Is there such a thing as Islamic culture?

[sandandfoam]

I'm not sure there is.
I think people practice Islam in many different cultures. I think this flexibility of Islam is one of it's strengths - it's message carries across cultures and 'works' in different contexts.

 

[kai]

maybe that flexibility is an illusion brought about by interpretation of Islam in different cultures. we often hear from Muslims that some things that are questioned by westerners are nothing to do with Islam but are Cultural or tribal.

we also hear that there is no true Islamic country. I don't know whether Islam is deemed to be flexible at all, rather that many Muslims just don't know true Islam because it has been influenced by their own cultures.

 

[Breathe]

In my opinion there are shared values and customs that are brought through Islam, and some customs - although I believe many of the customs may have come from Arab customs at the time.

Some of the customs are things like, eating with your right hand as opposed to your left hand, the way they greet one another and within what method, etc, and the clothing styles, using miswak, etc - though I would say these are more pseudoculture than true culture, things that have been carried 'on the back' of Islam.

Separating these from Arab, or ancient Arab culture though, is just as tricky. My simple answer would be: "half yes".

 

[kai]

is there diversity in Islam-- yes , is diversity allowed under Islam-- yes but is diversity allowed within Islam itself-- is a good question.




By the One in Whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, my Ummah will be divided into 73 sects, one of which will be in Paradise and 72 will be in the Fire.” It was said, O Messenger of Allaah, who are they?

He said, “Al-Jamaa’ah.”

[Sunan Ibn Maajah, no. 3982.]



http://islamqa.com/en/ref/10777

 

[Fatihah]

I'm not sure there is.
I think people practice Islam in many different cultures. I think this flexibility of Islam is one of it's strengths - it's message carries across cultures and 'works' in different contexts.

Response: I guess it would mean on what you mean by culture because the word seems to differ in meaning depending on who you ask. By definition, a culture is a society which has its own traditions and customs. Since there are no true islamic governments or societies, then islam by definition would not be a culture.

 

[Wandered Off]

I believe religions are creations of cultures, so my answer would be yes. They are not the same as cultures, but they cannot be divorced from them entirely.

I think there is a long history of misinterpreting cultural mores as divine command.

 

[Zindagee Rahmaan]

I'm not sure there is.
I think people practice Islam in many different cultures. I think this flexibility of Islam is one of it's strengths - it's message carries across cultures and 'works' in different contexts.

There is terminology disagreements for Islamic culture.
Islamic culture is secular achedmic term, and is used to describe common cultural practices in the fireld of architecture, art, science, music (called Nasheeds), dresses like Abayas ect. But there is a distinction in terms defined by secular achedmia and Muslims' culture; Muslims live in many different countries and communities, and it can be difficult to isolate much that unifies them other than the religion of Islam.

 

[Zindagee Rahmaan]

is there diversity in Islam-- yes , is diversity allowed under Islam-- yes but is diversity allowed within Islam itself-- is a good question.




By the One in Whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, my Ummah will be divided into 73 sects, one of which will be in Paradise and 72 will be in the Fire.” It was said, O Messenger of Allaah, who are they?

He said, “Al-Jamaa’ah.”

[Sunan Ibn Maajah, no. 3982.]



Islam Question and Answer - Who are Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa’ah?

you are good for nothing kai!
Diverse is not the case here!. The hadith doesn't allow to diverse in Islam, because end statement is clear for one of them will be on the truth and others will be in Hell.Also there is no support from Quran about sectism (ref. 3:103)
Your arguments can't be share with Islamic culture; That define no sectism in Islam actually.

 

[kai]

you are good for nothing kai!
Diverse is not the case here!. The hadith doesn't allow to diverse in Islam, because end statement is clear for one of them will be on the truth and others will be in Hell.Also there is no support from Quran about sectism (ref. 3:103)
Your arguments can't be share with Islamic culture; That define no sectism in Islam actually.

what ever do you mean? i am agreeing with you, no diversity in Islam.

 

[Caladan]

you are good for nothing kai!
Diverse is not the case here!. The hadith doesn't allow to diverse in Islam, because end statement is clear for one of them will be on the truth and others will be in Hell.Also there is no support from Quran about sectism (ref. 3:103)
Your arguments can't be share with Islamic culture; That define no sectism in Islam actually.

And when we leave out the ideal.. how much of this reflects in reality?
I'm not sure how is your personal agenda against sectarian division is in relevance to the OP, or in relevance to the reality of Islam and its inner politics.

