Recognizing False Islamic Websites

There is an urgent need to be extra vigilant when using the internet, especially when searching for information on Islamic history or fiqh.  Besides the explosion of online classes in Islamic studies, Quranic studies and even Arabic, there are videos, podcasts and numerous websites with articles on Islamic matters.  It is a lot to navigate, especially when website promoting false information about Islam present themselves as legitimate.  

These false Islamic websites have the singular goal of discrediting Islam by providing distorted interpretations, fringe conspiracy theories, and outright misrepresentation and lies about Islamic beliefs, texts, history and people.

The strategies of these false Islamic websites include

• Islamic sounding website names
• Authors or writers with Islamic names 
• Islamic keywords driving readers to the site
• Quotes from the Holy Quran or Hadith that are in error 
• Fatwas from unknown scholars or are historically inaccurate

Counteracting Islamic sound name

Since the purpose is to discredit and mislead, the best way to do so is for these false websites to present themselves as legitimate Islamic resources.  Muslims will read and perhaps be surprised by information presented.  The site’s purpose is to create doubt in the believers. Others examine the false information and use it to confirm misgivings or support Islamophobic positions. 

• Research – don’t get into the habit of settling on information from just one website, especially one that is unknown
• Compare information from multiple sites.  Authentic information matches because it is true.
• Always go to the ‘about us’ section of the website because some will boldly write their true intent – look for statements alluding to uncovering hidden information about Islam or Muslims or claims that Muslim scholar narratives are unreal.

Counteracting Islamic sounding names

Although some of the writers who supply content or write articles on these websites have Islamic sounding names, many will offer a short bio of their beliefs.  Writers who are athists, agnostics or who have apostate against Islam are skilled at attempting to discredit the existence of a higher power.

• Don’t assume a Muslim sounding name means the person is Muslim.  Islamic names are cultural as well, especially in communities with significant Muslim presence.
• Make a habit of looking at the author on websites.  A quick biography can be on the website or can be found though a search engine.  Look for quotes, past work, political leanings and general positions.  Most writers want to be known ‘as’ – something so they are assured more exposure and work.
• Don’t be impressed with credentials.  A person with a doctorate, significant volunteer experience in legitimate charities or one who is well traveled may still have the intent to discredit Islam

Counteracting Islamic keywords

Since the goals of these false Islamic websites is to discredit or mislead others about Islam, that is only accomplished by first driving readers to their site.  Keywords help readers pull up information based on what they are searching for.  Since readers may not on their own automatically access these sites, using Islamic keywords makes them appear as legitimate supplying reliable information.

• Keywords will list multiple websites for consideration.  Compare other sources.
• If you enter a website and the information seems off, you can use keywords like ‘discredit islam’ or ‘uncover truth about islam’ etc to check and see if the same website appears after searching from a different perspective.
• Vary your keyword search word selection so you are more likely to receive references to reliable sites.  Use a thesaurus to look up ways to say the same thing using different words.

Counteracting misquotes

One of the most common practices of these false Islamic websites is to misquote and distort the holy Quran and reported sayings of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).  For Muslims accessing the site, the quote may seem familiar but also off somehow.  This is deliberate on the part of the website and a tactic to make the information seem authentic. For those seeking fault with Islam, the misquotes are used as leverage to justify Islamophobic attitudes. 

• Anytime you see a quote from the Quran or the Hadith, always look for authentication.  Check the Quran itself or a Book of hadith online or physically in your home to see if the quote is the same.  Sometimes people get confused with varying translations, but the essence of the quote should not change.
• If a Holy Quran quote has no corresponding chapter and verse number, search the quote.  If you cannot find it, it is likely a misquote or deliberate distortion.
• Look for and note quotes that are considerably longer than the typical translation or list modern ideas or events by name.
• The reported sayings of the prophet (pbuh) may be more difficult to verify but note quotes that seem divisive, against Islamic principles, or those contradictory to spirit of Quran, the prophetic character or Islamic principles.

Counteracting false fatwas

Some of these false Islamic websites will make claims that previous, present or unknown Islamic scholars have issued a legal opinion on Islamic matters that this website alone can explain and contextualize.  This position becomes the very thing that discredits and exposes the site as misleading

• Fatwas are only issued by qualified scholars, Islamic institutions and sometimes Muslim majority governments.  Modern fatwas address contemporary issues that are not explicitly detailed in the Holy Quran or Hadith.
• If a fatwa listed claims Muslims are directed to do harm to others, take over governments, wage war, deceive other people, steal information, establish sharia or reject universally agreed upon civilized interaction – then know that it is a lie.
• Also note that false websites will claim previous fatwas spurred actions by Muslims that are not in keeping with Islamic principles.  Again, a comparison of Islamic historical facts from other sources can expose these deceptions.

Below is an AI generated list of known websites providing false or misleading Islamic information:

• Answering Islam (answering-islam.org)
• WikiIslam (wikiislam.net / wikiislam.com) 
• Muslim Hope (muslimhope.com)
• Islam Review (islamreview.com)
• Muhammadanism.com
• Faith Freedom (faithfreedom.org)
• Islam Watch (islam-watch.org)
• The Spirit of Islam (thespiritofislam.com)