot of people consider themselves catholic or Christian but don’t necessarily follow strict rules or engage in high holy day rules/activities. Is this same for Muslim and Jewish groups as well?
I've lived in Turkey for a few years. Most Turks aren't religious at all, there's a growing population of atheists. They don't follow the rules, they drink, do not wear hijab or do the 5 times daily prayer. There may be a correlation between the atheists and their Islamist president though, he pushed people away from the religion so hard that almost every 20-35 year old I've met in Turkey were atheists.
Load More Replies...And still people choose to be ignorant. Do your research, use your brain. With the technology today, you can study about anything and everything. Learn to accept what is truth and what is necessary and move away from unnecessary hatred from the past. And I dont think Imam Tawhidi being an imam really matters. He is trying to correct the wrongdoing happening all over the world, in the name of religion and culture.
And only bullies prohibit abortion beyond six or eight weeks into pregnancy.
Load More Replies...What logic is that ? Firstly try and understand what Syaria Law is all about and not just play with words
People, please don't comment unless you actually know what sharia law is, and not what fox news told you that it is
I just reread his post. I was wrong. Ignore my comment =p
Load More Replies...Alabama senator with a large investment portfolio in the "defense" industry saying his evening prayer after voting to restrict abortion and everything is bliss. They do give such good dividends.
Me getting into the "All The Meat U Can Eat": Do u have diet coke...?
Or you have a diabetes... So it makes a HUGE difference if you drink half a litre drink with 0 carbohydrate per a decilitre than 11 carbohydrate per a decilitre. I rather spend those carbohydrates to the food. Also sugarless tastes better.
Load More Replies...In today’s age of division and hatred, this needs to be put on T-shirt’s and distributed to any who’d be proud to wear it. I bet we’d be pleasantly surprised by how many would wear one.
I’m so glad I found you on Twitter. You are a voice of reason in this insane world. Thank you.
There is a lot of hate against Jews, from Palestinians and other groups. It is wrong. There is also a lot of hate against Arabs. This is equally wrong. But there also Palestinians living in Palestine who love Jews and want to work on a future without hate. The same goes for many Jews in Israel and otherwise. Look into the organization Jewish Voices for Peace. They have done more to fight Islamophobia here in my home city in North Carolina than than Muslims have. Truly wonderful people.
Load More Replies...I am a Pakistani and proud of it b/c my army and the citizens of my land all have proved how strongly they condemn terrorism. We have suffered because of it and whoever calls us terrorist or supporters of terrorism should know it is the same as saying the murdered supports his murder. I don't know what kind of peace the Imam is spreading when he doesn't know that the terrorists don't belong to any religion, any country. They are simply wolves disguised as humans
Wow- Did not know that could happen. So many other things twitter needs to look into- what a shame
I mean wow, he should really visit Pakistan soon to see the reality. How can he blame the whole country for supporting terrorism??? he is being a total ignorant
Pakistan lost over 70,000 of it's innocent citizens to terrorism. The Imam is ill-informed about Pakistan. I think all the knowledge about Pakistan the imam has is through the biased Western Media. On March 20, 2003 The United States and its Vassals invaded Iraq on the basis of Fake Intelligence and Outright Lies. During the first ten days more than 6000 bombs were dropped on innocent Iraqi men, women and children, and 675 Cruise Missiles were fired on innocent Iraqi people. The Iraq War ended October 21, 2011. Over a million innocent Iraqis were murdered. To date not one person has been charged.
There is satan out there who does everything shameful to protect what is evil. People of every religion, race and region you will never know what is evil unless you know the true God. Search, seek the true God. He is never too far from anyone of us. Infact He is in us. Be dead to sin, feed the dying Spirit of God in you, that which is alive in us will be transcendent.
Not just muslim- stop spreading lies. They still allow racist and insulting trump on there and other far-right idiots..
Load More Replies...I was a Muslim woman, whom from the age of 7 until 21 years old i did not wear a hijab. I started wearing hijab at the age of 22 and that was my own choice. My parents never forced me to wear a hijab, but they often talked about the goodness of wearing a hijab. it is my own free choice to wear hijab at the age of 22. and if there is a Muslim girl who does not wear hijab , i wont judge . As long as she's a wonderful person with a good heart nothings else matters.
