Islamic Values vs. Muslim Values
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.
