Lecture 1

Topic of Lecture: Introduction of the subject “Islamic

Culture & Ideology of Pakistan”
Outlines for Lecture:
i. Meaning of Ideology
ii. Characteristics of Ideology
iii. Importance of Ideology
iv. Ideology shapes culture & civilization
v. Meaning of culture
vi. Elements of culture
vii. Functions of Culture
viii. Difference between culture and civilization
ix. Islam & Culture
x. Pakistan ideology and culture
1. Meaning of ideology
Ideology has been in use in English since the end of the 18th century and is one of the
few words whose coiner we can identify. The French writer A. L. C. Destutt de Tracy
proposed it as a term to designate the “science of ideas,” and in that sense the word was
quickly borrowed into English. Though ideology originated as a serious philosophical
term, within a few decades it took on connotations of impracticality thanks to Napoleon,
who used it in a derisive manner. Today, the word most often refers to “a systematic body
of concepts,” especially those of a particular group or political party.

Marx's Theory of Ideology

German philosopher Karl Marx is considered the first to provide a theoretical
framing of ideology within the context of sociology.

According to Marx, ideology emerges out of a society's mode of production. In his

case and in that of the modern United States, the economic mode of production
is capitalism.

Marx's approach to ideology was set forth in his theory of base and
superstructure. According to Marx, the superstructure of society, the realm of
ideology, grows out of the base, the realm of production, to reflect the interests of
the ruling class and justify the status quo that keeps them in power. Marx, then,
focused his theory on the concept of a dominant ideology.

However, he viewed the relationship between base and superstructure as

dialectical in nature, meaning that each affects the other equally and that a
change in one necessitates a change in the other. This belief formed the
basis for Marx's theory of revolution. He believed that once
workers developed a class consciousness and became aware of their
exploited position relative to the powerful class of factory owners and
financiers—in other words, when they experienced a fundamental shift in
ideology—that they would then act on that ideology by organizing and
demanding a change in the social, economic, and political structures of
society.
2. Characteristics of Ideology
An ideology is composed of four basic characteristics:
it must have power over cognition.
o it must be capable of guiding one's evaluations;
o it must provide guidance towards action; and.
o it must be logically coherent.
3. Importance of Ideology
An ideology is no doubt a root factor which induces people to be a nation infact. Resting on
religious, linguistic, ethnic, political or some other basis,the ideology provides people with a
framework for their social, economic, political, cultural and strategic activities etc.Thus, we can
say;

● Ideology acts as a backbone for the structure of a nation, and without it there would be no
concept of a nation or a nation-state.
● It is a binding force that gels all the components of the structure of a nation together.
● It is the ideology that gives its followers a unanimous move towards evolution or
revolution. No nation can get its motives accomplished without wholly sticking to its
ideology.

It goes without saying that even each individual consciously or unconsciously has certain
concepts and rules leading his life, but the realization of common beliefs and code of
conduct by a group of people can be said as emergence of ideology, that is an years long
process. The factors that may provide the basis for ideology are always in play but some
factors get precedence over others for a specific group of people and become foundation
of an ideology for them. Resultantly, a nation evolves with a specific ideology (set of
specific principles and precepts) in a concerted move for the sake of their common
interests
.
 4. Ideology Shapes culture & civilization
Ideology is the lens through which a person views the world. Within the
field of sociology, ideology is broadly understood to refer to the sum total
of a person's values, beliefs, assumptions, and expectations. Ideology exists
within society, within groups, and between people. It shapes our thoughts,
actions, and interactions, along with what happens in society at large.
Ideology is a fundamental concept in sociology. Sociologists study it
because it plays such a powerful role in shaping how society is organized
and how it functions. Ideology is directly related to the social structure,
economic system of production, and political structure. It both emerges out
of these things and shapes them.

5. Meaning of culture
Word ‘culture’ comes from the Latin word ‘cultura’ which is related to cult or worship. In its
broadest sense, the term refers to the result of human interaction.
The culture of society comprises the shared values, understandings, assumptions, and goals that
are learned from earlier generations, imposed by present members of society, and passed on to
succeeding generations.

Culture has been defined in a number of ways, but most simply, as the learned and shared the
behavior of a community of interacting human beings.

According to British anthropologist Edward Taylor, “Culture is that complex whole which
includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom and any other capabilities and habits
acquired by man as. a member of society”.

According to Phatak, Bhagat, and Kashlak, “Culture is a concept that has been used in several
social science disciplines to explain variations in human thought processes in different parts of
the world.”         ‘

According to J.P. Lederach, “Culture is the shared knowledge and schemes created by a set of
people for perceiving, interpreting, expressing, and responding to the social realities around
them”.

