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Values vs. Muslim Values Atiq Ebady The misconceptions that surround Islâm in this day and age are too great to number. A repeated scene is that of a Muslim having
a discussion with a non-Muslim and trying to explain that Muslims are not
terrorists, Muslims are not wife-beaters, that these actions are the deeds
of a few which are then unjustly imposed on the whole Muslim population.
But if the whole Muslim population had presented themselves in an Islamic
manner in the first place, the reputation of a Muslim would be far too
virtuous to allow the misdeeds of a few to tarnish the image of the whole
Muslim world. But Muslims generally do not present Islamic values, they
present Muslim values; and the difference between these two can sometimes
be as vivid as night and day. What do I mean by Islâmic values and Muslim values? Islamic values are those that are set out in the Qur’ân and the practice of the noble Messenger, Muhammad (S). Muslim values are those that are created as
part of the culture of the Muslim communities. These include the
day-to-day interaction between the Muslims and their outlook on Islam's
rules and regulations. The difference is that Islâm is perfect and pure, while the values formulated by the
Muslims may or may not be in accordance with Islâm. The detriment that arises from this is that many times
precedence is given to the Muslim values over the Islâmic values. This is not to say that Muslims do not care
about Islam, they care for and love Islam deeply, and they have concern
for their children's Islamic upbringing and the welfare of the Muslims all
over the world. But what happens is that certain practices become common
among them and their mentalities are set on justifying these practices
instead of accepting the Islamic rulings on such things. They become a
part of the Muslim culture and mentality, and so it becomes difficult to
try to explain to them that Islam forbids such things. Because of this
transformation in mentality, the average person in such a community will
be hostile to someone bringing Islamic rulings forbidding things such as
music and dancing and enforcing things like hijâb
and modest conduct. Having gatherings and parties that center on music and
dancing, and removal of the hijâb
and modest conduct have become common among many Muslims, and so they
constitute what we have called Muslim values, as opposed to the Islamic
values. The Muslim values are caused by a
relaxation on the enforcement of Islamic laws. The Islamic values,
principles, and priorities are contained within these laws. Prayer,
fasting, charity, hajj, hijâb, modesty, being kind to others, giving
parents their due rights, emphasizing the importance of marriage,
attending the Islamic centers and masâjid, gaining knowledge, all of
these are designed to build spiritually healthy individuals and a
spiritually healthy society. When the performance of these actions is
relaxed then a void is created that is receptive for outside and often
unIslâmic ideals. When there is relaxation then a distorted concept of freedom is adopted, it gives the Muslims the courage to challenge the Islamic laws and present their own philosophy as to why following the laws is not necessary. They make excuses to oppose the laws and create their own, when the Qur’ân has clearly said: And it behooves not a believing man and a
believing woman that they should have any choice in their matter when
Allah and His Apostle have decided a matter; and whoever disobeys Allah
and His Apostle, he surely strays off a manifest straying. (Al-Ahzâb,
33:36) An understanding has to be conveyed that
the Muslim communities will only thrive if they adhere to the principles
of Islam. The concept of Islam that the non-Muslims have is directly
related to the actions of the Muslim communities, because the majority of
them will not go out and research about Islam, they will make their
judgments based on what they see the Muslims doing. So it is not
surprising for them to think that Muslims drink alcohol, that they eat
pork and harâm food, they listen to music, dance, go to discos and
nightclubs, engage in promiscuous relationships, and many other things
that a Muslim should not be doing. On the flip side, it is not surprising
for them to be ignorant of the fact that a Muslim is supposed to pray at
least five times a day, he/she has to fast during Ramadhan, go to Hajj
once in a lifetime, abstain from cursing and abusive language, abstain
from backbiting, go to masjid on Fridays for jum'a prayer, read Qur’ân,
and other basic obligations that a Muslim has. The result is that a distorted image of
Islam, the pure and perfect religion, is presented to them, and in
response the Muslims try to say that it is a few Muslims ruining it for
the rest of them. But this is not the case, the responsibility lies with
the majority of the Muslims who themselves are not acting Islâmically.
Yes, it is true that the terrorists are few, and that the equation of a
Muslim with a terrorist is wrong and unjust. But this is an isolated
incident, and in general it is the majority of the Muslims ruining things
for themselves. This can only be corrected by starting at the root of the
problem, the Muslim family and attendance in the Islâmic centers. If the parents are consistent in teaching their
children and are themselves consistent in practicing Islam, and if the
entire family attends the Islamic centers on a regular basis, then we will
see an amazing transformation in the conduct of the Muslims, as
individuals and as communities. Then when the non-Muslims look to the
actions of the Muslims they will actually learn about Islam, and will not
have to worry about whether or not what they are seeing is Islam. As Muslims, we have to strive to make our
Muslim values the same as our Islâmic
values. Only then can we truly be considered believers. Source: http://english.islamway.com/bindex.php?section=article&id=44 |