Is There an Islamic Culture?

Blog Post 80

Safar 29, 1447 – July 23, 2025

We offer this blog post on a topic that is important, although less important than the atrocities taking place in the world. It is very difficult to think, talk, read, watch, write about anything except Palestine and the genocide and famine of the people of Gaza and the crimes taking place in the West Bank against the Palestinians by the murderous zionists and their supporters. We’ve held this blog post since January with never-ending duas for justice to prevail. Oh Allah, please answer our duas and free Palestine and punish the criminals.

In the Islamic Concepts Series #19 & #20 presented by Al-Balagh Foundation in its 1997 book, Man and Jahiliyah (Ignorance) & Why Cultural Decay?, we will focus on #20 which discusses culture and civilization. The introduction opens with this ayat from Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala in the Holy Qur’an:

“We take Allah’s colour.

And who is better than Allah at colouring.

And we are His worshippers.”

(2:138)

Before we start to look at the book under review here, let’s define what we mean by deen (din) in Arabic. Usually it’s translated as “religion” or “way of life.” In Rationality of Islam (1977), by A Group of Scholars, they write: “Religion (din) is an all-round movement in the light of faith in Allah and a sense of responsibility for the reformation of thought and belief, for the promotion of high principles of morality, for the establishment of good relations among members of the society and the elimination of every sort of undue discrimination.” Therefore, it is concluded that “our need for religion and religious teachings is absolutely necessary.” (p. 11) (Please keep this definition in mind as you read, inshallah.)

For a very long time, I have tried to impress upon Muslims that when a man and woman from different parts of the world, from different countries, from different colours, backgrounds, previous religions, worldviews, etc., but who are Muslims, get married, while all these characteristics are important and had an impact upon who they are, it is all irrelevant in the long-run. This is because they are husband and wife and they are Muslim and what binds them together, what they have in common, is Islam. In fact, Islam is their culture and everything revolves around that. Whatever they might think are their differences, their different “cultures,” are subservient to their true culture, which is their Islamic culture. What I mean is that their Islamic culture dominates and makes clear what is halal and haram and where they were born, their colour, etc. are part of who they are, but the most important identity is that they are Muslim and whatever doesn’t fit with Islamic culture has to be discarded and not be used to try to dominate each other or Islam. But many people cannot understand what I’m talking about. Or maybe they refuse to understand it.

In the book under review here, the author writes: “‘Culture’ and ‘civilization’ are two words that are vaguely and wrongly understood by many people; some people even mix them up…It is a matter of great importance to properly define the meanings of ‘culture’ and ‘civilization,’ and show the correct use of each of these two words.” (p. 9)

“Culture is ‘a set of ideas and concepts about the universe, existence, life and man.’

Under this category fall beliefs, laws, regulations, morals, philosophy, art, and literature.

Briefly, culture can be defined as ‘a set of principles and values on which

human character and social life are based,  and by which their relationship is defined.’

The scope of culture is then, ‘the human side of life.’” (p. 10)

So the culture of various places and the way of developing it varies. “We have Islamic culture, Greek culture, Roman culture, Capitalist culture, Communist culture, etc. Each one of these cultures has its own style and way of shaping human character and building life.” (p. 10)

“Civilization…differs greatly in its meaning from culture. It is ‘the modus vivendi’* to the way man’s energies and the resources of nature are employed; which is done through science, natural experiments, discoveries and inventions, that enables man to harness natural resources, making use of them in his industries, construction materials, agriculture, and the type of wars he fights. He can produce whatever tools or equipment he needs; however inexpensive, primitive, or complicated and advanced they may be. This is the scientific side of life. Man…discovers the laws of nature and life and employs them in industry…etc.” Civilization is “the materialistic side” of life. (p. 11)

“Culture shows man how ‘he should behave in life’

and draws for him ‘his relationship with the Creator of the world and his fellowman,’

while civilization is defined as ‘man’s ability to discover laws of nature and life,

and how he should employ them for his benefit.’” (original italics) (p. 11)

“Civilization is shared by men regardless of their social theories, beliefs and philosophies. It differs only slightly from one culture to another, and the scope of difference depends on the cultural concepts and social values that govern the different cultures.” (p. 12)

Muslims are members of the Islamic Ummah. This is very important to understand. Our “nation,” our community, is the Ummah. Where we were born is coincidental. What we mean is each one of us was born in a particular place on the Earth. As well, we were born to a man and woman and that is also coincidental. We did not choose where or to whom we were born. Our parents did not choose us either. Our parents could have been born in a different country than us and they could have been born in different countries than each other. For example, we could be born in Canada, but our father was born in Trinidad and our mother was born in the US. Also our parents could be different colours. When someone asks you where you were born, you could say “Canada.” If someone asks you what your nationality is, you could say “Canadian.” If someone asks you what is your ethnicity, you could say “Black” or “Latino.” If someone asks you what is your parental background, you could say “Trinidadian and American.” But for all these questions, except the place where you were born and perhaps your parental background (if it doesn’t apply), you could and should say “Muslim.” That is the most important identity and all the others are coincidental without much value to Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala. So our attachment must be to the Ummah and not to our country of birth, our colour, our ethnicity or our family background. All of those things are simply ingredients blended together in us. Nationalism happens when people put too much emphasis on their country of birth. The Ummah has no borders. The colour of our skin is an ayat of Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala. Allah coloured us whatever He wanted. It is not supposed to be a source of racism, pride, segregation, violence, negativity, superiority, etc. The Ummah has no colour. Our colour is Islam.

