Islamic Values vs. Muslim Values
An Article written by : Atiq Ebady
The misconceptions that surround Islam 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 Islamic values and Muslim values? Islamic values are
those that are set out in the Quran 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 Islam is perfect and pure, while the values
formulated by the Muslims may or may not be in accordance with Islam. The
detriment that arises from this is that many times precedence is given to the
Muslim values over the Islamic values.
This is not to say that Muslims do not care about Islam, they care for
and love Islam deeply, 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 hijab and modest conduct.
Having gatherings and parties that center around music and dancing, and removal
of the hijab 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, hijab, modesty, being kind
to others, giving parents their due rights, emphasizing the importance of
marriage, attending the Islamic centers and masjids, 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
unIslamic 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 Quran has
clearly said,
And it behoves 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-Ahzab, 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 haram 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 Quran, 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 Islamically. 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 Islamic 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
Islamic values. Only then can we truly be considered believers.