This article is for both Muslims and non Muslims, as there are many popular beliefs about Islam that are wrong. Allow me first to introduce 2 words in your vocabulary: Haram means forbidden and Halal means allowed. In this article I would like to talk about the following misconceptions:
Believer A believer is a person that solely believes in God following one or more scriptures sent by god. Hence Christians and Jews are believers aswell. The contents of the Quran, Thora and Bible hence overlap as they come from the same source but are written down by different authors. If you are Muslim and don’t believe me you have obviously not read sure 2, which I think is an important sure to read. Later in the Quran it does advice christians to not see Jesus as a god, but that might be the reason some Muslims got confused about the Christian religion, as generally Christians think Jesus is Human. Christians even sing “Gottes Sohn ist als Mensch geboren” in church which means “the son of god is born as human”.
2:63
Indeed, those who believed and those who were Jews or Christians or Sabeans [before Prophet Muhammad] - those [among them] who believed in Allah and the Last Day and did righteousness - will have their reward with their Lord, and no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.
Marriage Muslims and other believers can marry. Sure 2 again states that believers should marry believers. There was one verse in a later sure which explicitly states that a man who is Muslim is free to marry a Christian or Jew, but that got misunderstood as that therefore women are not to marry other believers, but then there is Sure 2 that states that believers should marry believers both male and female.
2:221
And do not marry polytheistic women until they believe. And a believing slave woman is better than a polytheist, even though she might please you. And do not marry polytheistic men [to your women] until they believe. And a believing slave is better than a polytheist, even though he might please you. Those invite [you] to the Fire, but Allah invites to Paradise and to forgiveness, by His permission. And He makes clear His verses to the people that perhaps they may remember.
A lot of Imams refuse to marry interfaith couples. Though there is another verse to say “you should not forbid the good things that god allows, just don't over cross the boundaries given by god as god does not like people that over cross them.”, so technically that’s a Haram doing to forbid others from marrying interfaith within believers.
5:87
O you who have believed, do not prohibit the good things which Allah has made lawful to you and do not transgress. Indeed, Allah does not like transgressors.
Jesus Yes Jesus is in the Quran of course, because Islam came after Jesus. If you are Muslim though you might have cringed then I said “the son of god is born as a human” as the Quran says “Jesus is the Mesiah/savior, son of Maria and sent by god or a prophet but that’s it”. The romantic night between god and Maria was describes as that god simply said “be” and then Maria was pregnant. And then it says similar to Adam, Jesus was made from earth. I haven’t come to that part yet in the Quran yet but apparently Jesus does not die in the Quran either, which is kind of shocking for me because in Christianity we are told “god loves us so much he would sacrifice his own son for us” and then the Quran comes and says “nope”.
War and Refugees A lot of people think that Islam is an aggressive religion that promotes war against all people that don’t believe in Islam. Islam though says that you shouldn’t fight unless you are being attacked, or if you are living under a government that restricts you from practicing your religion. For the latter case it also gives the option of getting the F out of the country, which would be the more reasonable case for situations like Uyghurs in China. It also says if you flee fellow believers will help you. This is Ironic as Muslims pray in the direction of a country that does not take in refugees, which is one of the things that indicate how fucked up the Saudi leadership is. Instead from Saudi Arabia comes funding for ISIS and the Yemen war. Germany is quite a believer country in Europe though despite it being so far from the issues.
Religious Freedom Very early in the Quran is saying that you shouldn’t intervene with Christians being Christians saying “what greater sin is there than stopping someone worshiping god”. Very briefly though the Quran mentioned that you shouldn’t intervene with nonbeliever’s religious practice, as this would not stop them but only make them hate god.
2:144
And who is more unjust than he who forbids that in places for the worship of Allah, Allah's name should be celebrated?-whose zeal is (in fact) to ruin them? It was not fitting that such should themselves enter them except in fear. For them there is nothing but disgrace in this world, and in the world to come, an exceeding torment.
The Holy Books In Islam the Quran, the Bible, the Thora and the and the book that never got turned into an actual book but was revealed to David are valid holy scriptures of god. Hence it is encouraged to read up on them as well. Reading the bible does not make someone less Muslim and me reading the Quran does not make me less Christian. No matter if Christian or not you would be welcome to attend church. During Christmas for the Christmas play the church is fullest as even Atheists come to church that day.
Islamic Banking Its complete bullshit that banks say so that you refuse to get interest when banking your money. In Europe people don’t get interest on money any more but in many developing countries there's a high interest rate. In countries like Azerbaijan I remember it was at some point even 14% per year. In Africa I saw a lot of banks offering Islamic Banking saying it makes you a better Muslim by refusing the interest as in the Quran says if you borrow money to someone, you should not take interest. The bank is not exactly someone and the difference between a someone and a bank is that if a bank shuts then your money is gone with the bank and the debt is not inherited like when a person dies. This is a very real risk in developing countries, so real that many in Nigeria refuse to bank their savings. Also banks take interest them self. In countries where the Central bank gives little regulations I have seen banks offer loans for 120% interest putting people into debt traps.
Burka Women are advised to wear clothes that are most suitable for situations. If the woman believes that if she reveals her self people would either rape her or people would feel attracted to her for shallow reasons, or if she just wants to have pale skin, that the woman may choose to wear covering. If the woman feels like its impractical to play sports or work in construction with those clothes the woman may choose to wear sweatpants and T-Shirt. There is a TedX video explaining this much better than me. Technically its Haram to touch a woman before marriage (even if it's the hand) so it is advised to not force a hand shake on a Muslim girl as you don't know how strict she follows the Quran.
StoningNot in the Quran. Before marriage the Quran prescribes 100 lashes for sex. I remember reading in the Quran there was one verse that said to keep your cheating wife at home until she dies or God helps her (she is still free to divorce you though), but as I am researching for this I have difficulty finding again that specific verse. If there is interest I can find again later. Also it’s Haram to get stoned as Islam prescribes you to keep a sober mind (hahaha 420 joke).