Islamic Values vs. Muslim Values

Monday, January 8, 2007
Are the Muslims following the proper Islam? (Islamic Values vs. Muslim Values)
Islamic Values vs. Muslim Values
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 behaves 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.
7:45:14 PM
Posted By Citizen Kane Comments (2) Personals
Comments
Muhammed Rasheed Monday, January 8, 2007 8:27:19 PM
The days are so bad that even if you want to provide the basic needs for your family, you are suppose to work for hours together.Muslims families are so big that they hardly think about the members while expanding them. Most of the girls either become victims of flesh traders or marry out of the religion, for the demand of dowry has become a curse.I want the leaders of muslims to take necessary steps and save Islam. It is the need of the day.How can we expect a muslim to pray for five times in a day. They are people who don't even attend the weekly friday prayer, and we are not bothered. Why ?

K.Venugopal Monday, January 8, 2007 9:42:39 PM
Dear Citizen Kane,

I appreciate your love for your religion and your wish that your community lives up to its high ideals.

However, from my point of view, the idealistic Islam you speak about, what with its "rulings forbidding things such as music and dancing and enforcing things like hijab" is far from ideal. I believe that music and dancing are divine. Further, the Quranic verse "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 ..." is evidence that Allah wants man to be a puppet and not a discoverer of his freedom. (Incidentally, can you please tell me why the Quran says "whoever disobeys Allah and His Apostle". Is there something of a partnership here?. Is Allah alone not enough?)

My diagnosis is that Islam moved towards being a political phenomenon right from the days of Mohammad himself, instead of moving to being a meditative phenomenon. The error was made by the first Muslim himself – Mohammad, forgetting that he himself got it all by meditating in the caves of Mount Herat. The messenger appears to have got the message wrong.

Any diagnosis of the Islam-Muslim dichotomy must begin from this point.

MUNEERUDEEN Tuesday, January 9, 2007 1:41:51 AM
First Let me Congratulate the author of this blog - Citizen Kane " and request him to reveal his real name and be proud of his Muslim roots ! It is a htought provoking article which every muslim has to ponder.As for Mr K.Venugopal-First let me ask you HOW you alone are able to post such long replies ?? Next on a basic error in your diagnosis.....contd....
MUNEERUDEEN Tuesday, January 9, 2007 1:51:45 AM
...contd... Quran in one Verse says "thou shall not Pray in an intoxicated state"...which would mean that only prayer was banned while intoxicated... BUT when it is revealed in another verse "Forbidden unto you are the flesh of swine, blood and intoxicants since they lead to the ways of the devil " which expressly forbids INTOXICANTS !....to explain this.....contd...
MUNEERUDEEN Tuesday, January 9, 2007 1:53:04 AM
...contd... Quran in one Verse says "thou shall not Pray in an intoxicated state"...which would mean that only prayer was banned while intoxicated... BUT when it is revealed in another verse "Forbidden unto you are the flesh of swine, blood and intoxicants since they lead to the ways of the devil " which expressly forbids INTOXICANTS !....to explain this.....contd...
MUNEERUDEEN Tuesday, January 9, 2007 1:53:13 AM
Mr Venugopal...contd...Allah alone is enough. But it is man who requires constant guidance by Prophets from Abraham,Moses,David,Jesus and Mohamed (Peace be on ALL of them)The partnership as you call it- is regarding the Quran and the Sunnah. That is why there is so much misunderstanding because people take only the Quran without the Sunnah.Again Quran -if taken out of context-can give an opposite meaning. For eg: La Ilaha Illallah -If taken seperately will mean "There is no God " ..BUT ALLAH. Again....contd...

Learner Tuesday, January 9, 2007 11:52:28 AM
Yes Mr venugopal, A man is a puppet in the hands of Allah and he should act like a puppet because it is Allah who has created him. And Allah is a man's Master and man is a bondsmen, he has to dance to the tunes of the Creator.And this unquestionable obedience only fetch rewards from Allah.And whatever Allah has ordained for man is for the benefit of man himself. like for example circumcision, it help in preventing AIDS. and has forbidden, Wine which is root cause for many evils. there are n number of benefits to mankind if it follows Allah's command.

K.Venugopal Tuesday, January 9, 2007 7:51:12 PM
Dear Learner, Man is a puppet till he discovers that he is the Puppeteer who has no need for puppets. I am not trying to be clever with a play of words but this is the vision of Advaita or non-dualism. I would say Islam has fallen short of Advaita. That is to say, Islam treats the creator and the creature as separate whereas Advaita - the underlying vision of Hinduism - does not. Since Advaita is really in the realm of silence, and since we cannot have a society based on silence, we have to have words and in the realm of words, it is OK to consider ourselves as puppets – but this is not our destiny.
MUNEERUDEEN Wednesday, January 10, 2007 1:30:48 AM
Mr VenugopalI could not finish yesterdays reply fully.Creator and Created are not equal.As for your we and they charachterisation- Tell me-Can an inventor and the invented be ONE !- Can a surgeon and an intern be ONE. Can a Master and a servant be ONE ! Can a teacher and student be ONE ! NO.No.Thus Jesus was NOT the Son of GOD. Prophet Mohamed SAW was the messenger of God.To explain the Quran -or teach the new students of a new reliigion !

K.Venugopal Thursday, January 11, 2007 11:12:20 AM
My dear Muneerudeenji, The inventor and the invented do not seem to be one because the inventor, embodied man, appears as a limited being. But in truth, man is not merely the embodied being, but the unlimited conscious being behind the body. Invention (of man) and creation (of God) are a putting together of things (including ideas) that were different before they were put together. In their elemental state, all material things are pure consciousness. Understanding this is the essence of understanding religion, which alone will bring us freedom even in our embodied state.