You can't separate culture from Islam completely. You can try, but it won't work. I have come to this conclusion.
And you say " But yes you can! Lots of non-Arabs are Muslims!"
This is true. And yes they have found a way to combine cultures sure. But the reason you cannot separate culture from Islam completely is simple:
The culture is in the Qur'an. It is in the Hadith. It is Shariah.
Its there, in plain Arabic. Now, culture is in the Bible and Torah too but the difference is that the words of these books are not considered directly from God. They are inspired. Therefore, their words do not need to be followed exactly as they were thousands of years ago. But for the Muslims, the Qur'an does. A lot of the advancements in the Qur'an were based on the situation of the culture at the time. I feel that is mainly why there were polygamy rules, percentage rules for woman's inheritance, covering rules, etc. They all applied directly to the time the Qur'an was revealed. They were revolutionary for that small community. These words improved their society, made it way more just and practical then it ever had been.
But that was 1400+ years ago. Can we really expect rules and regulations, applied as they were 1400+ years ago, to function as well as they did back then? No, we cannot. These rules are so heavily based upon the issues and culture of that particular civilization that some do not even apply to our modern societies. But we try to do so, and its very difficult. I can't get use to them. To having to behave is such an odd fashion with men. To having to wear an overcoat in 90 degree heat or a scarf. To having to say many many Arabic terms. To getting use to the idea of arranged marriage and polygamy as ok. I just can't do it.
Add on the fact that Shariah and other Islamic practices are 100% middle eastern and you get the whole package. From the clothing you are expected to wear, to the food you can get at Halal restaurants, to the holiday practices and languages spoke at the masjid. No music, its haram, no dogs they are haram, no interaction with the opposite sex they are haram. How can one expect to blend our Western culture with a culture that is its antithesis?
I couldn't figure it out. But I'd love to hear from anyone who did.
Note: This is part of a series entitled "Islam Revisited"
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My thoughts are that we take culture far too serisously. But whatever. great post as always!
ReplyDeletehttp://theveiledbump.blogspot.com/
If you start with the premise that "for the Muslims" (as if we are a unified group) the Qur'an needs to be followed in exactly the same way it was hundreds of years ago, then you will never be able to separate Arab culture from Islam.
ReplyDeleteBut I don't think the majority of Muslims (in the West at least) believe that. We don't practice slavery anymore, for example, although it is condoned in the Qur'an.
I believe the Qur'an as meant to be read as guidance (2:2), not as a set of clear-cut rules. I agree with you that the words of the Qur'an "were revolutionary for that small community. These words improved their society, made it way more just and practical then it ever had been." If we take those principles of revolution, improving society, striving for justice, as the core principles of Islam, then it is possible to see the details as mere examples that were relevant at the time of its revelation but are not today.
I guess it is about priority and point of view. For me it is not weird or uncomfortable to cover in 90 degree weather. I don't see anything wrong with avoiding the things that I consider wrong with my birth culture because I can see that they are wrong. I can see the benefit of avoiding them. I don't think that limiting extraneous conversations with men is weird. It isn't a burden for me alhamdulillah.
ReplyDeleteAlso we can get halal hamburgers and apple pie is still halal :-P
Anyway, where I was going with this was that it really depends on the person and their priorities. If being non-awkward around dudes has a higher priority than the percieved benefits of limited contact, then it will seem "oppresive". I think that it depends on if the person sees the benefits and really internalizes it into their life and this happens for everyone in a different way. Some people never feel comfortable with some things, so they don't do them. Allahu 3alem we are all exactly at the point and "comfortableness" that He wants us to be :-)
Anyway, just my take on the issue. Can't wait for the next one!
I'm currently reading through a translation of the Quran and came upon this verse in sura 24.
ReplyDelete36. (The light is lit) in houses of worship which God has allowed to be raised, and His name remembered in them. His praises are sung there morning and evening.
