10 Things Every Muslim in West Should Do

ZamanH wrote: I  am not from the West. I am from India. Can't you see it on my profile on the L.H.S??

Oops! As they say, you have burst his bubble And as we say, haste is waste, he did not look before leaping ...

I agree with you Zaman, We should teach our children our culture. For me it is becoming too challenging and too tiering an endeavor. Perhaps I am the one who is considering what bugler has said ... ie go back.

I came here looking for something which is not there. My language, my cultrue and my heritage and above all my religion are my identities, and I want to identify these in my kids as well. I thought these things are not so scarce here, coz ppl from "back home" are living here since decades now. But they have lost most of what belongs to them. Its not that they are not religious, but there is something missing ... can't put my fingre exactly.

Ummziba has said that it is not impossible for muslims to live here, which is true, but it is very difficult to live without your family. I think it is a great place for muslims, who do not have much to fall back in their homelands, as for those who cherish their roots, should not leave those.

Peace,

Nausheen

 

 

bugler,

O.K., now I see what point you were trying to make.  Perhaps you don't realize that a lot of the Muslims in the west are not from somewhere else.  Some are second, third or fourth generation Canadians or Americans or Europeans or Australians and so on.  Many are converts.

So, where would we go back to?  We belong here just as much as you do.  You use the word assimilate - that is not what immigrants should have to do.  To assimilate means to become something other than what you are.  I'll use Canada as the example, since I know it best.  There are Greek-Canadians, Italian-Canadians, Finnish-Canadians, Malaysian-Canadians and so forth.  There are also Christian-Canadians, Jewish-Canadians, Sikh-Canadians, Muslim-Canadians, atheist-Canadians, and so forth.

What they all have in common is Canada.  They are all expected to follow Canadian laws and be tolerant of others.  They are not expected to forget about their "roots", no matter how many generations back, nor to forget about their religious beliefs.

Muslims can, and do, live in the west.  It is difficult because the society does not follow Islamic laws or traditions, but it is not impossible.  Just like you live in the west, but do not follow Islamic laws or traditions, this being easy for you as "your way" is the norm here.

Being offended that we wish to teach our children our "ways" is silly.  You have the right to raise your children as you see fit, so do we.

Telling us to "go back" is foolish.  What is needed is for you to learn tolerance, and that works both ways of course.  Hate and fear come from lack of knowledge.  Tolerance comes from understanding and knowledge.  I would suggest you might educate yourself about those who are different than you.

I would also point out (if you are American or Canadian or Australian) that unless you are aboriginal, you are also from immigrants!

Peace, ummziba.

bugler,

If you only came here to insult and not learn, don't bother - your insults hurt no one but yourself.

Peace, ummziba.

Also, Muslims should ensure that their children don't forget their native culture and adopt the Western culture. Western culture is too much different from Islam ( I see it just the opposite of what Islam stands for).  I know the difference between religion and culture, but I still believe any culture, other than the Western culture will surely be better than the Western "culture" for the Muslims to follow.