Why Do We Need a Unique American Muslim Culture? (Part 1)
Written by Danish S.
This article will be released as a series over the coming days. Please continue to check back with us and remember to help spread the word!
INTRODUCTION
Many who will read material from this site will wonder “What’s the big deal about an American Muslim identity?” or “What’s wrong with our parent’s cultures?” Some immigrant Muslims will feel slighted and others even insulted. There will be many second generation (and beyond) young people who will be further confused as their try to “fit in” in America.
It’s not easy to listen to criticisms about our heritage or cultures without feeling you’re being targeted or mocked. However, let’s be very clear - none of this discussion is personal or an attempt to denigrate or even vilify non-American cultures. On the contrary, every culture and identity has an appropriate time and place. For example Arab, Desi, Asian, and African cultures have their many variations (i.e., it’s different for each country and even for each region within that country) in their respective parts of the world. Seeing this we’re not advocating that should change. Instead we’re saying why is it different for Muslims in America? Why can’t we appropriate such a culture and identify without being ostracized from the greater Muslim ummah?
It’s with this in mind that we will begin approaching this subject on this site and together as a Muslim community in the United States. The initial questions above are valid questions and they deserve equally valid answers. However, for the sake of time and space, we’ll try to answer that and other concerns in a briefer manner for now and hope that as both the readership and content on this site grow, that the answers to these questions will become overwhelmingly clear.
HOW DO WE UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPTS OF IDENTITY AND CULTURE?
Generally we have to realize it’s not always a question of right and wrong when we approach a subject such as this. The world is not black and white. Especially these days, Muslim scholars are posed with many very “gray” questions when it comes to religious matters. Our classical scholars and their many luminous texts don’t have much to offer us in many instances.
There are modern day issues far more complex than some would like to admit. Concepts such as contemporary finance are not always a question of riba (interest or usury). Legal issues and voting are not a question of violating shari’ah (Islamic law). Social issues like racism, domestic violence, homosexuality, and teenage pregnancy within the Muslim community are critical concerns that need to be addressed.
Islamically speaking we may know the general solutions for these issues but what about the specific steps to those solutions? As you may be beginning to see these problems are not always specific to the American Muslim community, nonetheless, American Muslims have no mechanism in order to deal with them either. We cannot begin to focus on solutions if we don’t have the appropriate tools at our disposal.
Essentially we’re advocating a culture and identity that is built around Islamic values but in the American reality. Unfortunately for many years the phrase “American values” to Muslims was associated with everything haraam (prohibited). But today we know that not everything Americana is haraam - many aspects are in sync with Islamic values.
American Muslims need parameters and a framework to know what is clearly acceptable (or not) within the American reality. If such a framework was established (even loosely) the benefits would be tremendous. However, such a thing cannot be established overnight or even in a year or two - it may take much more time. It will be a gradual process but we must start on that process now.
CONTINUED BELOW:
[...] 2007 by Dar Al Hijrah Muslim Thought explores the often very divisive question of whether or not American Muslims should have a unique culture. Many Muslims are vehemently opposed to such a concept and feel that we should import a culture [...]
[...] Part One [...]
[...] and a thought-provoking series: Why Do We Need a Unique American Muslim Culture? Part 1, 2, [...]
As a person born in North America, I’m afraid of the assimilation of future Muslim generations. I heard an Imam before talk about ’smart integration’ as opposed to wholesale assimilation.
@Hadi
Thank you for your comment.
What you described is often the fear of many Muslims in North America, especially in the U.S. If we dig deeper we’ll find that what these concerned Brothers and Sisters really want to say is “We do not want to lose our deen.”
Seeing this we’re advocating is a unique solution to this problem - to accept our American identity and still be able to practice and live our Islam freely. In order to do this we have to accept reality - we are here to stay.
Thus, we must embrace our identity and do our part to make America a better place. If we’re really concerned about da’wah then we owe it to ourselves to procure a solution that will exemplify Islam in the best manner possible - in our own character and way of life as Americans.
Insha’Allah I’ll read the entire article and let you know what I think.
I ,too, think we should as Muslims, born and raised in America should have our own distinct culture.Especailly reverts/converts. Too many times alot immigrant muslims believe being a muslim is synonymous with being Pakistani or Arab.I find this behavior insulting and offensive and I’m sure many do too.
@Hamza21
Thank you for your support.
Please tell your friends and family about the site and encourage them to support us with their readership as well.
Yes. I also used to think in the way you do. I really like how you describe.
assalamu alaikum, my thought is not to have american-muslim culture but to have a muslim-american culture. coz i think we should be a muslim first and then an american.
[...] Part 1 [...]
[...] Part 1 [...]