Muslim culture perspective - Research Paper Example

? Muslim Culture Perspective Islam is more than a religion, as it is a lifestyle it is covered and guided by the four pillars of Islam which are, prayers(salat), witness(shahada), Alms(zakat), fasting (the sawm) and pilgrimage (hajj). They form the most important bit of the Islamic culture. Respect to humankind is what is encouraged by the culture as the word Islam means peace and submission in Arabic. Confessing there is only one lord and his holy messenger Muhammad is what shahad is about (Netlon, 2006). The world is a global village that one should accept and appreciate other cultures. Learning about what others perceived life is important as a common ground learnt through this, brings cohesion in a given country. A clear perspective and critic of how family deals with matters in accordance to the culture, lays focus in the paper. Arguments in the paper provide a non-bias approach, roles of different individuals in carrying out counseling also included. As a way of appreciating diversity in culture, the report will relay different psychological aspects that differ and are contrast to beliefs of the Muslim culture. A family being a major component to all cultures, all family compositions combined to form a successful channel of resolutions. Marriage divorce and children upkeep mainly the focus, believed that life is a continuous process, the Muslim culture value it and that is their unique factor. Gender and age also provide how the community deals with matters psychology. Religion plays a major role in the culture and all decisions require divine interventions hence respect to the Supreme Being is important in encouraging un-biasness in decision-making. Introduction Islam dates back to the seventh centaury, deriving its origin to the Arabian peninsulas. Its diversity is wide spread and to the current estimate of 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide. Muslim is a term used to refer to those practicing Islam as a culture and religion. In the past, it was associated to the Arabs but due to ancient trading, it found its way across the world. The paper will focus on it and the cultural beliefs including role of family, expectations of children and ageing ones, marriage and relationships, value and other cultural ceremonies including holidays, death rituals and entertainment. Other issues in the paper include conflicts and how they are resolved depending on their magnitude. The family A family is a building point of any society, divided into initial family, intermediate family and human family each assigned duties to ensure the culture and society are build out respect and strength. According to Kuftaro (2006), a family is built upon holy bond and agreement of love, kindness and tranquility between two hearts. This shows how the Islamic family is composed of, the main factor being love approved by the one above. A family brings about safety and protection upon those in it. Marriage plays an important role in the initial family; in this culture, marriage is encouraged as it lays the one-half of what Allah expect from mankind and the second half to be dedicated to Allah (Kuftaro, 2006). The initial family The Islamic culture defines the initial family as simple a man married to a wife legally and according to the laws laid in the Holy Quran. The man in the family referred to as the husband is entitled to head the house, the wife who is a companion follows him in command and from them are the children who are the fruits of marriage. The result of a successful family is the children’s well-being (Netlon, 2006). While counseling parents take a conservative aspect, as parents will shy away from talking matters dealing with sex with their parents and life provided a plat form for them to learn from their own. In the current age and time, engagement with parents plays a role in dealing with social issues. Other matters are dealt with based on gender and the mother deals with the girl child while the father with his sons. Role of the husband A traditional Islamic expect a husband to be the breadwinner and all members look upon him to provide essential commodities. The husband usually energetic and should ensure none of his family members goes hungry. Hard work is what defines a good husband; the culture discourages laziness among the male population. The man in the family leaves his father’s house to start his own. He represents his family at all cost and provide protection to it, during meetings by the elders he represent his family (Guillain, 2013). Role of the wife The wife’s duties were to ensure the continuity of the clan and society as she gives birth to the next generation and expected to be supportive of her husband. In a traditional family set up, she plays second fiddle. She takes fewer positions in the leadership sector. The wife takes care of the children while the man fends for them. The wife does all domestic chores, she ensures the children are brought according to the Islamic teaching; failure of any given child is blamed to the wife. Taking care of the husband was the role of the wife, she is to ensure that the husband feeds on time and dresses well. Kuftaro(2006) buts it clear that their main prophet Muhammad promises paradise to any woman that the man is pleased with father the duties of the wife are beyond the bed but is to ensure he obeys and keeps oath taken in Allah’s name. Role of children Children, expected to be respectful and follow all guidelines by their parents should follow the laws of the book. Children enjoy all rights provided by the culture, the parent should not discriminate against his own flesh and blood but treat them in amore equal way. The children should learn about Islam though religious clerics with support of their parents. The child to grow and ensure continuity of the culture remains their main task. The children look up upon their parent for motivation and learn future parenting roles from them (Bouhdiba & Dawaliba, 1998). Role of the initial family In dealing with matters affecting the initial family, consultations are internal. When divorce is the subject of the problem children are secluded from the matter. Psychological trauma resulting from the conflict usually resolved spiritually and the process of counseling done by religious clerics based on the holy Quran. The teachings provide for tolerance and forgiveness and discourage adultery and immorality, punishment follows (according