Afterall, Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala tells us:

“Verily, the most honourable of you with Allah is the one who has al-taqwa.

Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.” (49:13)

Al-Taqwa means Allah-consciousness, righteousness, piety.

What the Ummah is facing these days is a cultural war, a “soft” war. It is not new though. The war against our Islamic culture has been going on since the beginning of time. Our Islamic culture tells us how we should behave in life, how to have a relationship with Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala and the people of the world. It is the only true way due to its righteous beliefs, concepts and ideas. It helps us traverse the right path to live in Allah’s Way. It is for the living.

The enemies of Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala wage “a hostile, vicious and ignorant war” against us. We are the target. They are not interested in waging an ideological war, although they might throw that in here and there. Their cultural war against us is very dangerous and it has mesmerized and captured many people. As time runs on, the enemies of Allah change their tactics. They set up and control educational institutions, for example, western education programs and ways of thinking; manufacture opposing theories to disrupt and eliminate logical thought and cause ideological collapse; organize, infiltrate and control political parties; create and support violent extremist groups; invent and fund dangerous organizations and people that pose as “religious” establishments… Today they mobilize and almost completely control the mass media, in all its forms – radio, tv, cinema, theatre, newspaper, magazines, books, whether online or off-line. Their aim is to destroy and substitute our enlightened Islamic culture with their scum - lies, flamboyant lifestyle, extravagance, the dollar bill, porn, alcohol, drugs, crimes, vices, etc. (pp.5-7)

Our Islamic culture is marked by its knowledge of, attachment to and propagation of the declaration of faith in Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala and Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, sublime universal truths and exemplary ways of being, behaving and living. These include: our beliefs, thoughts, sentiments, values, morals, literature, jurisprudence, law, politics, ethics, art, philosophy… It centres around Islam, which starts with the belief in Allah, His Justice, His Prophets, the Day of Judgement and the Hereafter. While our beliefs and concepts and the expression of them are our own, they are not unique to us. Other monotheistic religions believe in some of these five concepts, although only Muslims believe, know and declare that Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, is the Final Prophet in a long line of Prophets and Messengers from Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala. He is the Seal of Prophethood. The difference in our beliefs and concepts is how they are expressed. We flavour everything with our Islamic beliefs and if what we want to think about, feel about or do conflict with them, we get rid of and abandon that thought, feeling or action. Our Islamic culture shapes our character, leaving its impact on our life, marking “with its colour” our behaviour and existence.

This is what shapes our Islamic culture and it is what causes

Muslims to have a “separate, distinguished cultural character,”

which is “tenacious” and always alert and has” the ability to discern and sift” through

and discard the scummy ideas and concepts that make their way toward us. (pp. 8, 10)

The universal truths have been true always. No one can say that when Prophet Adam and Lady Hawa, peace be upon them, were faced with a lie that the lie was right and did not pose a threat to them. We all know the truth. And so from the beginning to the end, a lie is wrong and it poses a threat to us. It is an injustice. It is against Allah’s law. This is because Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala created us and as long as we are human beings, His laws will sit well with us, they will make sense, we will understand them, and we will obey them, inshallah. Our definitions of such words as “freedom, obedience, responsibility, ‘ummah,’ homeland, politics, worship, asceticism, counsel…soul, ignorance, equality, justice, oppression…are well-defined, well-coined, and well-used in the light of Islam, expressing exactly their ideological, doctrinal and cultural meanings.” What we mean is that Muslims understand these concepts according to how Allah wants them to be understood, not “the way man-made theories and laws do” and not the way the enemies of Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala do. (pp. 8-9) Of course, we have been given free will by our Creator and thus Prophet Adam and Lady Hawa, peace be upon them, were “allowed” to make a decision that was not the best one as a way to make clear that while we are the abd (slave) of Allah, He in His Knowledge has given us the choice to behave as we want, to maintain or “sever” our relationship, our bond, with Him and with each other. Each choice has effects and consequences, no doubt.

