The contemporary world of Islam faces an uphill battle defending itself from modern day misconceptions and the forced involvement with geopolitics. Islam struggles with the western world’s perception of the religion and cultural understanding. The current religious struggle between the Middle East and the West derives from thousands of years of bloodshed and conflict between the worlds three major religions; Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Blood that was shed during a period of holy wars and the ever expanding ruling powers such as Greece and Rome. The candle of hatred burns in modern times with the presences of radical extremist groups like the Taliban and Al-Qaeda that continue to ignite hatred towards the West by manipulating the Qur’an and preaching concepts that conflict with the laws of Islam.
Many scholars throughout the world have expressed their differences in events that occurred in the Qur’an. Like in Christianity and Judaism, one person’s interpretation of the scriptures can spawn radicals and extremist that prays on the weak to fuel their fire.
Many Muslims believe that Muhammad was the only prophet of God and that Jesus was only a practitioner of Christian faith. They are also believing that Jesus was not the son of God nor ordained like Christians do but only Muhammad.
In the United States and most of Europe, women have reached equality to men. There are significant differences between the Western World, Middle East, and North Africa. The modern stakes in the role of sexuality in Islam are high and currently affect its social role in the world. Radical Arab feminists, such as physician and author Nawal El Saadawi, coach their demands for the sexual emancipation of the Arab woman in secular terms. Their secularism, coupled with their Western ideological and political orientations, have been perceived by some Islamist circles as a major threat