Culture vs. Religion

 

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السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Do we have a clear winner here? In my opinion, we do, as it should, for us all as Muslims😏

Before the rise of Islam, during the days of ignorance there used to be many illogical standards and practices within the Arabs where they would bury their daughters alive (for example) due to the society considering it shameful for daughters to be born. This was just in Arabia. There were other countries around the world doing stranger and absurd things. Subsequently, Islam came and changed the viewpoint we had of this worldly life making us proud of our religion and all it's golden teachings.

However, it is absolutely true yet disgusting that men and women to this day suffer in one way or another due to others lacking Islamic knowledge, be it prior or post marriage.

I don't have to list out the various rules and expectations of our fellow Lankans in this day and age. I'm guessing you are all fully aware of many of them 😅 But what's saddening is that many of these expectations go out of the bounds of Islam. That's when the real problem occurs.

Today, I see many Muslims, men and women doing things in the name of culture giving no priority to Islam at all.

A question to ponder : Don't we all have our main goal as Jannah (Paradise)?

Then why is it that we run after these cultural things, fearing what the society will say?😟

Our Fitrah (deep conscious) knows that if we follow what society says neglecting Islamic teachings, neither is it going to diminish our sins nor is it going to raise our rewards in front of  Allah (the Creator of the Worlds) 

Accepting cultural ideals which contradict Islam is just like the attitude of the disbelievers mentioned in the Quran who rejected Islam based on the fact that they preferred what their forefathers did before them.

And when it is said to them, “Follow what Allah has revealed,” they say, “Rather, we will follow that which we found our fathers doing.” Even though their fathers understood nothing, nor were they guided? [2:170] 

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ ٱتَّبِعُوا۟ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ قَالُوا۟ بَلْ نَتَّبِعُ مَآ أَلْفَيْنَا عَلَيْهِ ءَابَآءَنَآ ۗ أَوَلَوْ كَانَ ءَابَآؤُهُمْ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ شَيْـًۭٔا وَلَا يَهْتَدُونَ ١٧٠

Lets not also forget the ayah (verse) that says “O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted”. [Quran 49:13].

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَـٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍۢ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَـٰكُمْ شُعُوبًۭا وَقَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَتْقَىٰكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌۭ ١٣

Allah says, he made us into tribes and nations, and then proceeds to say that the most noble to Him are the righteous ones.

Shouldn't we strive to be from the righteous then?🤔

It's utterly disappointing when learned Muslims of this era shame others based on culture. Being Muslims, we should we proud of what Islam teaches and we should never give it up, be it for culture or anything else.

Allah says in the Qur'an:

وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ وَهْنًا عَلَىٰ وَهْنٍ وَفِصَالُهُ فِي عَامَيْنِ أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيْكَ إِلَيَّ الْمَصِيرُ وَإِن جَاهَدَاكَ عَلَىٰ أَن تُشْرِكَ بِي مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ فَلَا تُطِعْهُمَا ۖ وَصَاحِبْهُمَا فِي الدُّنْيَا مَعْرُوفًا

We enjoined upon humanity to be good to his parents. His mother carried him in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents, for unto Me is the final destination. If they strive to make you associate with Me that for which you have no knowledge, do not obey them but still accompany in the world with good conduct.  

Surat Luqman 31:14:15

Allah goes to the extent to say that if parents (who are so honoured in Islam beyond measure) make you go against Islam in any way, then do not obey them. Such is Islam! 😇

So my dear sisters and brothers in Islam, do not give precedence to culture over faith. In the end of the day it is faith that is going to get you admission into Jannah

Regardless of what people say of you sticking to faith, you will be in a high status with Allah and the angels if your intentions are pure so always chose faith over culture and be true and loyal to your religion and without a doubt Allah will never fail you

Take care

 Salams ✌