The core of our Islamic culture is the doctrine of Tawhid (monotheism) and the values of the faith. (p. 11) Culture has precedence over civilization. (Remember: civilization is learning about and using the laws of nature to make and use things for our benefit.) So whatever culture allows us, we are free to produce and use those material things for our benefit. But whatever culture forbids, we have no right to produce or use those material things. They can ruin our self-fulfillment and indeed human life. (p. 13) Thus, we are not allowed to manufacture “tools and equipment of destruction, annihilation, and torture, and” employ our “talents to produce tools for entertainment, debauchery, and pornography; such as drugs, liquor, and tools of aberrant sex…etc.” Our Islamic “culture, with its values and standards, blocks the way of deviation and the unwise use of man’s energy with that of resources of nature.” (p. 14) (see The Holy Qur’an 16:112 and 26:128-135)

Our Ummah is “a human group bound to each other by the bonds

of doctrine and principle. The Muslim Ummah is one;

always open to new converts, but of a definite type and character. (original italics)

So the Muslim Ummah is never restricted to a certain community,

people, land or language and it is capable of increasing in number.

Any individual or nation that embraces Islam joins this Ummah

and becomes part of it.” (p. 9) Al-Hamdulillah!

We must not get confused about culture and civilization. Our Islamic culture, if we stick to it, will overcome the diseased cultures in the west and the east. Because their cultures are sick and ungodly, their civilizations will lead to catastrophe, devastating them, changing their lives into total misery and suffering, full of starvation, fear and repression, just like those of the people in the past generations who did not believe in and obey Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala. Their culture[s] led them to create and maintain a civilization[s] which exploits scientific advancements and makes and uses “tools of oppression, exploitation, deviation, enslavement and blood letting (sic). Their unrighteous, ignorant, deviant, materialistic, murderous “culture[s]” will not last. (p. 15)

If you are proud to have been born in a particular country, to particular parents who were born in a particular country/ies, with a particular shade of colour, then you should investigate what you are actually proud about. Is it because you like the country of your birth’s lifestyle, food, customs, celebrations, clothing, artwork? Or are their things about your country of birth that you don’t like, such as how they treat others at home and in the world, how they encourage and advertise the use of intoxicants and indecent clothing, how they terrorize and war against people? Is the colour of your skin something more special than someone else’s skin colour? If you think it is, then you should investigate what you are actually proud about. Is it because you like how it looks on you and you despise the other colours? Remember it is Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala who has made us how we are. So if you pride yourself on your skin colour and look down on others based on their skin colour, you are actually looking down on Allah and saying it is wrong that people have different skin colours. Or do you think that Allah made different skin colours so we can see who is right and who is wrong, who is better or worse than each other? If you are proud of your parents because of where they were born, the colour of their skin, their affiliation with a particular country, you should investigate why? What if your parents are born in different countries and have different colours? Are you prouder of one of your parents more than the other or do you like one over the other more? Think about it…

Beware that you do not identify with the oppressors. Rather you should identify with the oppressed. You should recognize that if you reside in a country that oppresses others, especially Muslims, you will be counted amongst the oppressors unless you speak out and act against the injustices. Otherwise, your Islam will be nullified and you will be among the losers.

Let’s identify with Islam. Let’s answer the questions with “I am a Muslim. I was born in Canada.” And it’s not okay either to say, “I’m a Canadian Muslim,” because what does than mean anyway? Even, “I’m a Muslim Canadian,” doesn’t make sense either.** We are Muslims and that’s what we must start and end with, inshallah. For Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala instructs us: “Do not die except while you are Muslims.” (3:102)

Prophet Yusuf, peace be upon him, shows us how to ask Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala in his dua:

“Creator of the Heavens and the Earth,

You are my Protector in the world and the Hereafter.

Cause me to die as a Muslim and join me with the righteous.”

(12:101)

Our culture is Islam. Our deen is Islam. Our deen is our religion. Our deen is our way of life. Therefore, our culture is our deen. Our culture is our religion. Our culture is our way of living.

“So, be in awe of Allah and obey me,***

and be in awe of Him Who aids you

with that which you know.”

(26:131-132)

To be continued…

Notes

* For an explanation of ‘modus vivendi’, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modus_vivendi

** We are fully aware that people’s last names are sometimes the name of the village, town, city or country, they were born in, or their mother tongue, such as Salman al-Farsi, Nasir al-Din al-Tusi, Mawlana Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi, Muhammad ibn Ali ibn al-Arabi al-Ta’i al-Hatimi (Ibn Arabi), Imam Ruhullah Khomeini, Imam Ali Husseini Khamenei, etc. The name simply denotes where they were born.

*** These are Prophet Hud’s, peace be upon him, words. He is telling the people to obey him.

Resources

A Group of Scholars (Ayatullah Murtaza Mutahhery, Ayatullah Nasir Makarim Shirazi, Allamah Muhammad Mahdi Asifi and Allamah Ibrahim Amini). (1977). Rationality of Islam. (Yusufali Nafsi Najafi, Ed.). Islamic Seminary Publications: Pakistan. Accessible from https://al-islam.org/rationality-islam-islamic-seminary-publications 

Why Cultural Decay? (Vol. 20) in Man and Jahiliyah (Ignorance) & Why Cultural Decay? Islamic Concepts Series #19 & 20. (1997). Al-Balagh Foundation: Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. pp.5-15. Accessible from https://en.rafed.net/article/why-cultural-decay