What does my head in is the young girls wearing hijabs and tight clothing. One contradicts the other or am I wrong?
Technically yes. But you have to remember, that faith is a personal journey. And also that a lot of women wear it out of habit, because it's as much of a norm as say wearing a business suit, and not because they are particularly pious.
Load More Replies...Soba,nearly all of the Arab Muslim countries in the Middle East agree that Iran is effed up.
Just curious,it is,kind of,hijab and tight clothing just don't mix in islam,if we want to wear tight clothing,we might as well ditch our hijab.
Hey Si,sorry to burst your ignorant bubble but hijab is NOT forced darl.
Of course it sometimes is. Children wear it, they can’t consent. There is tremendous family and community pressure on others. In some countries it is illegal not to.
Load More Replies...I wonder if they got them from Turban Outfitters…
Load More Replies...THIS is how the muslims I used to know are. Long before Isis. And this is why I (christian raised, now atheist) still defend muslims when someone around me talks bad about them... And why it hurts so much when some muslims proof me wrong.
wish I could upvote this more. People ignore true homophobia to get offended about the smaller things. I'm bisexual, and dont really care about a comedians jokes. This is what deserves out attention.
I'm into guys and girls does that make me bi???
Load More Replies...What? The far-left sleep with them? Islamic extremists? This makes no sense to me.
He is referring to Middle Eastern countries/organizations that do this and yet they continue to make deals with them.
Load More Replies...Okay, for those of you who are struggling with this one. Often the phrase "in bed" , or "sleeping with" is used for 'dealing with'. For instance, you might say a particular political groups is in bed with a particular rich man because of their financial entanglements - eg, The protestors are in bed with Soros. It doesn't literally mean Soros is bedding every protestor he pays...he'd be a very busy man.
I don't get this one? Does he mean literally sleep with them or something akin to in bed with them? Who is he talking about?
Too true. Same with feminism. In America people are fussing over 'mansplaining' and 'manspreading' when we really need to do something about the women in less developed countries, who are being abused and silenced.
we can do more then one thing at the time you know ;)
Load More Replies...Not sure what he means by the far left. To me (I am liberal, but rational) it looks as though rich Americans with lots of business deals in the Middle East are in bed with the Saudis and never hold them accountable for anything (yes you, Trump and Bushes). BTW, American right-wing extremists would like to throw gay people from high buildings, but we have laws against it. Mostly laws protected by the left.
Why are people downvoting this question? If Kai doesn't know what a Rabbi is, let him genuinely ask. What's wrong with the BP community to dislike curiosity?
Load More Replies...You're right and I guess that why he wrote "Dear USA" instead of "Dear Donnie".
Load More Replies...I always remember seeing the news on 9/11 from spots all over the world. The Iranian people were the first to go out en masse to light candles for those who died that day.
SAme could be said for every country USA and NATO attacked in last few decades. Bombs never solve any problem. They just add more.
Trump doesn't want war with Iran. He wants their government to stop supporting terrorists in the Middle East. How would you accomplish that? Talking doesn't work.
Never knew Iran was against terrorism when they export terrorists into our land
In fact, any hate based on religious (or even more general, spiritual) believes is absurd!
Perhaps, but that's the entire point of the Judeo-Christian religions. They specifically create "us" and "them" and teach that "them" are evil and wrong and bad. So whether its the Torah/Old Testament, the New Testament, or the Quran, hate is built into the text.
Load More Replies...Not everyone in Pakistan is like this but its a sad reality that many illiterate people do that here....and it involves illiterate muslims+ hindus+ christians
Pakistan is 97% Muslim. Of course there will always be good people who would never do such a thing, but if it is completely legal (or illegal but not enforced) to throw acid in someone's face because there is no separation of religion and country in Pakistan, then the bad people have more incentive to do it and nothing stopping them. As the saying goes, "The bad people win when the good people do nothing."
