Islamophobia
20th March 2026
The British government is introducing an official definition of what it calls "anti-Muslim hate". I don't know why the term isn't "anti-Muslim hatred" but perhaps I'm old-fashioned. Anyway, I would like to say a few things about this.
Firstly, this is guidance, not legislation. Nevertheless, it will be applied in all aspects of the public sector, including schools, hospitals and the police, and so will affect us all. Also, it may become legislation over time. Therefore, we should be concerned.
Secondly, some people are describing this as a definition of "Islamophobia" but "Islamophobia" is the wrong word. A "phobia" is an irrational fear, so "Islamophobia" should mean "an irrational fear of Islam". I don't know why these people do this. Perhaps they're just careless with language. Perhaps they can't think of a word that properly describes what they want to control or ban. Or perhaps they deliberately misuse language in order to change the way people think. George Orwell wrote about this in his book, "1984".
Some people appear to want to use this term to give the impression that criticism of Islam is immoral. The British government, and others, have done this sort of thing before. For example, "homophobia" should mean "an irrational fear of homosexuality" (actually, it should mean "an irrational fear of sameness) but it tends to be used to mean "criticism or persecution of homosexual people".
Fear of Islam, criticism of Islam as a flawed ideology or false religion, and hatred of Muslims are three different things. If we confuse them, deliberately or otherwise, we make it impossible to discuss the relevant issues properly and effectively.
Thirdly it must be wrong to issue guidance about the definition of hatred towards one group or one religion, without applying the same guidance regarding hatred towards other groups and religions.
Fourthly, no Christians should fear Islam for the simple reason that no Christians should fear anything.
2 Timothy 1v7
... God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and
self-control.
God is the Lord of history. All history will work out exactly as God has decreed it will. We should fear nothing but God Himself. Jesus said:
Deuteronomy 6v13
It is the Lord your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve.
Luke 12v4-52
"I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after
that have nothing more that they can do.
But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has
authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!"
Fifthly, it is good and proper that we criticise false beliefs. The Psalmist, Jeremiah, Daniel, Zechariah and Paul did exactly that, and so set an example for us:
Psalm 96v5
For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the
heavens.
Jeremiah 14v22
Are there any among the false gods of the nations that can bring rain? Or
can the heavens give showers?
Daniel 5v23
"... you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. And the
vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your
lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them. And you
have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and
stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is
your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honoured."
Acts 19v26
"And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia
this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that
gods made with hands are not gods."
Islam is a false belief, not least because it denies the divinity of Jesus Christ, without whom no-one can be saved.
John 14v6
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes
to the Father except through me."
Acts 4v12
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under
heaven given to man by which we must be saved."
Sixthly, we must love Muslims, not hate them. They are our neighbours. They need the Gospel of Jesus Christ just like everybody else. We should pray for them and do what we can to help them find saving faith in the blood of Jesus.
In summary, never confuse criticising Islam, which is a false religion with a false god, with hating or mistreating Muslims. Do one but never do the other. And never let people claim you hate Muslims just because you know that Islam is a false religion.