What is a British Muslim?

[KediKesenFare3]

I respect and love my fellow Muslim brothers and sisters in Europe but there is one thing I'll probably never understand: How come Muslims in UK/USA/France can easily dump their ethnic identity? What truly makes me wonder is that they still remain exceptionally religious people even though they knowingly and willingly accept a secular, white, Christian-influenced identity.

Nothing wrong with that but I simply have problems to understand these strange identity shifts. Deutschtürken or Austrotürken (Turks in Germany and Austria) won't accept a German or Austrian identity without integrating these identities into a wider Turkish framework. Even secular Turks (Kemalists) have major problems to assimilate themselves into German/Austrian societies simply because they don't want to lose/abandon their Turkish identity. They drink alcohol but they still prefer Raki over Whiskey. The national/ethnic identity is considered a sacrilege among Turks in Europe. Why is this different in UK/USA and to some degree even in France?

I mean, especially Arabs and Pakistanis are way more religious than Turks. One could think that these people would stick to their original identity rather than Turks.

In case of conservative Turks in Europe, I have a satisfying explanation. According to TIS ideology (Turkish-Islamic Synthesis), Turkishness and Islam are mutually dependent and complementary. You have to stick to both parts equally to be a Muslim and/or Turk. This is not different in case of Pakistan, which is a country based on a strong Islamic identity. Why do you describe yourself as British-Muslim instead of British-Pakistani? For 99% of all people on this planet, being a Pakistani includes being a Muslim whether we like it or not. So why choosing a term which only implies your religious identity?

I'm honest, I don't like this at all. Are you ashamed of being a Pakistani/Arab/Bangladeshi? I know that Turkey is not a very wealthy and developed country but still it is my country of origin. Why should I deny it?

 

[Mangus Ortus Novem]

Isn't "British Muslim" an oxymoron as Islam does not believe in nation states but only in Islamic brotherhood and Nation of Islam (Ummah)?

In US every citizen is prefixed with the country of Origin followed by the word American. Only native Americans have "American" as the prefix.

Irish American
Italian American
Pakistani American
Indian American
Egyptian American

American Indian (natives)

How can a Muslim tag be racist? Firstly, Islam is not a race. It is a religious movement.

If Irish-American is acceptable and not deemed as racist why is British Muslim not acceptable?

Note that British is prefix while Muslim follows it.

Will calling them Muslim British be better?

Dear indian friend,

The Alert said you qouted me... somehow there is no reference in your post towards this end.... also, would be difficult for me to understand the context of your post without the proper marker.

If it is relating to your favourite topic then you can better direct it to the right address... if otherwise, if I can help... please, be forward.


Regards,


SPF

 

[KediKesenFare3]

I respect and love my fellow Muslim brothers and sisters in Europe but there is one thing I'll probably never understand: How come Muslims in UK/USA/France can easily dump their ethnic identity? What truly makes me wonder is that they still remain exceptionally religious people even though they knowingly and willingly accept a secular, white, Christian-influenced identity.

Nothing wrong with that but I simply have problems to understand these strange identity shifts. Deutschtürken or Austrotürken (Turks in Germany and Austria) won't accept a German or Austrian identity without integrating these identities into a wider Turkish framework. Even secular Turks (Kemalists) have major problems to assimilate themselves into German/Austrian societies simply because they don't want to lose/abandon their Turkish identity. They drink alcohol but they still prefer Raki over Whiskey. The national/ethnic identity is considered a sacrilege among Turks in Europe. Why is this different in UK/USA and to some degree even in France?

I mean, especially Arabs and Pakistanis are way more religious than Turks. One could think that these people would stick to their original identity rather than Turks.

In case of conservative Turks in Europe, I have a satisfying explanation. According to TIS ideology (Turkish-Islamic Synthesis), Turkishness and Islam are mutually dependent and complementary. You have to stick to both parts equally to be a Muslim and/or Turk. This is not different in case of Pakistan, which is a country based on a strong Islamic identity. Why do you describe yourself as British-Muslim instead of British-Pakistani? For 99% of all people on this planet, being a Pakistani includes being a Muslim whether we like it or not. So why choosing a term which only implies your religious identity?

I'm honest, I don't like this at all. Are you ashamed of being a Pakistani/Arab/Bangladeshi? I know that Turkey is not a very wealthy and developed country but still it is my country of origin. Why should I deny it?

Maybe terms like "British Muslim", "French Muslim", "German Muslim" signal the willingness to assimilate into the British, French, German ethnicity. However, Muslims are aware that White race members aren't going to accept them as a 'real' countrymen. By using the concept of "British Muslim" they're trying to include themselves into the ethnic British community. Realistically, we all know that the descendants of "British Muslims" will become most certainly British only with Islam as their religion. On the other side, a British Pakistani is much more likely to pass his Pakistani identity to his/her children and grandchildren.

This is not a theory. Look at Germany and France. Many of the hardcore Wahabi jihadists aren't able to speak properly Arabic respectively their actual mother tongue. But they do speak Française or Deutsch. It may sound strange to some but these people are assimilated in a way that most White Europeans aren't capable to understand.

 

[pragmatic_dude]

Maybe terms like "British Muslim", "French Muslim", "German Muslim" signal the willingness to assimilate into the British, French, German ethnicity. However, Muslims are aware that White race members aren't going to accept them as a 'real' countrymen. By using the concept of "British Muslim" they're trying to include themselves into the ethnic British community. Realistically, we all know that the descendants of "British Muslims" will become most certainly British only with Islam as their religion. On the other side, a British Pakistani is much more likely to pass his Pakistani identity to his/her children and grandchildren.

This is not a theory. Look at Germany and France. Many of the hardcore Wahabi jihadists aren't able to speak properly Arabic respectively their actual mother tongue. But they do speak Française or Deutsch. It may sound strange to some but these people are assimilated in a way that most White Europeans aren't capable to understand.

Why no British Hindu or British jew

 

[fitpOsitive]

What is a British Muslim? Is there such a thing as that? What can we make of their thinking?
My thinking is that a British Muslim is a person whose ethnic origin is from the British isles - English, Welsh, Scots or Irish who has reverted/converted to Islam. Thus British Muslim. Rest are just fake wannabes. Thoughts?

Wah wah wah...kia kenay...muqarrar.

 

[bsruzm]

Why should I deny it?

British-Turkish or German-Turkish, American-Turkish, they sound well already. Better always Turkish