During reading a book I came across a term “Cultural Muslim (SAQAFTIE MUSALMAN) & Religious Muslim (MAZHABI MUSALMAN)” , writer is reasonably valid ( Justice Ret. Doctor Javed Iqbal S/O. Dr. Allama Iqbal ). I would appreciate if you guys may enlighten what he meant by these terms or what’s the difference in between two because I am still unable to clarify the concept he tried to convey. In fact he called him self a cultural Muslim. I believe from your opinions vis-à-vis this term I can get rid of confusion.
Cultural Muslim: It refers to those Muslims whose relationship with Allah and his Prophet :saw: suffer due to cultural distractions. e.g. a daughter would only cover his head with dupatta because her mother also does so… not because Islam demands pardah. A person goes to Jumma prayer only because he thinks its a part of their cultures. These people are more interested in culture than the true spirit of religion.
Religious Muslim: Dr Sahib is probably referring to those Muslims who are short sighted (baqol Allam Iqbal, do rakaat key Imam :)). They do not think beyond the do’s and dont’s of Islam.
However, it will be much clearer if you can write some actual sentences from the book.
i thought it was perhaps like the social jew vs religious jew titles...
social jew is for someone who attends events, participates in holidays, wheres clothing becaue it social/culturally what they were raised with and that is the community they belong to..
the other...religous jew practices and believes in the faith...
Cultural Muslim would be something like Pakistani Muslim (I'm saying Paksitani because I'm one ;) ), where Islamic values became more "cultural" than "religious" and people are more afraid of society than Allah swt. Many Islamic things are done because it has become social norm, not because Islam demands it, hence the actual spirit of the deed dies.
For example, "purdah". Many, if not most or all, women will do purdah from an outsider i.e. niqab when going out, but when a cousin comes in house as guest, niqab/purdah is no more. Keep your questions "pardah is not niqab" out of this thread, if you will, please :). This is the example of "cultural Muslim", sorry it was kind of "against" women, but that really was not the intention.
A cultural Muslim will follow Islamic commands as the culture does it, without understanding the reasons, the spirit, the value of it. While "religious" Muslim knows what he is doing.
:k: “Cultural Muslims” are more afraid of society than Allah IMHO, whereas just “Muslims” (true Muslims i mean) are most afraid of Allah and society’s concerns are secondary. It’s like the matter of dowry - Islam doesn’t sanction this, so it’s not Islamic. Period. Yet many Pakistani families practice it because - ‘log kia kahain gai?’ Truthfully, society becomes more important than Allah… as sad as that is.
thanks all , for participation in this topic it help me lot to calrify concept in my own mind , Discussing any issue brings awareness and awareness with clear conception becomes wisdom. i am 100% agree with nadia's realistic view about socio-cultural involvment in religion which effected our society in negetive way. islam is the only religion which given guidlines reagrding every aspect of life from how to drink water to attitudes with neigbering countries, when we start following techings of islam in every field of our life whole heartidly and with complet understanding of logic and rightness behind them, things will start changing positivly for all of us as society.
as i am in saudi arabia (basically pakistani) i can say the right example of religious musims is Saudi Arabia where cultural one are pakistanis. In saudi arabia there are many things which are not appriciatable in any condition but still they have made islam their culture while pakistanis placed in whole cultural norm in islam.
ramy, amelie changez .. thanks buddies for participation and for your valued opinions