Load More Replies...Police arrive to bloodied husband standing over wife’s body. He said it was over pizza. Man Kills Girlfriend’s 7-Year-Old Boy Over a Cookie. This happened in the USA. There are good and bad people everywhere. Why is the Imam singling out Pakistan?
Truth, which is more important than either of those things.
Load More Replies...Interview the most stupid person from any country and show it to the world as their true mentality!!!! This guy shouldn't call himself an Imam!
It's unfair to the Pakistani people to be branded in such a harsh color! This Imam cannot simply say something like this, bcz he influences a lot of people, esp the non muslims. Reading this, one would think that all Pakistanis are acid throwers.
No, one would not think that. Most people with half a brain know that these people are extremists. However, pointing out that this mentality even exists in a country is not wrong. We regularly point out domestic violence and and child abuse in western culture, but no one believes it exists in every home, or even half of our homes. We need to shine a light on these archaic behaviours, no matter where they are.
Load More Replies...I'm not sure, I think so. His Facebook has been removed more than once, but I believe it was reinstated both times. To those downvoting this question, grow up. Stop downvoting curiosity, it's what makes us grow.
Load More Replies...It'd be cool if we could all celebrate major holidays together, to some degree. Not to make light of any religious holiday, but I feel like it would help bring us all closer together.
true, but if its a religious holiday then why personally celebrate it if you arent religious?
Load More Replies...I lean left, as do nearly all my friends. Also have many friends that lean right. Some are religious, some are atheist. NONE of us give a $hit or take offense to “Merry Christmas”. The only hypocrisy here is someone that claims it is an issue when it isn’t.
"As do nearly all my friends..." followed directly by "also have many friends that lean right..." hmmm? Also way to pat yourself on the back there fella. Ha
Load More Replies...A true example of the irrational ways of the left, and why I no longer am one. Emotional thinkers are almost always wrong. You learn to think critically and logically, or make yourself look stupid as this smart man has just given an example of above.
Some of the left in the US. The left in Europe couldn't care less about someone wishing them a merry Christmas.
Load More Replies...Christmas especially today's Christmas ain't even a christian thing anyhow. The supposed birth thing is all b******t too
Attacking people for their political opinions such as far left and far right. Ridiculous, you can't generalize a whole population based on their political affiliation
Too many apologists in the comments, too, including Ilona, the writer of this article. This man has his facts straight. More Muslims need to modernize with the rest of the world, practice a separation of religion and state (which they don't do), and only then will there factually be "a few bad apples".
Think about that separation of religion and state next time you vote to ban abortion and gay marriage.
Load More Replies...wow...he is playing with the devil. I hope that he doesn't become a target! He have guts!Lots of!
Brave dude! It was missing something like this , I give all the support
I used to get scared of the Muslim community because of their double standards regarding men and women(haram/halal matters, dressing, travelling, studying, culture and much more), the terrorist attacks, suicide bombing using small and innocent kids... Listening to you, people like us have hope for the muslim community to adapt positive changes.
If they don't know the truth about why pork was forbidden, they need to educate themselves and read the Bible.
No where in his post did he mention that it is religiously permissible to eat pork. He is debating the reasoning of extremists that think that Jews don't eat pork because extremists think that God turned their ancestors into pigs. Jews don't eat pork for the same reason Muslims don't: we believe we were commanded to by God.
Load More Replies...I'm thinking Salman Rushdie, light version. He's got balls, but them balls are in danger...
He's playing with fire and it's all because he's rejected, shi3i ibn labwa zanys.
Why is it so hard for these people to love and respect another human as a human? Whatever language we pray in, wherever and however we do it, we pray to the almighty(the one you have known and accepted). Then why this hatred??
I lean conservative (but REFUSE to claim any party), and I agree
Load More Replies...Quick tip Delilah, trump isn’t the most popular, or I totally misread the vibe and the community just doesn’t like politics(please inform me)
I've a feeling your fighting a hopeless battle here, buddy...