to the sharia) to those who engage in it. According to the country’s states laws due process follows. The duty of the father is to ensure the right channel for family members and provided guidance as to what to follow in times of misunderstandings (Guillain, 2013). Extended family This goes beyond the three functions and includes other members, they are the uncle, aunt, grandparents and other family members related to the initial family. Support that is both moral and emotional was the duty of the extended family towards the initial family. The grandparents provide wisdom and life teaching to the entire family. When choosing whom to marry should not marry from a member of the extended family, was considered Unethical (harram) to marry from a family member and consequences are bound to follow if this happens (Rapoport, 2005). With the absence of the father or mother the extended family performs take care of the child. They assist when the family seams constrained. The grand father unites them all and he is over role of all family units. Respected due to his age and life experience lay the grand parent. The extended family always respect each other and the elder the father the more respect they are given. The term uncle and aunt rarely used by children of the Islamic culture, the term is considered disrespectful and father and mother preferred (Netlon, 2006). Family traditions and values Values in Islam follow the sharia, stipulated in the Quran and followed to the latter and supported by the family and the entire Muslim community (ummah).one should live a life like of the holy prophet Muhammad (Sunnah). The laws ranges from cord of dressing in which the women are not to show much of their skins and cover their heads at all time. There are animals that are not to be consume they include pigs (Bouhdiba & Dawaliba, 1998). Respect to the elderly is encouraged as they provide much need wisdom and guidance to the younger generation. The status of an individual is highly appreciated and the religious clerics (sheikh) provide spiritual guidance to the community. The culture considers the mosque a holy place and respected at times any other activities besides prayers prohibited from taking place there. Family and the religion is where all values and traditions lay basis. A religious family must live to the expectations of the entire community (Netlon, 2006). Marriage In the Islamic culture, marriage takes place in accordance to the holy book (Quran). A man pays bride price to the bride’s family; usually discussed before the wedding takes place. If accepted by the bride’s family, they turn from being strangers to in-laws. The family offers their daughter for marriage after all procedures are completed. A marriage ceremony arranged and it involves the extended family and it is their responsibility of the family to ensure the ceremony is a success. (Rapoport, 2005) The extended family plays a part in ensuring the newly married couples get support. They provide life teaching and guidance. Conflicts that will arise during the period of their marriage threats the damager of divorce and spiritual guidance at all time is provided by the imams and other religious heads. The transition from the single’s life to the married one brings about emotions and psychologically affect the married couple, the extended family and clerics set in encouraging the married couple to keep moving (Bouhdiba & Dawaliba, 1998). Death Death in this culture brings about grief and the duty of the community is to assists those who are grieving. After birth and marriage, death then seen as the final journey of any human being. When one passes away, the burial ceremony takes place within 24 hours of the demise. The diseased, covered in a white veil (sandaa) similar to those used in ancient Egypt lay basis of the preparation of the dead body. At the graveyard, the women where back and cover their heads, it is believed failure to do so the spirits may follow her. The males conduct the whole processes coffins lack a place in the Islamic culture (Guillain, 2013). Psychological help and support is always provided for by family members as they comfort each other and plays a role in the healing process Other ceremonies are religious and they include, Eid-ul-hajj, Eid-ul- fitr among other ceremony as they mark the complete Muslim journey of holiness the ceremonies brings about spiritual factor as they enhance faith. They play a role in the entire human family at these celebrations provide togetherness and psychologically healing those perceiving themselves lonely and oppressed (Netlon, 2006). Conflicts and conflict resolution Conflicts are common in every human set up, they range from family conflicts to those of the society. Islam encourages peaceful resolutions towards conflicts. In a family set up, issues dealt with internally and those involved are usually the elderly. Matters to do with family inheritance and marriage are resolved by the kadhis court in accordance to the sharia laws. When one is seeking divorce, the intermediary is always the court (Rapoport , 2005). The elders of the given communities resolve social conflicts such as war and they remind the society that they are brother united under ummah. The culprits then dealt with using the sharia. When young people wrong, the elders guide them to the right path and a repeat of the same mistake is punishable by the law. They are encouraged to keep peace among themselves and respect their neighbors who are different from them (Guillain, 2013). The culture is set in a way that gender plays a role in the day to day activities the elderly women provide support and advise to the younger females and are tasked with ensuring wrongs are dealt with and corrected they offer life time experience to those seaming to be traumatized. The older men emotionally encourage the boys and younger fathers in what life expect from them. Reference Kuftaro, S,.(1991), the role of the Muslim society . Retrieved November 8, 2013, from http://www.kuftaro.net/english/activity1.php?activity_no=2%20&%20act_no=%203 Guillain, C. (2013). Global Cultures: Islamic Culture. London: Capstone Global library limited Bouhdiba , A., Dawaliba , M. (1998). The Individual and Society in Islam. Paris: UNESCO. Netlon, R., (2006). Encyclopedia of Islamic Civilization and religion, London: Routledge. Rapoport, Y. (2005).Marriage, Money and Divorce in Medieval Islamic Society. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Read More