Hatred and ignorance toward Islam, specifically in Western nations, seem to have become the norm. Today’s media coverage has succeeded in putting the religion in an infamous spotlight. The events of 9/11 have resulted in a stream of fearful glares the second a Muslim walks into an airport, and the rise of the radical terrorist group ISIS has taken a toll on the current perceptions of the religion. It is a sorry sight.

The root of this problem begins with the lack of knowledge people have about Islam. It is typical for an individual to hear the chaos occurring in the Middle East from the news and develop an interesting perception regarding the religion. I have seen it happen many times and I can see how easy it is to take such a stance. The media successfully portrays the religion in a negative manner and can cloud people’s views pretty quickly.

But the truth is constantly being twisted. This theory that Islam promotes violence is a lie. Terrorism and unjustified killing are forbidden entirely. The name of the religion itself is derived from the Arabic word salam, which means “peace.” I can guarantee you that if the religion did actually promote hostility, it would not be the fastest growing religion today and it would not have nearly 2 billion followers worldwide.

Extremists cannot be used to vilify Islam as a whole. The members of ISIS are following their own incorrect version of Islam. Malala Yousafzai and Umme Hani-Khan are just two of the many Muslims with positive influences. Yousafzai is a Pakistani activist for female education and human rights, and is the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Khan won a major discrimination case after being denied a job at Abercrombie & Fitch for wearing a headscarf. Both express strength and power in standing up for their beliefs without hostility.

Nearly 20 anti-Islam rallies took place this October. In Ohio, a lone woman protester was greeted by Muslims, who offered her food and water. They offered to sit down with her and discuss her misconceptions. The act was meant to erase the idea of the religion promoting aggression and is a small step towards destroying Islamophobia.

It is sickening to see even potential presidential candidates, such as Donald Trump, put down my religion with ease. Muslims are ordinary people with an ordinary lifestyle. It is time to destroy Islamophobia, and the best way to do this is by educating others about what the religion is all about – one individual at a time.