Load More Replies...I fully agree with this. I think a world where everyone is living is own thing in the same place is a dream that will never come true. We have, in french a saying (i don't know if it is in english too) "My freedom is stopped where the freedom of others begins" Some (I'm not saying all) Muslim, Sikh, Jewish etc way of life are not compatible with the modern european society. And the reverse is also 100% true. Everyone should try to live by his rules, as long as it doesn't break the rules where he is and as long as he doesn't try to force his rules on other.
Amr Mohamed, NO,you misunderstood bro.stop criticising every comment Yasmin makes,it's not a popularity contest.
Christopher Columbus didn’t care though. He brought “civilization” and religion to all the savages. He felt he was doing them a favor.
The sad part is that if a western politician would say this he would be called a bigot inciting a religious war and discriminating Muslims and the Islam.
I agree with you. But if a western politician, even one that holds views that I disagree with says this
Load More Replies...Religion and culture are like our parents, eveyone have their own, everyone love their own, everyone respect their own. What is the need to even compare and compete??? If you can respect your friend's parents, why can't you respect your neighbour's religion?? Giving respect doesn't mean you have to follow it.
Most wonderful thing to hear! This man needs more support. He should join forces with the leader of AIFD, Dr. Zuhdi Jasser, another great Muslim.
As a Muslim we are commanded in Quran to help someone to the right path if we see them on the wrong path. People can coexist in unity and learn from each other. It's horrible to say Islam doesnt belong in the west and the west doesn't belong is Islam. We must learn from each other
I think you misunderstood. He does not believe that Islam does not belong in the West. He meant to say that there are people who have this view. But then those people come live in the West and then try to change it to their liking when they said that Islam doesn't belong there. Obviously they are wrong. As you said, we can learn from each other.
Load More Replies...WHAT A GREAT MAN! A true voice for peace, love and understanding among all people, and against hypocrisy and hatred. I'm not on Twitter, but I do browse the Internet every day; I'm shocked and saddened that I had never heard of Imam Tawhidi. He should be a lot more famous. He and his messages of truth should be spread all over the world. If he's well-known on Twitter, the mainstream media must have heard about him. It looks like they've CHOSEN to ignore him, because they'd rather publicize negative stories. It's the old saying in journalism: "If it bleeds, it leads."
The biggest problem with religion today(any religion) is that its been used by some politicians as a shield to cover up their evil intentions. Religion (which ever it may be) is pure and and can provide a lot of wisdom if learned with good intent. But on the other hand politics has always portrayed blodshed and cold wars. Why even mix these two??? If you mix honey and s**t, everything becomes s**t.
yes, how dare bored panda allow a right wing a platform to speak. surprised me too
Load More Replies...And this is why society shouldn’t condemn all muslims because of the radical extremists. The terrorists may claim they are Muslim but terrorism has no religion.
This is why no one belonging to any group should be condemned because of the actions of a few who also belong to it... insert any race, religion, political affiliation, etc.
Load More Replies...refreshing to see a post on Bored Panda that for once isn't trying to throw conservatives in as bad a light as possible. Huge respect for this guy.
I'm refreshingly impressed that people didn't downvote the s**t out of you for not wanting to throw half of the political spectrum in the garbage. Around these here parts not hating conservatives is heresy.
Load More Replies...My mom, who's a Catholic this year went to a Ramadan celebration with Jewish and Christian friends. She's in a tiny Catholic community that usually participates big Jewish holidays, where a rabbi has a talk about the origin and meaning of the given tradition that they participate. This year they decided to extend this educational process to Islam. Three different religions were sitting together in peace and joy. They learned about each other's background, had nice conversations and laughs. This seems the easiest and most fun way to learn, understand and accept each other.
My grandma's village is 2/3 muslims and 1/3 christians and they celebrate all hollidays together for years. My country is with very mixed population - ortodox and catolic christians, muslims, jews and only politicians try to separate them for their own profit. Centuries we lived all in peace.
Load More Replies...Does anyone remember "the troubles" in Ireland? to my understanding; catholic and protestant christian rabid-fanatic-terrorists blew each other up. Now that's just boring old history and-it-was-only-a-few-mad-terrorists. long pause. Let this "muslim" / muslimphobia c**p be over soon. And sent to moldy oldy history books.________ quote marks because it is not proper Muslims doing horrible stupid things.
