Misinformation about Islam is spreading faster than ever, and its effects are showing up in communities across the West. Community leaders say the fallout can shape how Muslims are seen in everyday life and influence how comfortable people feel at work, at school and when spending a day out.
Statistics Canada reports that religion-based hate crimes have increased in recent years, and Muslims have remained one of the most targeted groups. Local leaders have pointed out misinformation and false narratives as factors that can worsen prejudice, especially when people form opinions without any direct contact with their Muslim neighbours.
At the London Muslim Mosque, Senior Imam Sheikh Mohamed Al Jammali says misconceptions often develop when people rely on second-hand information rather than learning through credible sources or personal interaction. “They have not studied Islam from the sources,” he said. “They heard it from second hand, or even maybe third hand.”
One misunderstanding he hears regularly is the belief that Islam is tied to a single ethnic identity. In casual conversations, “Muslim” and “Arab” are sometimes treated as interchangeable terms, even though Muslims come from many cultures worldwide. “Many of those are not Muslims. First of all, they think Islam and Arab are one,” Al Jammali said.
That confusion can also extend into religious language. Al Jammali said some people assume Muslims worship a different God when they hear the word Allah, instead of recognizing it as the Arabic word for God. “When the Muslims say Allah, they think it’s Arab God,” he said. “No, but Allah is the name of God in Arabic.”
Another misconception that continues to live on is the association between Islam and terrorism. “They link Islam and Muslims with terrorism,” Al Jammali said.
Online spaces have accelerated the spread of those perceptions. Posts are shared without context, and strong emotional reactions often drive what gets the attention. Al Jammali said some internet groups actively push negative messaging. “Not only just the media, but the internet,” he said. “There are many groups in the internet, in that imaginary world, they have their own agenda.”
For many people, the effects are not always obvious or easy to document. Al Jammali described indirect discrimination as a concern that comes up frequently, especially in hiring and job opportunities. “They didn’t tell you like, you know, we rejected you in this position for this reason, because you are Muslim, because of your name, because of your color, but you feel it,” he said.
Public comfort and safety is another issue raised within the mosque community, particularly for Muslim women who wear hijab. “Many Muslims are at fear,” he said. “Many of our ladies, they’re not comfortable, they’re not comfortable to be covered and wear hijab and I face it, I face it, you know, those questions in a weekly basis.”
In London, the 2021 attack that killed four members of the Afzaal family remains a painful reminder of how Islamophobia can escalate. “We faced one of those bad results here in the City of London,” Al Jammali said. “Four innocent souls being taken with no crime, just because they look as Muslims.”
Not every experience discussed in the community is negative. Al Jammali pointed to workplace accommodation as one area where he has seen progress, including flexibility for Friday prayers.
For the Imam, building understanding starts with human connection. Open houses and community events at the mosque give visitors a chance to ask questions and meet people directly. “They come with fear and they leave with love,” he said.