So I don't see why Muslims think music is haram even in their mosques. This made it seems that God's praises were SUNG in houses of worship! So sing, Muslims, sing! :-D
Enjoyed reading your thoughts!
Zuhura: Maybe I should have said Orthodox? I agree with you though I think that in all actuality the Qur'an is a guide book and not meant to be literal any longer. We are to learn from that civilization. Bad part is, people really like being literal. But it is a requirement, at least in what I have studied, that to be Muslim you must believe all the words of the Quran (at least the Arabic) come directly from God. And that does change how one uses the book.
ReplyDeleteNeverEver: Yeah it probably does depend on the person. I couldn't do certain things because I didn't find them necessary. I don't find it necessary to not speak to men or to wear quite that much clothing. So its harder for someone to follow such rules if they don't believe they really need to...not that there is anything wrong with following them. But you need to believe in them to truly follow them.
Susanne: I remember that verse! It always confused me cause i was all "Um...we gonna sing to God...but music is haram o_O"
"it is harder for someone to follow such rules if they don't believe they really need to..."
ReplyDeleteI agree. I'm coming from a different standpoint, I guess, because I am a convert to Islam, but I still really struggle with certain things that I have been raised to believe are "okay."
For example, hijab/covering. Last summer I quit wearing shorts and started wearing only long pants or skirts, I still wore short sleeves. This summer I wanted to only wear long sleeves but I find myself wearing 3/4 sleeves most of the time because I feel I don't stand out so much that way. I don't see the real "need" to cover the remaining 5 inches of my arm...I don't feel immodest, especially since basically ALL of the people I'm ever around are wearing shorts, capris, tank tops, and tees. I like the head scarf, I really do, but I think I see more value in wearing it to be identified as a Muslim than to protect my modesty. At least in this culture, I don't feel "unsafe" or "exposed" when I don't have it on.
Interaction with men is another thing. I DO see the value in limited physical contact and intimate friendships (one on one, etc.). My husband looks like he will explode whenever one of my old guy friends from high school comes up and hugs me out of habit. How do you really deflect a hug? Anyway, I see why you wouldn't hug a non-related male. I still shake hands, though, and just tonight I was high fiving my mom's friend's son (3 years my senior) over and over again until we got it right (I have NO hand eye coordination). I don't feel that it was wrong to "touch" him by slapping hands in a high five. I felt like it was a nice, immature interaction between two friends who have been raised together since childhood.
Another thing is dancing. I was a dancer. It killed me at my cousin's wedding when I couldn't get on the dance floor. At a different cousin's birthday party I broke down and played two rounds of "just dance" (or whatever it's called) on the wii versus my sister. Sure there were men in the room, they weren't really paying attention to us though and they're all either related or in-laws or cousins of cousins if you get what I mean. I don't know if doing those two dances was a "sin." My husband definitely thinks dancing is the root of all evil and got upset that I even 'wanted' to dance at the wedding. (um, he didn't see me do the wii dance....)
It's hard to follow rules when we don't see the value. Don't drink alcohol, that makes sense! Don't dance sexily for a crowd, makes sense!
Don't do the YMCA? Come on...
lol Nikki I completely understand where you are coming from.
ReplyDeleteWhat I do in these situations is just try to remember that there is a reason for everything whether I understand it or not. Sometimes I fail, sometimes I succeed. I guess that is part of being human.
I use to dance everywhere I went. Literally. You could not keep me still. I would do the electric slide in walmart and ballet in line at the bank. Now I limit dance time to when I'm cooking or cleaning the house :-P For me, dancing was fun but if I am honest with myself it was also vanity. I liked that people knew that I was a good dancer. I enjoyed that attention.
But I guess I do see the value of refraining so i do that. And I know some people don't see the value in refraining and that is their prerogative. To each their own and all that :-P
but yeah IBBA, you did sum it up well. if you don't see the value it could be a life long struggle to try to follow it.
