[CathBraun]

As-salamu alaykum.

As many of you have probably had experience with, there is a big problem among Muslims when it comes to separating cultural practices and norms of Muslim-majority countries from Islam. I will talk about some that I have experienced in this thread and hopefully others can add their own experiences.

Showing soles of feet - While the dislike of this appears to have a basis in a Hadith (see this thread), this issue is far overblown by people who are raised in cultures where showing the soles of feet is considered disrespectful. In my own experiences, I have seen Muslims nearly come to physical violence with one another over this; yet, these same Muslims will not become anywhere nearly as angry over music being played at gatherings or free mixing at weddings and other gatherings, all of which are far more grievous offenses from an Islamic standpoint.

Order of marriage among siblings - Many Muslim-majority countries have a cultural tradition that dictates that siblings should get married in order starting from the oldest to the youngest. It is so ingrained in many Muslims that many delay getting married or arranging marriages for their children on this basis. This, of course, does not have a basis in Islam to the best of my knowledge.

Weddings - Many cultures of Muslim-majority countries have very extravagant wedding traditions in place that often include the aforementioned free mixing and music along with dancing. To the best of my knowledge, extravagant weddings are disliked in Islam, and certainly the free mixing and music and dancing that accompanies the majority of weddings is completely forbidden.

Music - There seems to exist an attitude among Muslims that the music made in Muslim-majority countries is somehow permissible and not haraam, but only the music made in non-Muslim countries is haraam. Please note that I am not denying that music made in non-Muslim countries often contains far more Islamically-objectionable content than does music made in Muslim-majority countries; my point is that we fail to acknowledge that all modern music is haraam.

What are some of your examples? Also, how do we go about addressing such issues?

JazakAllah Khayran for all of your help.

[Rurcextedutty]

I've seen at friends' Asian weddings - when the bride and groom enter the groom's house the Qur'an is placed over their head? Is that a Sunnah?

Hmmm.... Some fold the corner of the prayer mat at the end of their prayer? A superstition?

Muslims outside the Indian subcontinent find it OK to place the Qur'an on the ground. I've seen Muslims in Makkah doing that in Taraweeh - an Indo-Pak is shocked!

Indo-Paks say pointing your feet towards the Qiblah is disrespectful; others don't. Again is it in the sources? Perhaps it doesn't have to be?

I heard in a lecture that some Muslims force a prayer cap onto you in a masjid and think if you don't wear one your prayer is void!

Parents wanting a son in law to be a doctor, engineer or lawyer with a six figure salary, clean shaven, film star looks, very tall, big house and Mercedes car. They don't check how much he practises the Deen which should be the first choice!

Erm... Parents of the groom wanting to check the sheets to confirm the bride's state. This still exists in certain Muslim cultures and is sick.

[theatadug]

Regarding the 'order of marriage', amongst siblings. Our sheikh certainly considers it a disease. He said that marriages should be conducted in whichever order Allah swt wills. So if a younger daughter gets a marriage offer and she is happy for it, it is better to go for it. Because perhaps the older daughter has a different destiny and perhaps the younger daughter will fall astray if she is not married. I really liked the fact he said this in a khutbah to address an existing widespread problem. From my own personal perspective, I also find that people of 'my' generation actually use this as an excuse to avoid getting married and can engage in... bad behaviour..
speaking of which, this un-necessary delay in marriage is a cultural thing too. In western societies, people have boyfriends and girlfriends, alll of their 'physical' needs are superficially met. In Islam, we need to get married to practice our needs in a halal way. if we delay marriages so people can get 'degrees', and all the trappings of materialistic culture, we can actually take people away from Islam, not bring them closer to it.

[BoboStin]

The order of siblings things is unislamic, but it exists for a reason: people are so close minded that they refuse to marry a girl whose younger sister is married, "something must be wrong with her, otherwise why wasnt she married first?"
Its a vicious cycle....

Another cultural thing is that sisters must marry before brothers....

[kennyguitar]

As-salamu alaykum.

As many of you have probably had experience with, there is a big problem among Muslims when it comes to separating cultural practices and norms of Muslim-majority countries from Islam. I will talk about some that I have experienced in this thread and hopefully others can add their own experiences.

