A bigot, according to the dictionary, is a “person who is intolerant” toward those holding different opinions.” The sad fact, of course, is that there are a lot of bigots in the world and some of them happen to have access to computers and the internet, which unfortunately allows them to reach more people.
Fortunately though, there are also some brave people out there who go out of their way to correct them and their ignorance.
Case in point, one Tumblr user named “whatpath” took the time to react to a photo posted by another user which had the words “Imagine A World Without Muslims.” Whatpath didn’t hold back and went all out, researching facts to counter the thoughtless attack.
Photo credit: via Tumblr
Here’s his epic response:
Yes, lets imagine a world WITHOUT MUSLIMS, shall we?
Without Muslims you wouldn’t have:
• Coffee
• Cameras
• Experimental Physics
• Chess
• Soap
• Shampoo
• Perfume/spirits
• Irrigation
• Crank-shaft, internal combustion engine, valves, pistons
• Combination locks
• Architectural innovation (pointed arch -European Gothic cathedrals adopted this technique as it made the building much stronger, rose windows, dome buildings, round towers, etc.)
• Surgical instruments
• Anesthesia
• Windmill
• Treatment of Cowpox
• Fountain pen
• Numbering system
• Algebra/Trigonometry
• Modern Cryptology
• 3 course meal (soup, meat/fish, fruit/nuts)
• Crystal glasses
• Carpets
• Checks
• Gardens used for beauty and meditation instead of for herbs and kitchen.
• University
• Optics
• Music
• Toothbrush
• Hospitals
• Bathing
• Quilting
• Mariner’s Compass
• Soft drinks
• Pendulum
• Braille
• Cosmetics
• Plastic surgery
• Calligraphy
• Manufacturing of paper and cloth
He further went on:
It was a Muslim who realized that light ENTERS our eyes, unlike the Greeks who thought we EMITTED rays, and so invented a camera from this discovery.
It was a Muslim who first tried to FLY in 852, even though it is the Wright Brothers who have taken the credit.
It was a Muslim by the name of Jabir ibn Hayyan who was known as the founder of modern Chemistry. He transformed alchemy into chemistry. He invented: distillation, purification, oxidation, evaporation, and filtration. He also discovered sulfuric and nitric acid.
It is a Muslim, by the name of Al-Jazari who is known as the father of robotics.
It was a Muslim who was the architect for Henry V’s castle.
It was a Muslim who invented hollow needles to suck cataracts from eyes, a technique still used today.
It was a Muslim who actually discovered inoculation, not Jenner and Pasteur to treat cowpox. The West just brought it over from Turkey.
It was Muslims who contributed much to mathematics like Algebra and Trigonometry, which was imported over to Europe 300 years later to Fibonnaci and the rest.
It was Muslims who discovered that the Earth was round 500 years before Galileo did.
The list goes on…
Just imagine a world without Muslims. Now I think you probably meant, JUST IMAGINE A WORLD WITHOUT TERRORISTS. And then I would agree, the world would definitely be a better place without those pieces of filth. But to hold a whole group responsible for the actions of a few is ignorant and racist. No one would ever expect Christians or White people to be held responsible for the acts of Timothy McVeigh (Oklahoma bombing) or Anders Breivik (Norway killing), or the gun man that shot Congresswoman Giffords in head, wounded 12 and killed 6 people, and rightly so because they had nothing to do with those incidents! Just like the rest of the 1.5 billion Muslims have nothing to do with this incident!
As anyone can expect, the lengthy post received numerous re-blogs and positive comments on the said social media platform.
Kudos to this man for standing up for our Muslim friends!
What Are The Common Misconceptions About Muslims?
“Muslims are violent, terrorists and/or extremists.” This, according to The Modern Religion, is the “biggest misconception in Islam” which, of course, resulted from the “constant stereotyping and bashing the media gives Islam.”
The site also went to clarify other wrong notions such as “Islam oppresses women, Muslims worship a different God, Islam was spread by the sword and intolerant of other faiths, All Muslims are Arabs, The Nation of Islam is a Muslim group, All Muslim men marry four wives, Muslims are a barbaric, backward people, Muhammad was the founder of Islam and Muslims worship him, [and] Muslims don’t believe in Jesus or any other prophets.”