Nikki: I like your gradual approach to hijab. I think a lot of people could learn from it. You know that it would be hard to do hijab 100% from the get go so you are doing it in stages. YAY I pray God helps make it easy for you. Its funny, because although I don't feel that full hijab is necessary there are some things i will never wear in public again like a tank top or shorts above my knee. I think modesty really is important but I'm willing to use my cultural standards as well as imput from religions to figure out what that is. And I do feel way too much emphasis is put on the scarf....but that is another post :)
ReplyDeleteYeah...not being able to act would kill me. It already is. And i see no reason why I shouldn't be able to. However, there have always been physical things I was not willing to do on stage and that continues. I did one show which changed everything about the boundries in life I was not willing to break, even on stage. I still get nightmares about that show. And I dont think I could wear a skimpy outfit it would just be wrong. But having to hug someone or or touch them I can deal with on stage. Moderation.
I don't hug men I don't know. That is weird and i don't like it. But i will shake hands or have a conversation. My Muslim girlfriends are incredibly strict about the male/female rules. They won't even sit next to a man who isn't their husband. They will stand on the train instead of sit to avoid touching them. None of them will so much as shake hands with a man So I'm use to a rather strict example of these rules which may be why I find them odd.
Its not that I don't see the value in the rule itself (as you can see I do) I just don't think they need to go as far as they do. I feel like I need a little more give to have balance if that makes sense?
NeverEver: Teheee dancing everywhere is fun! But i get what you are saying. And dancing around your house is a good time :)
Thats quite a post!
ReplyDeleteWell, I personally don't think that the Qur'an was revealed "only for the circumstances of that time" I amlost always see a current relevance to what i read in the Qur'an. Sure, certain things were revealed as a "response" to a certain event or there are cultural indications in it. But again, those cultural implications too encourage culture other than the arab culture which not necessarily need be middle-eastern. If the Qur'an was basically for 1400 years ago for the Arabian society, then logically there shouldn't have been the command to cover. Cuz then why should men and women cover in the heat and sun of the hot desert, rite..
Somehow it strongly makes me feel that hijab is valuable for all climates. And i'd agree with Neverever, it's about priority and point of view. I personally see the value of covering (wearing the scarf) even when i'm covered in sweat. For me, it marks my committment and dedication to Islam. I probably have a host of reasons for wearing it even in a city which stereotypes me of being the classic symbol of oppression. But mostly it marks me being DIFFERENT which I've ALWAYS been even before hijab happened to me. I've never been the girl who did whats "cool" and what everybody else did. I've pretty much always rejected societal standards which i found shallow, and now again I reject them through Submission.. Observing hijab (the whole deal) is still an example of that..
Also a good thing to keep in mind would be a hadith (i THINKK) that every verse in the Qur'an has an overt, apparent and literal meaning AND a covert, metaphorical or hidden meaning. So its not that a certain verse(s) specific to a situation has a meaning ONLY limited to that context. It does have other meanings and significances...you just might not KNOW what all those other relevances are :)
One way to think of it is that you can NEVER have all your questions answered in this lifetime. This doesn't mean that you stop aking questions and blindly follow. But, this is where Faith comes in :) so does the belief in Ghayb... I always give God the credit to know better than me and to be wayy much smarter than me.. He does and is, cuz a Creator knows better than the Creation.
Continued...
ReplyDeleteEven about Music. I was a COMPLETE music addict before (altho i was born in a muslim family) and in yearbooks and social networking sites, under the heading -Passion- i wrote MUSIC!
Now after quitting it for good, i DO see a lott of benefits. It saves my time, again I'm not sheep-like to follow or to engrave the name of the latest boy band on my whatever body part, I shouldn't have to get even more depressed when i'm already sad after listening to one of those "life is so cruel" kinda lyrics, Music should not get to influence my emotions or thoughts in a way i don't want them to, it shouldn't have to make me feel so vulnerable as to imprint something which i would not want imprinted ib my mind. And thats what it does at an unconscious level, which i personally observed...
