Muslims putting negative spin on Islam

I was at a engagement gathering over the weekend when someone commented on a married couple who were not attending the wedding in summer because the Muslim couple were "extreme". Extreme!!! That's abit harsh. It later transpired the reason why the couple opted out of attending the wedding was because the wedding was not segregated and music and dancing would be openly practiced on the day. Its another example of how people are using buzz words so flippantly without really understanding the implications.

I'm not here to give my view on their interpretation of Islam or the level of Islam implemented in their lives. I'm here to comment on people and their use of words without really understanding the repercussions.

Muslims are constantly bombarded with negative spin in the media and words used to that effect. Certain words have been associated with Islam in the last 10 years or so. Words like, Terrorist, Extremist, Jihadi, Martyr have become synonymous with Islam. Consequently people inadvertantly repeat these words and thus have permeated into society and this negative attention is further fuelling the negative misconceptions of Islam.
There's one thing having non-muslims repeat these words and almost excusable because they are only repeating what they've heard from the media without really understanding themselves and on the other hand there are some Muslims which don't do themselves any favours and give a negative spin on Islam.

That evening it wasn't about the level of Islam practiced/non-practiced or the interpretation of Islam which people decide to adopt. The issue was about using such words without really understanding the meaning of them and implying Islam is in actual fact a religion based on irrational belief.
The fact that people who only saw Islam as merely praying and fasting over the month of Ramadan was not a true reflection of Islam. It incorporates a whole lot more.The problem isn't with "practicing" muslims but the type which only incorporate Islam in their lives over Ramadan and belittling Muslims who put far more effort into incorporating Islam through their lives.

Thankfully someone perked up to respond to her initial comments. Needless to say the girl who decided to respond had sisters who practied so she saw the "extremist" comment as a direct dig at her family. Unfortunately the woman responded only to say (which was lame for a counter argument) "she prayed, had been to Umra and Hajj on numerous occasions and fasted". I was impressed until come maghrib time neither her or her family got up to pray salah. Missing a crucial prayer at Maghrib..... what an extremist!