Islam vehemently serves as both a culture and source of personal identity. Although Muslims are required to follow practices that guide every part of an individual’s life, Islam still promotes the community before the individual. Therefore, personal identity in Islam stems from one’s own achievements within the religious community, or umma. The manner in which a Muslim follows Islam is the means to personal autonomy within the community.
The large importance Islam places on the umma is unparallel. The umma: “is often used to refer to the essential unity of all Muslims, despite their diverse geographical and cultural settings” (Esposito, 2002, 16). This bond between Muslims creates a sense of community by highlighting the religious similarity of all Muslims. All “Muslims have been commanded to […] consider their identities as Muslims to be more important than any other identities they might have (Esposito, 2002, 16)”. This creates a very strong community. A follower of Islam must first choose to be a Muslim, and then he/she has the freedom to choose other relating subgroups (i.e. ethnicity, gender, nationality). It is a grand testament to the priority Islam places on umma by asking all Muslims to sacrifice in aiding other Muslims. This unifies Muslims as a collective first, after, individuality occurs on the basis of a Muslim’s choice in how he/she aids fellow Muslims. Within the umma, there is no social hierarchy. Ulama (one well-versed with Islamic scriptures) are not considered greater than the average Muslim: “All Muslims are equal except in their obedience to God’s will” (Goldshmidt & Davidson, 2005, pg. 47). It is only in devotion to god’s ways that Muslims differ.
Devotion in any religion is often characterized by prayers...
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...utonomy.
A main goal of Islam is to improve the community, but it takes every individual’s effort to do so. Personal identity comes from a Muslim’s choice in the ways to aid the umma and his/her path to Allah. Mass amounts of literature (the Koran, haddith, and sunnah) provide specific guidance to one’s daily life, thus shaping a Muslim’s culture. It is still the role of each Muslim to create the life he/she wants by following the many options available in Islam.
Works Cited
Bibiliography
Esposito, John L. What Everyone Needs to Know about Islam. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.
Goldschmidt, Arthur Jr. and Lawrence Davidson. A Concise History of the Middle East, Eighth edition. Denver: Westview Press, 2005.
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But irrespective of the different manifestations and different practices, finally all streams of Islam find their mission and identity in their beloved prophet, religious history and sacred texts As it is such sources that will finally define and guide Islam of the future as it goes on spreading around the world, we must consider them as seriously as a serious Muslim does (Wilson). We should understand what is there in Islamic texts and instances and life of their prophet for understanding the growth and nature of Islam. On such historical-theological foundation, then we can best understand and contrast the objectives and state of Islam in today’s world for its true mandates and motivations.
Furthermore, identity comes from how people choose to comprehend and perceive their own self. The elements of identity are limitless because you can choose to be whoever you want to be, despite the opinions of others. Thus, one’s identity tends to be unique, in a sense, compared to other
Lewis, Bernard. The Middle East: A Brief History of the Last 2,000 Years. New York: Scribner,
Islam, a religion of people submitting to one God, seeking peace and a way of life without sin, is always misunderstood throughout the world. What some consider act of bigotry, others believe it to be the lack of education and wrong portrayal of events in media; however, one cannot not justify the so little knowledge that America and Americans have about Islam and Muslims. Historically there are have been myths, many attacks on Islam and much confusion between Islam as a religion and Middle Easter culture that is always associated with it. This paper is meant to dispel, or rather educate about the big issues that plague people’s minds with false ideas and this will only be touching the surface.
which he who has them revealed to him will discover the sweetness of faith: that he cherishes God and His messenger {the Prophet Muhammad} over everything other than them” (Gordon 140). These principles creates a central governance system for the Islamic community as members were able to have a set guideline for living. It also provided Muslims with how to deal with different situations and all aspects that they encounter with in life. “I will also heal the blind and the leper, and bring to life the dead… I will inform you too of what things you eat, and what you...
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G. Esposito, John L (2002) Islam; What Everyone Should Know. New York. Oxford University Press Inc.
For the purposes of this study I have defined cultural identity as the feeling of self-definition an individual has which is formed through a sense of belonging to a certain group. In this presentation I will be looking specifically at the effects of religion to this sense of cultural identity.
In the modern society, the concept of identity is gaining much attention from both scientists and the wide public. The idea of identity is connected with the issues of identification and determining one's role in the society. However, the problem with the identity concerns the idea that it is perceived through numerous external factors that tend to determine the social status of a person and his or her belonging to a certain group. With regard to this, very often the identity of every particular person tends to be misinterpreted and perceived incorrectly. The incorrect interpretation of a person's identity usually comes as a result of cultural differences. The aspects that define the person’s identity usually include the labels that tend to be imposed on people due to their world-view, the language they are speaking, the racial belonging, or even the clothes they are wearing.
Peek, L. (2005). Becoming muslim: the development of a religious identity. Sociology of religion, 215-242.
Identity is the condition of being oneself. One's identity is largely influenced by society. It has a far-reaching effect on identity by shaping beliefs, whether cultural, traditional or personal. It is why one's perspective on things is driven by what one’s society chooses to believe, because one is taught to think the way society tells them to.