So again, i see the advantages of avoiding music. It makes perfect sense to me.
And about the verse on "singing" now *thats* taking things literally LOL. The english word is just a rough translation of its arabic equivalent. I prefer the word "melody" because when one recites the Qur'an with qiraat, thats melody, the adhaan (call for prayer) thats melody..not music.
I guess I'd be one of your "incredibly strict" Muslim girlfriends LOL. Guess I would not sit next to a man on the train or bus without my huge bag placed in between us, and i would NOT shake hands with any man not related to me, no matter how important, unimportant or casual he be. And i do understand that shaking hands is culture and it's not one bit with the intention of lust and all that, and I live in a culture where shaking hands is quite the norm. Still, I don't find any of it necessary! It's just not me anymore. I polietly refuse shaking hands when theres a hand my way, and people usually understand. I should have my choices to be respected and not be thought of as one who is "taking it too far". My reason is simple- I don't want to! People find the random public displays of affection as normal or drinking rabbit blood before a concert as normal, for me, not having physical contact with men is normal. Altho its not normal for the people around me.
but it shouldn't turn u away from the whole concept of it. Cuz people have a REASON for doing what the do and they shouldn't exude "craziness"
So my bottomline would be that perhaps FIND THE VALUE, and inshallah you'll be more centred. Maybe you missed looking somewhere...
Whatever you get at, make sure it gives you Peace and Satisfaction.
all the best :)
Now that was long! :P
Splendid: I guess all I can say is to each his own. You do these things because they make you you and you want to do them and you feel they are necessary for you. Its the opposite for me. I feel like Im trying to be someone I am not when I follow these rules. Does that make me a bad person? Does that mean God does not think I am doing a good job because I dont want to wear a scarf? Some would say yes. I dont think you are saying that but its the way it is. Some of us are meant for this sort of life and some are not. Doesn't mean one way is better or more logical. Just different. There is nothing wrong with anything Muslim women do. And they should have every right to do whatever they feel necessary and it should be respected. But I am feeling that it is most likely not a way I can be. I do not have the belief, the faith in Islam, to back it up.
ReplyDeleteYes, I probably find it relatively easier to do what i do cuz the society i live in is probably less westernized and more sorta accepting of my overt appearance and ways. I probably would have had a similar struggle like you if i was in your shoes. Guess it's easier said than done :)
ReplyDeleteI've never believed that person who is covered is "better" than one who is not. As cliche as it sounds, truth is, what matters most is being GOOD. And there is no definition of good. It's just the feeling you feel in your heart :)
In the end it all boils down to finding PEACE and SATISFACTION which is the core element of being human. If you feel Peaceful within, you know you are not struggling.. And the way one finds peace, depends from person from person :)
Splendid: I think you hit the nail on the head with your last paragraph. Peace and satisfaction are very important.
ReplyDeleteI agree that believing the Qur'an is the words of God is fundamental to Islam. But I don't believe that means that God's words are meant to be read literally. This doesn't mean they don't have meaning for today, just that the meaning today/here might be different from then/there.
ReplyDeleteNikki, I agree with you about hijab/modesty.
Zuhura: Good point. Maybe they aren't meant to be literal at all, and thus can have a meaning for the here and now. I do think that it does, even if it isn't often used that way. I do find a lot of value for the here and now in the Qur'an when I read it. But I usually have to find the lesson in the verse and apply that to our time rather than taking it as is.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both The Splendid Sky and Zuhura in that the words of the Qur'an are meant for all places and all times, and that the words can have many different meanings. Just by looking at the Arabic definitions of the words one can see that that is the case (like one word may have tens of different meanings); therefore, it only makes sense that the Qur'an can be open to interpretation based on these different word meanings. We should take all definitions of the Qur'anic words into account when studying the meaning of the Qur'an, because maybe ALLAH meant it in one definition but we're interpreting it in a different way. Maybe all the definitions apply, ALLAHu 'Alim.
ReplyDelete