Muslim rapper takes on Islamic State

Bijaan Lalani raps to get his message across that all Muslims are not terrorists

In the wake of severe backlash over the Paris attacks, a Canadian Muslim rapper took it upon himself to explain why Islamic State (IS) and its ideology do not represent Islam.

“You are not me, so don’t claim to be...cause that label, that hangs from me painfully. You are not me,” raps Bijaan Lalani.



On November 13, Islamic State terrorists wreaked havoc on Paris and killed 130 people. Since then, Muslims have faced Islamophobic attacks, not only in France but other European countries as well as the United States and Canada.

Lalani is just one in a long line of Muslims worldwide who have not only condemned the attacks but have also spoken out against the belief that Muslims are violent. “You play the system to make us the villains. How can you kill a man and call it religious?”



He goes on to say that Islam does not encourage terrorism and that terrorists only twist the words in the Quran to suit their heinous purpose. “Call yourself Muslim, or Jewish, or Christian. But don’t think we’re foolish enough that we’ll listen. When we lost lives, you lost religion. You can twist words and quote the Quran. But I know for damn sure that is not Islam,”

Echoing the sentiments of thousands of Muslims, Lalani raps, “They are not me. Please believe, I live with intentions of peace. They are not me, though they seem to be. It’s just what they want you to see.”



The rapper explains that just like other ordinary young people of different faiths, he loves life and wants to live it to the fullest. “I’m a Canadian, I’m a Muslim, I’m a student. I love life, I love friends, I love music. I fall in love and girls drive me stupid. I want to live life to the fullest and truest.”

Lalani stresses that terrorists only want to divide people and that we can defeat them only if we stick together. “They want you to fear us. They want a divide. They want us to hate so that we pick sides. But we are the same. We are alive. And if we’re together, they cannot survive. Only light can drive out the dark. Only love can quell the hate that tears us apart. We’re brothers and sisters, so don’t let them strip us of the humanity we hold in our hearts.”