'Islamic Culture' is a myth

Faithful-Jinn

The idea of Islamic culture is a misnomer to be more exact. That there's an underlying culture that belongs specifically to Islam is not accurate in today's world. I could even argue that never once has there been an 'Islamic Culture' even in the times of Muhammad(pbuh).

For example at the time of the origin of Islam, the culture of the religion was defined as the culture as practiced by the Arab bedouins who first converted to it. While many customs and traditions of the genuine deen were indeed a part of it, it was also a mix of Arab culture, customs, and traditions, because the original and sole practitioners of Islam at the time were Arab desert nomads. So of course everything that they did, was associated not only with their ethnic culture but with their religious identity.

But as Islam spread to Persia, India, Africa, and Europe, many cultures adopted the deen of Islam yet retained their own cultural identities. The cultures of the people of North Africa changed when Islam was adopted but they still retained their own cultural identities. The Indians who adopted Islam also had a shift in culture yet still had a cultural identity separate and different from the original Arabs.

Fast forward to today where Islam is spread to all corners of the globe. Culturally, a Muslim in California and a Muslim in Saudi Arabia are quite different yet their beliefs are likely similar. The idea that to be a true Muslim, one must embrace the culture of the Arabs I think is an issue in today's deen and also a fallacy.

Humility and modesty are universal notions that the Qur'an preaches. Yet why should modest dress for me, a young male in Los Angeles have to include a kufi and a thobe? Won't a long sleeve shirt and pants suffice? Why should a young woman have to wear a hidjab to show her modesty? Is professional loose-fitting attire not good enough?

The notion of Arab/Persian superiority or that all aspects of Western or foreign civilizations are from shaitan are a fallacy.

There are hadiths about men not looking like women and vice versa and also not to copy other cultures. What if you come from a place where that line is more blurred? A place where women don't typically cover their heads, or a place where it's normal for men to have their earlobes pierced? Should you then have to adopt the Arab perspective when there are thousands of different cultures in the world? Why is it that things like hidjab and beard are not found in the Qur'an but are a standard around the world for Islamic piety? It seems the hadith want us all to look, think, and act the same when God in the Qur'an has said O mankind! Lo! We have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. Lo! the noblest of you, in the sight of Allah, is the best in conduct. Lo! Allah is Knower, Aware. (4913)

The idea of traditional Arab customs being the standard is an enemy to growth and reform in Islam. When a Muslim convert in the Western world is told that their culture is religiously inferior or is the culture of shaitan, because of their style of dress or cultural norms, and that they need to adopt more Islamic (Arab) customs to please, God that have no basis in the Qur'an, that is wrong and uninviting.

When the Muslim community can move past cultural bias and judge based only on the Qur'an, the community will be far better off. We need to unite in our similarities and accept our differences and as the Qur'an says And unto thee have We revealed the Scripture with the truth, confirming whatever Scripture was before it, and a watcher over it. So judge between them by that which Allah hath revealed, and follow not their desires away from the truth which hath come unto thee. For each We have appointed a divine law and a traced-out way. Had Allah willed He could have made you one community. But that He may try you by that which He hath given you (He hath made you as ye are). So vie one with another in good works. Unto Allah ye will all return, and He will then inform you of that wherein ye differ.(54

Karimah

I agree with your statements. I too have thought about this issue and also the issue of Arabization of lands where Islam spread and I thought it was sad that the Arabic culture suppressed and attempted to replace the indigenous culture (ex Morocco). I thought this was quite sad because Allah clearly states we are all different for a reason and we should celebrate our differences.

Bigmo