Showing soles of feet - While the dislike of this appears to have a basis in a Hadith (see this thread), this issue is far overblown by people who are raised in cultures where showing the soles of feet is considered disrespectful. In my own experiences, I have seen Muslims nearly come to physical violence with one another over this; yet, these same Muslims will not become anywhere nearly as angry over music being played at gatherings or free mixing at weddings and other gatherings, all of which are far more grievous offenses from an Islamic standpoint.

Order of marriage among siblings - Many Muslim-majority countries have a cultural tradition that dictates that siblings should get married in order starting from the oldest to the youngest. It is so ingrained in many Muslims that many delay getting married or arranging marriages for their children on this basis. This, of course, does not have a basis in Islam to the best of my knowledge.

Weddings - Many cultures of Muslim-majority countries have very extravagant wedding traditions in place that often include the aforementioned free mixing and music along with dancing. To the best of my knowledge, extravagant weddings are disliked in Islam, and certainly the free mixing and music and dancing that accompanies the majority of weddings is completely forbidden.

Music - There seems to exist an attitude among Muslims that the music made in Muslim-majority countries is somehow permissible and not haraam, but only the music made in non-Muslim countries is haraam. Please note that I am not denying that music made in non-Muslim countries often contains far more Islamically-objectionable content than does music made in Muslim-majority countries; my point is that we fail to acknowledge that all modern music is haraam.

What are some of your examples? Also, how do we go about addressing such issues?

JazakAllah Khayran for all of your help.

Culture remains but if gets 'refined' by Islam...it gets influence of Islam...So please don't mix this up...

If Islam spreads in Turkey...do you want Turks to 'leave' their culture? No , it should be that way....

Muslims must put their energies on spreading Islam in viable 'markets' like rural China , South America , Africa etc...'culture' will get refined with time Inshallah

[MeverikcNils]

^The point of this thread is to point out what aspects of our cultures are simply that, aspects of our cultures, so that they can be identified and separated from the perfect teachings of Islam.

[Andrew1978]

...
Music - There seems to exist an attitude among Muslims that the music made in Muslim-majority countries is somehow permissible and not haraam, but only the music made in non-Muslim countries is haraam... .

I have often noticed this and continue to be baffled by it.

[Michaelnewerb]

Music - There seems to exist an attitude among Muslims that the music made in Muslim-majority countries is somehow permissible and not haraam, but only the music made in non-Muslim countries is haraam. Please note that I am not denying that music made in non-Muslim countries often contains far more Islamically-objectionable content than does music made in Muslim-majority countries; my point is that we fail to acknowledge that all modern music is haraam.

Sometimes in addressing the cultural practice, we can also fall foul of cultural interpretations. Afterall, we are cultural beings too arent we?

When i hear the Quran recited, i hear "Music", i hear rhythms and melodies so "Music" cant be haraam, can it?
Surely its "Musical instruments" (except a certain type of drum) that are haraam and not "music" per se.
"Music" includes vocal harmonies in praise of the prophet peace be upon him, so "Music" cant be haraam can it?
Sometimes in addressing one extreme we go to the other extreme?

What do others think about this?

[Hodstcopter]

... Some fold the corner of the prayer mat at the end of their prayer? A superstition?...

I do this whenever I leave my prayer mat down in order to ensure the part that I place my forehead on remains clean. No superstition etc.

[Sleedyhex]

The first mosque I attended after my reversion was populated mainly by muslims from one country.

I went there for 2 years and unknowing picked up a lot of things that were cultural; while thinking they were Islamic.

When I moved to another city the membership of the masjid was composed of muslims from a completely different country.

It took me quite awhile to figure out that both mosques had a veneer of cultural and traditions interwoven into their Islamic practice.

[b3JOkwXL]

The first mosque I attended after my reversion was populated mainly by muslims from one country.

I went there for 2 years and unknowing picked up a lot of things that were cultural; while thinking they were Islamic.

When I moved to another city the membership of the masjid was composed of muslims from a completely different country.

It took me quite awhile to figure out that both mosques had a veneer of cultural and traditions interwoven into their Islamic practice.

^You are the type of Muslim I had in mind when making this thread. I see new reverts/converts who go through your same experience of picking up cultural practices of people from Muslim-majority countries while thinking they are Islamic practices. In a masjid like mine in the USA where there are people from all different countries attending, it gets very confusing for them and unfortunately, I've even known of new Muslims who gave up on Islam because of the mixed messages they were receiving.

[jeockammece]

Although the Quran is crystal clear in what it says.

