"Terrorists" – not "Muslim Terrorists"

By Teuta Marsic

It was September 11, 2001 and I was sitting in class. I was in the seventh grade and only 10 years old. In a rush, an announcement was made that clearly stated that the day would be cut short and students were to go home. All of us looked puzzled. We kept asking what happened but no one would tell us anything. My father finally came for me and in a rush I asked him what happened. He said a plane was hijacked into the twin towers. I asked him who did it, he exclaimed "Terrorists."

I remember that day like it was yesterday, it is still vividly embedded in my mind. I remember every news cast reporting on it for days and days, and I remember specifically each one stating "Muslim Terrorists." Because of that day, there are many harsh views on Islam and a lot of prejudice against followers of the religion. I believe this is an injustice, and there is a vast misconception on the religion of Islam, and exactly what the terrorists did.

My family is from Montenegro and we are Muslim. I'm first generation American, so my lifestyle growing up has been very dynamic and much of like being raised in my parents country. We aren’t very religious, but we do celebrate Eid, we fast, and we do believe Allah is number one in our lives.



We follow the beliefs to do only good to others and only do positive actions that will help others flourish, not only ourselves. I can say from my experience, that each Muslim that I’ve met, differing in degrees of devoutness, believes in having a pure heart and not doing harm to others.

Because of this terrorist attack, many Americans have differing views of Muslims. Some people think we all are terrorists, some people think we are all linked somehow in a dangerous religion, and some people don’t know what to think, therefore, they continue ridiculous bandwagons. People felt the need to hurt American Muslim citizens through words and hatred crimes.

Personally, my family was not affected. I do believe this is because we do not fit in that false classification of Islamic people- dark skin and from the Middle East. We are European but we are still Muslim. If you looked at us, you would not think we were Muslim. But does that exclude us from being Muslim? No, and it’s completely wrong that other Muslims are hated and classified unjustly just because of where they’re from and how they look.



My father, on that day said “Terrorists” – not “Muslim Terrorists.” Even though they are Muslim, is it not the religion that has anything to do with killing people and doing such horrendous crimes. It is NOT. Nowhere in the Quran has it ever said that killing others, destruction of property, or acts of violence are permitted – it is actually forbidden and detestable acts. Islam is a religion of Mercy.

Allah states that murder is the second of the major sins. The Quran states, "God does not forbid you from showing kindness and dealing justly with those who have not fought you about religion and have not driven you out of your homes. God loves just dealers." (Quran, 60:8)

As a Muslim, I’ve been hurt by what has been said and what has been propelled throughout the years about my religion. Allah is a sacred part of my life and it’s important for other people to see that our religion is not made to hurt people. What the terrorists did was a crime of hate on circumstances that are not linked to Islam. Those individuals have linked themselves, and created themselves a utopia that their actions were the actions of Allah. They were not, and a voice of Muslims in this country needs to be heard.