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As-salamu
`alaykum,
As a Muslim native English person, married
to a person whose parents come from two different cultures again
(Spain/Pakistan), and with three little girls who look English but
whom we are trying to bring up Muslim, this is a subject close to my
heart.
However, I have a problem with the term
integration because it isn't relevant to me. I don't see why I have to
integrate because I am culturally English even though I am completely
Muslim. I have two more friends in this same small town who are in the
same position. Right now we switch and mix the foods, clothes, ideas,
and attitudes of the different cultures (Muslim/non-Muslim) as long as
they are consistent with Islam, and we enjoy the extra dimensions
added to our English backgrounds and diet by our contacts with our
Pakistani or Arabic friends.
But our long-term dream is of the
development of a distinctively English Islamic culture, and I enjoy
imagining to myself what forms it would take. I am optimistic
that in the long term this can happen, but there are still many
hurdles to get over although I think they are all solvable by time.
Especially if the Muslim community becomes confident that it is here
to stay, that it has something that post-Christian Britain needs
desperately — a religion that solves the problems yet has the same
teachings of the Biblical prophets (peace be upon them and upon all
the righteous servants of God).
As ties with the old countries weaken as
each new generation appears, let's start exploring ways of
intermingling with the English community's traditional networks
outside the Church or pub — like drama or art or music or athletic
clubs or Guides or Scouts, etc. for kids. If the activities aren't
suitable for Muslims, let's tell them why and let's try to
explore ways in which they can be adapted. One family can't do it
alone, but a whole series of families could.
Let's not just barricade the doors and act
like we are under siege to the problems in English culture, but open
them wide and start suffusing into the English culture in the manner
of the first Muslims in Asia, Turkey, Spain or Africa.
Think long term and work for the flowering
of a rich, authentically Muslim, distinctively English Islam in a few
hundred years, and dream of a time when England becomes Muslim bi
idhni Allah (with the prmission of Allah).
Wa as-salam,
Rachael Babar
rachael_babar@yahoo.co.uk |