The social interaction between the muslims at the masjid can be quite a confusing labyrinth for new reverts to navigate.

[Xcqjwarl]

Muslims outside the Indian subcontinent find it OK to place the Qur'an on the ground. I've seen Muslims in Makkah doing that in Taraweeh - an Indo-Pak is shocked!

Indo-Paks say pointing your feet towards the Qiblah is disrespectful; others don't. Again is it in the sources? Perhaps it doesn't have to be

Salam,
It's due to Adab of the Shaair Allah (signs of Allah)
"Whoever holds in honor the signs of Allah -it is from the piety of heart" (Al Hajj: 32)

Similarly, for Quran there is a condition of Taharah, why is that so? You can be extremely neat and clean but still cannot even touch the Quran unless you are in the state of purity.

"Only those should touch Quran who are Pak"

"And when the Quran is recited, listen to it and remain quiet so that you may be blessed"

Our deen teaches us Adab, having Adab is not a cultural thing. It's the practice of ulama e deoband. Allama Anwar Shah Kashmiri had so much Adab for his books that he never ever placed the hadith book over the tafseer. Never placed the fiqh book over the Hadith book and so on. While reading a book, the classical books has footnotes in all directions, he would never move the book. Instead he would move around the book himself. It's in some Hadith that Nabi Kareem Salallahu alehe wasallam never used to eat while reclining. Instead Nabi Kareem Salallahu alehe wasallam said that I am a slave and I eat as a slave (mafhoom). We are the slaves and should behave like slaves. Allah knows best, be courteous be blessed.

[F1grandprix]

I think ones attitude to culture may also be cultural. Just because one is not familiar with the cultural practice, gives no muslim the right to negate it on a superficial basis. Our religion is not "crystal clear" in such matters, its interpretative, deliberately so to engender and promote cultural variety, and to prevent predatory religionistas, and dogmatic interpretation.

Watch this short 4 minute video where the shaykh defines culture within its proper perspective, through the elucidation of a beautiful prophetic narration.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=862fsKcFs1M

[Henldyhl]

I do this whenever I leave my prayer mat down in order to ensure the part that I place my forehead on remains clean. No superstition etc.

You wouldn't fold merely one corner of the prayer mat because it would still leave the other corner (and maybe central top portion) of the mat unfolded letting dust land on it. It's a superstition.

[zlopikanikanzax]

Sister, I'm not sure what you mean by folding but what I mean is that I fold the entire corner over so that the top edge of the prayer mat is flush with one side so there is no way for dirt to get on it. I'm not worried about dust and I only do this whenever I leave the mat down (not always). I do not do it for superstitious reasons but thanks.

[JakeBarkings]

Muslims outside the Indian subcontinent find it OK to place the Qur'an on the ground. I've seen Muslims in Makkah doing that in Taraweeh - an Indo-Pak is shocked!

Sister, Placing the most respectful book on the ground, when people walking by it, Yes I am schoked!!! Does this make it right after observing what you saw muslims in Makkah doing in Taraweeh? This could be a cultural practice too as you learnt it by observing what people were doing in Makkah. The holy Quran is the greatest book of the world so it requires our greatest respect.

[bWn4h8QD]

Sister, I'm not sure what you mean by folding but what I mean is that I fold the entire corner over so that the top edge of the prayer mat is flush with one side so there is no way for dirt to get on it. I'm not worried about dust and I only do this whenever I leave the mat down (not always). I do not do it for superstitious reasons but thanks.

I've seen just a corner folded many many times. You should worry about dust otherwise you may get asthma! Dust is dirt and dirt is dust!

[irrehoobe]

Sister, Placing the most respectful book on the ground, when people walking by it, Yes I am schoked!!! Does this make it right after observing what you saw muslims in Makkah doing in Taraweeh? This could be a cultural practice too as you learnt it by observing what people were doing in Makkah. The holy Quran is the greatest book of the world so it requires our greatest respect.

[Pypeassesty]

Sister, I'm not sure what you mean by folding but what I mean is that I fold the entire corner over so that the top edge of the prayer mat is flush with one side so there is no way for dirt to get on it. I'm not worried about dust and I only do this whenever I leave the mat down (not always). I do not do it for superstitious reasons but thanks.

Sister, when acts that are BOTH common sense AND permissable are deemed to be "superstition" - thats when you need to say Peace