 

[kai]

there is reality and there is Islam.
If someone like Stephen was to look at Islam and find something that resonates with him, then is it truly Islam? must be his first question.

Because Islam does not bend to facilitate cultural or modern conceptions, any representation of Islam that does is not true Islam, but is in danger of becoming a sect.Cultures that adhere to Islam are not necessarily representative of Islam.
Islam is not a religion of culture and upbringing. that's how i see it , i may be wrong.

 

[Zindagee Rahmaan]

what ever do you mean? i am agreeing with you, no diversity in Islam.

Thanks for agreeing with my point, I meant to ensure your point!

 

[kai]

Thanks for agreeing with my point, I meant to ensure your point!

OK i got you :yes:

 

[Zindagee Rahmaan]

And when we leave out the ideal.. how much of this reflects in reality?
I'm not sure how is your personal agenda against sectarian division is in relevance to the OP, or in relevance to the reality of Islam and its inner politics.

Kai brought this agenda on the post. I was telling him that is not the case here in relevance to the OP, Op is about Islamic culture. Clarified?

 

[Smoke]

I'm not sure there is.
I think people practice Islam in many different cultures. I think this flexibility of Islam is one of it's strengths - it's message carries across cultures and 'works' in different contexts.

When I saw the thread title, I thought you were asking a different question.

In answer to the actual question, I think Islam, like Christianity, is too diverse to say there is a single culture that pertains to it.

 

[Zindagee Rahmaan]

Because Islam does not bend to facilitate cultural or modern conceptions, any representation of Islam that does is not true Islam, but is in danger of becoming a sect.Cultures that adhere to Islam are not necessarily representative of Islam.
Islam is not a religion of culture and upbringing. that's how i see it , i may be wrong.

Islam facilitates cultural and modern conceptions, like we women used to take just a single sheet over our usaual clothes in historical times of Islam. Today we have different styles of Abayas. I would say Islam is bend to facilitate modern conceptions under certian assumptions.

any representation of Islam that does is not true Islam, but is in danger of becoming a sect.

Division is Islam (sectism) is not cultural based. Sects are based on different types of Spiritual beliefs.

Cultures that adhere to Islam are not necessarily representative of Islam.
Islam is not a religion of culture and upbringing. that's how i see it , i may be wrong.

Islam has its own culture, let see as calligraphy in Islam in the field of art, in music we have nasheeds ect. Islam brings the cultural upbringing. But as we say Islam is not the religion for culture, so religion is itself a part of a culture.

 

[Caladan]

Kai brought this agenda on the post. I was telling him that is not the case here in relevance to the OP, Op is about Islamic culture. Clarified?

Thats not entirely what I meant. I am saying that maybe its important for you to push an agenda of 'no sectarian division' in Islam. but there is reality, and there are ideals, and the ideal simply cant survive the nature of the reality of the Muslim world.
sectarian strife is alive and kicking in Islam, not to mention the wide spread armed conflicts through out the 'Islamic culture' only in the modern age.
in this case, Kai point stands.

 

[kai]

Islam facilitates cultural and modern conceptions, like we women used to take just a single sheet over our usaual clothes in historical times of Islam. Today we have different styles of Abayas. I would say Islam is bend to facilitate modern conceptions under certian assumptions. what assumptions? and fashion is dictated by culture.



Division is Islam (sectism) is not cultural based. Sects are based on different types of Spiritual beliefs.
then its just the people that carry those beliefs that tend to stick together,


Islam has its own culture, let see as calligraphy in Islam in the field of art, in music we have nasheeds ect. Islam brings the cultural upbringing. But as we say Islam is not the religion for culture, so religion is itself a part of a culture.

Isnt that Arabic and Arab culture, help me with some Islamic stuff that's not based on Arab culture?

 

[kai]

When I saw the thread title, I thought you were asking a different question.

In answer to the actual question, I think Islam, like Christianity, is too diverse to say there is a single culture that pertains to it.

maybe its not Islam thats diverse but Muslims. Isn't that religions greatest problem ---people, i mean you can have one God but 6 billion peoples interpretation of it/him/her---see what i mean.

 

[Zindagee Rahmaan]

Isnt that Arabic and Arab culture, help me with some Islamic stuff that's not based on Arab culture?

Nah, Islam is not perticular to Arab culture. Islam is for all times and ages. For example, I told you about women coverings, it was only single sheet in historical times of Islam, now you can see we have different styles of Abayas. Yes, surely the stuff of Islamic source is in Arabic, but Allah never restricted Islam to Arabs only.

you are good for nothing kai!---- Ha ha i love it

yo poppycock!