The scale on which these "troubles" happened is very different. Not only in the number of perpetrators involved, but also the number of perpetrating countries and the extent of the damage it's members have caused in other non-Islamic countries that they have migrated to. You comparing Ireland to Islam is like comparing an oopsie milk spill to a nuclear bomb going off.
Load More Replies...Few are saying all Muslims are extremists. Because they aren't. But, studies show that over 1% are violent extremists. That means over 16 million worldwide. Other studies show that 10-25% believe in extremist values. Do the math on 1.6 billion Muslims. In some nations, survey's show up to 45% hold extremist values. The problem is that these extremists keep spreading and growing, especially via the Internet, radical schools and mosques, and radical Islamic clerics and imams. But, not all are radical, let's be clear.
First, I very much appreciate your comment that not all Muslims are radical. Thank you. second yes, I won't disagree that Islamic extremism is spreading and it is a problem. But let's also be clear, there is growing religious extremism in many religions. There are extremist Christians, Jews, even Buddhists (check out Burma/Myanmar). They are armed, violent, and spreading their poisonous ideologies via the internet, religious places of worship, as well as small schools especially in rural areas. We need to work together to fight all forms of extremism.
Load More Replies...And this is why society shouldn’t condemn all muslims because of the radical extremists. The terrorists may claim they are Muslim but terrorism has no religion.
This is why no one belonging to any group should be condemned because of the actions of a few who also belong to it... insert any race, religion, political affiliation, etc.
Load More Replies...refreshing to see a post on Bored Panda that for once isn't trying to throw conservatives in as bad a light as possible. Huge respect for this guy.
I'm refreshingly impressed that people didn't downvote the s**t out of you for not wanting to throw half of the political spectrum in the garbage. Around these here parts not hating conservatives is heresy.
Load More Replies...My mom, who's a Catholic this year went to a Ramadan celebration with Jewish and Christian friends. She's in a tiny Catholic community that usually participates big Jewish holidays, where a rabbi has a talk about the origin and meaning of the given tradition that they participate. This year they decided to extend this educational process to Islam. Three different religions were sitting together in peace and joy. They learned about each other's background, had nice conversations and laughs. This seems the easiest and most fun way to learn, understand and accept each other.
My grandma's village is 2/3 muslims and 1/3 christians and they celebrate all hollidays together for years. My country is with very mixed population - ortodox and catolic christians, muslims, jews and only politicians try to separate them for their own profit. Centuries we lived all in peace.
Load More Replies...Does anyone remember "the troubles" in Ireland? to my understanding; catholic and protestant christian rabid-fanatic-terrorists blew each other up. Now that's just boring old history and-it-was-only-a-few-mad-terrorists. long pause. Let this "muslim" / muslimphobia c**p be over soon. And sent to moldy oldy history books.________ quote marks because it is not proper Muslims doing horrible stupid things.
The scale on which these "troubles" happened is very different. Not only in the number of perpetrators involved, but also the number of perpetrating countries and the extent of the damage it's members have caused in other non-Islamic countries that they have migrated to. You comparing Ireland to Islam is like comparing an oopsie milk spill to a nuclear bomb going off.
Load More Replies...Few are saying all Muslims are extremists. Because they aren't. But, studies show that over 1% are violent extremists. That means over 16 million worldwide. Other studies show that 10-25% believe in extremist values. Do the math on 1.6 billion Muslims. In some nations, survey's show up to 45% hold extremist values. The problem is that these extremists keep spreading and growing, especially via the Internet, radical schools and mosques, and radical Islamic clerics and imams. But, not all are radical, let's be clear.
First, I very much appreciate your comment that not all Muslims are radical. Thank you. second yes, I won't disagree that Islamic extremism is spreading and it is a problem. But let's also be clear, there is growing religious extremism in many religions. There are extremist Christians, Jews, even Buddhists (check out Burma/Myanmar). They are armed, violent, and spreading their poisonous ideologies via the internet, religious places of worship, as well as small schools especially in rural areas. We need to work together to fight all forms of extremism.
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