European Imperialism vs. Arab Imperialism Through Religion
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As Salaam Alaikum,
this is just a thought that I connected together this past week that really opened a new way of thinking for me
Often people become very intersted in Islam because they see it as a religion that does not worship the "white man". Christianity is often portrayed as an evil religion that was forced upon people, where Christian missionaries would encourage/force converts to throw away all of their cultural identity in replace of European values, clothes, and culture because it was percieved as the Christian way.
Islam is seen as something where people can come from all races and woship the same God, regardless of race, nationality, or cultural background.
I would say that this idea attracts particularly non-white converts in the Western world.
Now when looking at Sunni-Islam though, at least the people who practice it.... I see the same sort of "cultural imperialism". I see non-Arabs embracing Arab traditions, clothes, and even accents! I see them completly shunning thier country of origin, cultural traditions, and clothes. And of course thsi is preached by peope--- to follow an obviously Arab sort of lifestyle, that is disguised as Islam.
Now I am in no way attacking Arabs or (white) Europeans here.
I'm just saying that this thought came across me and I really thought "wow". I have always been critical of the way that people imitate Arab culture simply becuase they believe that it brings them closer to Islam, but I never compared it to the same sort of criticism that Christian Europe has gotten when it came to this same sort of technique--- Follow the European way because it the Christian way.
Today I saw so many (i assume) black Muslim males in Arab dress... They were wearing the Saudi head gear and everythign like they were some prince!
It was crazy.
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Wa Alaikum As Salaam
It goes to show that culture should never be tied to religion otherwise you get this cultural imperialism happening. And worse is when people start to think one race is superior to another simply because they are "more cultured" whereas the other races are "barbaric".
Interestingly
http//newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42374000/jpg/_42374846_mecca-afp203.jpg
If you didnt know better you might think they were followers of the same culture/religion. (its actually a Christian in the middle)
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I think there is no bad to follow arabic culture, but lots of people seems to think that arabic culture and Islam is same.Arabic culture is do to with Islam only because Koran is revealed in arabic language ,but Islam is for all nation we must remain in our national indentity.No wonder that many non moslems think that islam and arabic culture is same thing.
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I do not agree with the first post. There may be some muslim converts who like Arab ways, or think they are better, but that is certainly not the general outlook. As to those black people mentioned, may be they ARE Arabs. Both things are not exclusive. And yet some people just find themselves comfortable in wide unclinging dress when they are not engaged in something that makes other clothing preferable... At any rate I have also seen and antiarabism can be pushed to uncalled for rudeness.
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What can we say? The world is a confused place. I have seen many a well eduated/well read person not knowing the difference between religion and race.
I once had an argument with someone regarding chrisitian names. She said Steven is a Christian name. I said if that is so then Steven Spielberg would be a christian and a not jew even though he really is...An indian muslim will be have an arabic name (which in this current world would be 'muslim name) and arab christian will have a english/western name (tony shalhoub) and an arab jew will consider hebrew as the language of God becoz of the Torah-would have lost most of his arab identity...The list goes on & on..The imperialist's influence can be avoided if we all choose to stay firm - no need to follow others' customs and traditions thinking it is some kinda religious obligation..BUT if your own people fore it upon you it will be difficult.I am tamil muslim. I still go by the name Rajah (my given name). A lot of the hindus will ask why is that so w/o realising my name is actually a secular name and not a Hindu name (Siva,Ganesha-hindu god names are the actual hindu names). By the same token the tamil muslims will ask me why 'Rajah'? Again I have tell them that name is a secular name and there is really no reason to change it and they would not be happy. The hypocrisy will be when a non tamil muslim (malay and indonesian) will ask me the same question while his/her name would not even ne in arabic (ala mas selamat bn kastari or Arjuna Basmo)..it is very difficult..BTW i am not a racist-i just hate this kinda treatment...
oh yeah...another thing, when i see those guys dong their pilgrimage in mecca-ther dress code is very similar to the hindu dress code used especialy during funerals..Maybe vedic hindiusm has a massive influence on current meccan islamic traditions which in turn have influenced the grand muslim world making them feel it is a muslim thang...crazy...
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Peace,
Respectfully.Well, let's take United States of America. It is a melting pot and people have come from all over the globe there to be free, to have a chance of survivial. So, now that i live here in Leicester, i see many white British who are imitating Somalis, there are lots of them from Somalia due to the civil war there.
They dress like sunnis from Arab countriesd, because Somalis dress like those guys from Arab countries and also at the same time, they dress like their forefathers in Africa.
I have seen people here who wear same clothes like those in Africa, which is okay with me but such clothes are now enforced on men and especially women even though the climate here does not agree with this style and such clothes.
It's raining today and i don't understand where do they see the logic in walking around in hijabs when they are completely wet?
God knows best.
Glory be to God, The Most Wise.Peace.