Islam teaches that Christians and Muslims are both "people of the book." By that it means that the two religions share the same basic beliefs articulated through the Bible and the Quran. The main difference between Christians and Muslims is that Muslims do not believe that Jesus was the son of God. Muslims believe that Jesus was a prophet who was granted special powers by God to show people the power of God. Islam does not support terrorism under any circumstances. Terrorism goes against every principle in Islam. If a Muslim engages in terrorism, he is not following Islam. He may be wrongly using the name of Islam for political or financial gain.

Thirty-nine percent of respondents to the USA TODAY/Gallup Poll said they felt at least some prejudice against Muslims. The same percentage favored requiring Muslims, including U.S. citizens, to carry a special ID "as a means of preventing terrorist attacks in the United States." About one-third said U.S. Muslims were sympathetic to al-Qaeda, and 22% said they wouldn't want Muslims as neighbors. A USA TODAY/Gallup Poll of 1,007 Americans shows strong anti-Muslim feeling. And the hard feelings are damaging the mental health of U.S. Muslims. I don't think there's a Muslim out there who hasn't felt some kind of fallout from 9/11," says Jafar Siddiqui, 55, a real estate agent in Lynnwood, Washington. "I myself have been invited to 'go home' at least once a month." Siddiqui has been a U.S. citizen for 20 years.

Most Muslims live the major cosmopolitan areas of America. Twenty percent of all Muslims live in California, 16% in New York state, eight percent in Illinois, four percent in New Jersey and Indiana each, and about three percent in Michigan, Virginia, and Texas, and Ohio each. Professionally, Muslims in America are a versatile people. However, engineering and computers employ more than 10% of Muslims in America. Medicine-related fields engage eight percent of Muslims as compared to about four percent in the financial field. There are very few Muslims in businesses of their own. 

There are several misunderstandings about Islam. First of all, many people think that if you are Muslim you must be Arab, and if you are Arab you must be Muslim, but that’s not true. Worldwide, there are more than 1 billion Muslims who are not Arabs. At the same time, there are many Arabs who are Christian or Jewish. Second, many people seem to think, based on what the Taliban has done, that Islam by nature abuses women. I think that to the contrary, Islam gives to women the rights it gives to men. Third, people fail to differentiate between political and religious agendas. Often religion is used to back up a political agenda, as bin Laden did. 

Beckley West Virginia, a small town where I spent five years of my life. Beckley is on its way to development, the educational field is the most important because according to epodunk.com 21% of Beckley residents age 25 and older has a bachelor degree. Coal mine is one of the biggest money making industry for people here in Beckley. Because of less education and diversity, there is less awareness of different cultures and religions. I came to United States 5 years ago, on Jan 10^{th 2002} right after Sep 11^th 2001. First impression is the last impression. The second day here in Beckley was a little disturbing, because a man with a gun was threatening to kill us because he thought we were terrorists. That was some kind of feeling I’ll never be able to explain. With all that good thoughts about America and Americans went down the drain. I didn’t go out side my dorms room for a few days, not because I was scared but because I didn’t want to see anyone. But after a few days my friends wanted me to go to Lake Stephen with them. So we went there and were having a good time, but not for so long because someone called 911 and told them that there some Arabic guys her. Four cop’s cars arrived and start checking us and our cars. That was the time I wanted to go back to my country but before I came to United States I promised my mom and dad that I’ll get my degree here. So I did not want to disappoint them.   

 After working in board of education for more then one year now, just a few weeks ago one of my co-workers asked me that “why Muslim people kills other religion people”? And then he asked me “If I have a son and he wants to change religion then would I kill him”? That was the time when I was thinking that this is ignorance. This ignorance about religions and cultures need to be fixed and these people need to be educated. They misunderstood Islam because of the media. Fox news is one of the biggest news agencies but unfortunately every word coming out of the news caster’s mouth about Islam and Muslims is against them. I know they have to make money but my question is if someone can not make thing better why they have to make it worst? I do not watch news anymore because if I watch new for 30 minutes then I am disturbed for two days. And the disturbance is because of the hate in their news for Muslims and Islam. The sad thing is that people will not study by themselves about what is wrong and what is right but they listen to anything and believe it. 

When my co-worker asked me this question, then I was thinking what all these people are thinking of me and my religion? I don’t know what my classmates are thinking about me? That’s where I decided to do something about it, starting from my research paper. The purpose of this research paper is to make people aware of the sweetness of our religion or at least make them aware that any type of killing and terrorism activity is against Islam. With this action research paper the people of Beckley and my classmates will be aware of that Muslims are not terrorists but they are peace lovers like any other.