Consider again, values can be characterized as "islamic" and gain acceptance - "Islamic culture" is just a non starter
There is no such thing as Islamic culture because the back in 7th century, there was nothing called Arab Civilization. It would be far more appropriate to refer to Islamic culture as "mawali" or "dhimmi" culture because that is what it actually is.
There is no misrepresentation. The claims by you guys repeatedly are that beard, hijab, Arabic, etc. are foreign viruses.
Granted they are foreign, as they originated in Arabia, but Islam is a part of our heritage.
As I explained in another post, we have several streams of cultural influence:
- Hindu/dharmic
- Persian
- Arabic
- British
- others (regional)
These are all part of our cultural heritage and we need to be mature enough to accept all of these as having validity for Pakistanis. If some people have an allergy to one or more of these, that's their problem, but they will NOT dictate to others what is allowed.
As mentioned earlier the Islamic/Arabic culture itself is an amalgamation of several influences. While many customary practices eg: marriage, birth, burial, prayers, festivals have been Islamized in Pakistan, the culture at its core remains 99% indigenous to the regions and carries influences from Persia, Central Asia and Al-Hind. Therefore the visible difference between customs and cultures must be observed. Same applies to Indian Muslims who follow Islamic customs but are culturally Indian as per their respective regions/state.
That's the problem that Imran Khan has highlighted and many of us have been pointing out. This extreme polarization of the debate in Pakistan helps the extremists because it lets them portray any opposition to them as opposition to Islam.
Any opposition to religion has been turned in a taboo by systematic state policies to the point that people risk their lives in raising a word against religion. The case of Salman Taseer is for all to observe. This has killed free thinking and independent spirit in the society when it comes to questioning the validity of religion.
Because the Quran is in Arabic; our namaaz is in Arabic; our wuzoo is in Arabic.
Arabic is intimately tied to Islam, in the same way that Sanskrit is intimately tied to Vedic culture and Hebrew is intimately tied to Judaism.
If some people have trouble accepting this fact, it won't change reality.
Who gets to decide what language one should read the prescribed religion? Once again it is affiliated to the taboo's systematically cultivated by the Pakistani establishment into the society. The Persian practiced Wudu and 5 Prayer a days long before the advent of Islam.
Learning Arabic does not make one an Arab, any more than learning English makes one an Englishman.
But learning English is far more beneficial than learning Arabic otherwise we wouldn't be having this discussion in English.
I am in rush so can't say much but @
Armstrong and @
Aeronaut , you guys are insisting on mismanagement, poor governace and no regulation of Madrassas, i agree with your point however I still can't get my head around the fact that people are attracted towards Radical Islam in U.K and Europe, Every mosque, every madrasa is regulated but why U.K and France is on the path to radicalism , please answer this
One of the most radical doctrine of hatred and discrimination in 20th century emerged in Europe. The breeding of extremism is co-related to society and its upbringing. Usually isolation, lack of education and employment creates ripe grounds for breeding fanaticism. Had it not been for severe economic collapse of Germany in post WW1, the Nazis would have found no appeal. Creating jobs and bolstering industrial output was fundamental pillar of Nazi propaganda and they delivered on their promises.
Well, it has always been Rabb-al-Alameen... and consequently Rehmat-ul-ill-Alameen..
But once we go down that path of conscientious rejection.. we are prepared to cross all limits to reject thought.
All of these are scholarly titles awarded by human being like me and you. For better understanding of history one should read it in three dimensions. The advent of Islam created massive exodus of people from Arabia, North Africa and Caucaus, I wonder if one can travel back in time and question the validity of "Rehmat-ul-ill-Alameen" from the perspective of "dhimmi" and "mawali".
Interesting 4 wives not in Quran? The Sunnah is not Islamic culture?? The beard not sunnah and there fore not "islamic culture"?? Live and learn I guess - must be "Daft"
As you dig deeper you will have many of these reality shocks. Keep calm and follow Quran - my good little boy!
I see that Saudization is complete. No point discussing this any further. Or ever after today. I think we shall all have to abide the new laws of Wahabistan.
The soul of Ata-Turk is desperate for reincarnation.
You have a valid point, for that i will put my thoughts forward. There is a TINY fraction of Muslims that take up radicalism in the Europe and North America and that is owed to the regulation etc. On the other hand, radicalism isn't restricted to Islam, you have the examples of Nazis, and more recently the Christian, Norwegien terrorist that shot dead scores of kids out of his ideology. Regulation can keep them a controllable minority.
We, can go on and debate it for ages, but the main point we were discussing is the salafist school of thought being injected into Pakistan since zia came into power. Would you have a radicalized society or a tiny bunch of idiots only able to inflict controllable damage?... your pick.
Please check this:
BBC World Service - The Documentary, America's Own Extremists
Yes but the Muslim society at large is for more active in protecting this tiny faction rather than disowning them which makes everyone an accomplice.
But, it sure does help you understand the next stage in the making of a Mathematician
