Understanding the Roots of Modern Hate Islamophobia

Many times, whether we are in a debate, having a simple conversation, or just watching videos online, we find ourselves frustrated or even feeling a sense of hatred toward a person.

This often happens because they keep denying an understanding that is clearly a truth, a fact accepted by experts on that topic.

But have we ever wondered, what makes them deny such things so stubbornly? Have we ever wondered how we should actually deliver a message, a moral lesson, or even a belief to such a person?

In this post, we will explore this topic so that we can understand their position and their moral standpoint. By doing so, we may become capable of delivering moral lessons or messages to these types of people.

For those wondering if this is some kind of manipulation, I assure you that my intentions are nothing like that. This post was created so that people can engage in debates and conversations respectfully, minimizing the mistakes we see in today’s era, where people too often prioritize their ego and pride.

Understand Their Position

Before we dive into how to convey and deliver a message to someone, we have to "think like them," as a certain philosopher once suggested.

This is important because, in that way, we can understand why they are against our arguments or messages and why they think the way they do.

For example, let’s look at the current situation in the United Kingdom, where islamophobic and anti-immigrant beliefs are becoming more violent and widespread every day.

Before we even start to become their opposition, we must look at their understanding first. We need to determine if what they are saying is true, or if it is just false propaganda designed to benefit certain types of people, such as the wealthy.

The rise of anti-Islam and anti-immigrant sentiment often stems from how a country’s economy has begun to decline over several years.

Frequently, these issues are not treated seriously by governments due to various political reasons. These problems include:

• The rise of unemployment.
• The crisis in education.
• Underpaid workers.
• The rising cost of living and inflation.

In order for the masses not to blame the government or the wealthy elite, a scenario is created where the blame is shifted onto people who are helpless and unable to defend themselves.

These groups are often already targets of prejudice for various reasons, ranging from understandable concerns to pure hate crimes.

These masses, of course, believe the lies they are fed, despite these lies being debunked by many experts throughout the years. Why? Because spreading a disease is easier than curing it.

These people are scared. They feel that their lives and the lives of future generations are threatened by these groups, which is why they believe the propaganda so immediately.

They are scared that their future jobs will be lost to immigrants, they are scared that their children will become "barbaric" like the outsiders.

They are scared that immorality will take over their region and they are scared the country will fall into ruin if these groups are allowed to stay.

Do you see the pattern? The perpetrators and provocateurs use one specific emotion as a baseline for their agenda: Fear.

This emotion is easily manipulated in masses who are already in a state where desperation is their constant companion.

The Historical Formula of the Scapegoat

This is the same kind of baseline that many countries have used to distract their people from real problems throughout human history.

- The Roman Empire:

They persecuted not only "barbarians" and Jews but also Christians, who had done nothing wrong for centuries because blaming the problem on someone else is far easier than fixing it.

- The Third Reich:

They blamed everything on the Jewish people, even the smallest, most insignificant parts of life. They spread propaganda that the Jews were the source of all evil.

- The Republic of Indonesia:

There was a time where the government would conduct a purge and it happened for years where hundreds of thousands of people were seized and taken from their families because they were accused of being communist participants instead of fixing the problem, corruption.

- The Malaysian-Chinese Confrontation:

The state blamed many issues on the Chinese population in that area, leading to horrible events and eventually the birth of Singapore, where the persecuted decided to gain independence from the persecutor.

Many other countries follow this same formula: The government neglects its own nation, civil unrest grows, they blame a weak group, and the problem is "solved" for 10 to 50 years.

However, the core issues eventually resurface. By that time, the leaders either find a new scapegoat or face the chaos that they have created.

Their formula is simple: Spread false news, cause chaos among the people, and blame someone else. Their problem is solved for the moment because the people's hatred, disappointment, and anger are shifted toward the scapegoat.

One might think people would learn from history since education is public and even free in some countries. But humanity always seems to find a way to be the worst of creations in this world.

The Four Types of People

Before we discuss how to talk to people properly, we must look at their categories to know who can be "saved" and who is too drowned in their beliefs. I believe there are four types of people in these groups:

1. The Brainwashed

This type of person only believes what they do because the media said so. They believe that the media would not allow such lies to be spread across national television.

Their belief system is based entirely on the news. This is why governments always try to control journalists, so they can feed the people censored information that fits their agenda.

However, if these people are met with facts they can see with their own eyes, hear with their own ears, or feel for themselves and if these facts are presented by honest experts that they trust, they will eventually realize their mistakes.

They will either become silent or join the persecuted group to defend them and atone for their mistakes.

2. The Ignorant

These people are similar to the brainwashed, they are shaped by the media and influencers. The difference, however, is that no matter how many facts experts provide, or what they see with their own eyes, they simply do not care.

They are too consumed by hatred. They are the successful experiments of the perpetrators because their reaction is exactly what was expected.

I pity for these kinds of people, they are ungrateful because they have eyes and ears, yet they remain blind and deaf.

3. The Hypocrites and Opportunists

These are morally degenerated people. They benefit from conflict and unrest and use that benefit for their own personal gain. They do not care that a child out there is losing their childhood, their life, or their peace because of their actions.

They do this to gain wealth, power, influence, or authority. They are the second worst category because they are a primary reason why civil unrest keeps growing until it consumes everyone.

4. The Originators

These are the people who caused the problem in the first place. They should be responsible for their own actions, yet they neglect their responsibility and blame their incompetence on a group that is barely significant in society.

Words cannot describe how rotten these people are. Essentially, they trade children's lives for a peaceful life in their mansions or villas.

People lose their humanity because of them, both the persecutors and the persecuted are victims of their hands.

How to Talk With Them

We are unable to speak with the Ignorant, the Hypocrite, or the Originator. They are too blinded. Worldly pleasures are right in front of them, and none of them would trade those pleasures for the struggle of actually fixing the problem.

While we cannot speak with them, we can talk to the first category, the Brainwashed. What they need are facts, not necessarily from our own mouths, but facts supported by people they already believe in.

Our responsibility lies in how we convey the message. A man who is soft, patient, a good listener, and understanding will eventually break down their walls.

Their reaction might be harsh at first, but if you keep going or simply leave them be peacefully, they will soon begin researching privately and will eventually find the truth.

The key to talking to those who can still be guided back is empathy, understanding, and kindness, combined with facts and proof supported by experts.

Do not engage them with shouting, marching, or apologetic videos. They will often view those as excuses or direct attacks on the beliefs they hold dear.

This is why, in the Qur'an, God did not command the prophets to shout, wage war, or mock the disbelievers initially. Instead, He ordered the prophets to speak in the most kind, polite, and soft way possible at first, but if they started to persecuted the believers, it became a different case.

This approach did not devalue their honor as humans or prophets, it was a way to remain humble in the eyes of the people. The approach only changed if that kindness failed and the situation worsened, only then were they ordered to take further action.

Before you try to guide a person to the truth or the right path, you must understand why they act the way they do, understand their position, and, most importantly, understand the things that made them that way.

That way, not only we can tell and spread the truth, but also made them feel comfortable, understood and respect. The key here is actually patience, once we can control it, we can have a smooth and respectful conversation to that types of people.

Even if they approached us with hostility, we won't be bothered because once we know the reason for their hostility, all we feel is only pity and wanted to present them the truth of it.

Don’t waste your time talking to the ignorants, hypocrites and the perpetrators because nothing can satisfy their answer and you will only lose your own self in the middle of it, ignore them and move on with your life.