According to R. Linton, “A culture is a configuration of learned behaviors and results of

behavior whose component elements are shared and transmitted by the members of a particular
society”.

According to G. Hofstede, “Culture is the collective programming of the mind which

distinguishes the members of one category of people from another.”
According to H.T. Mazumdar, “Culture is the sum total of human achievements, material as well
as non-material, capable of transmission, sociologically, i.e., by tradition and communication,
vertically as well as horizontally”.

Actually, culture is defined as the shared patterns of behaviors and interactions, cognitive
constructs, and effective understanding that are learned through a process of, socialization. These
shared patterns identify the members of a culture group while also distinguishing those of
another group.

6. Elements of culture‫کلچر کے اساسی عناصر‬

a. Symbols (Shiaar) religious or not
The first element that exists in every culture is a variety of symbols. A symbol is
anything that is used to stand for something else. People who share a culture
often attach a specific meaning to an object, gesture, sound, or image. For
example, a cross is a significant symbol to Christians. It is not simply two
pieces of wood attached to each other, nor is it just an old object of torture and
execution. To Christians, it represents the basis of their entire religion, and
they have great reverence for the symbol.
We can see more examples of symbols in American culture. Emoticons are
combinations of keyboard characters that many use to represent their feelings
online or through texting. The American flag represents our entire country. A
red light at a traffic intersection is used to relay the message that you need to
stop your vehicle.

b. Language
The second element present in every culture is a language. Language is a
system of words and symbols used to communicate with other people. This
includes full languages as we usually think of them, such as English, Spanish,
French, etc. But, it also includes body language, slang, and common phrases
that are unique to certain groups of people. For example, even though English
is spoken fluently in both America and Britain, we have slang and phrases that
mean different things. American French fries are British chips, American
cookies are British biscuits, and so on.
Another example of how cultural languages differ beyond vocabulary is the
fact that eye contact represents different meanings in different cultures. In
America, eye contact suggests that you are paying attention and are interested
in what a person has to say. In other cultures, eye contact may be considered
rude and to be a challenge of authority
c. Norms
Cultures differ widely in their norms, or standards and expectations for
behaving. Norms are often divided into two types, formal norms, and informal
norms.
 Formal norms, also called mores and laws, refer to the standards of behavior
considered the most important in any society.

Informal norms, also called folkways and customs, refer to standards of

behavior that are considered less important but still influence how we behave.

d. Values
Generally, value has been taken to mean moral ideas, general conceptions or
orientations towards the world or sometimes simply interests, attitudes,
preferences, needs, sentiments and dispositions.

But sociologists use this term in a more precise sense to mean “the
generalized end which has the connotations of rightness, goodness or inherent
desirability”.

It is important and lasting beliefs or ideals shared by the members of a culture

about what is good or bad and desirable or undesirable.

Functions of Culture
We will review the functions that culture performs and assess whether culture can be a liability
for an organization. Culture performs a number of functions within an organization.

▪ First, it has a boundary-defining role; that is, it creates distinctions between one organization and
another.

▪ Second, it conveys a sense of identity for organization members.

▪ Third, culture facilitates the generation of commitment to something larger than one’s individual
self-interest.

▪ Fourth, it enhances the stability of the social system. Culture is the social glue that helps hold the
organization together by providing appropriate standards for what employees should say and do.

▪ Finally, culture serves as a sense-making and control mechanism that guides and

shapes the attitudes and behavior of employees. It is this last function, that is of particular
interest to us.

The role of culture in influencing employee behavior appears to be increasingly important in

today’s workplace.
 As organizations have widened spans of control, flattened structures introduced, teams reduced
formalization and empowered employees. The shared meaning provided by a strong culture
ensures that everyone is pointed in the same direction.

Difference between culture and civilization

Culture is the set of values that shapes the behavior of the society at different levels
while civilization is apparent in the physical development in form of man-made
environment. Culture is the mind of society and civilization is the body.
making a distinction between culture and civilization, the following points may be noted:
1. Culture is an end (values and goals) in itself while civilization is a means (tools and
techniques) to an end. Cultural facts like belief, art and literature—prose, poetry or novel, etc.,
gives direct satisfaction to the reader while equipment’s of civilization such as cars, computers,
refrigerators, etc., do not give direct satisfaction, until and unless they do not satisfy our wants.
Thus, civilization is utilitarian. It just helps in achieving the end.

2. Culture has no value in itself but it is a measurement by which we can value other articles of
civilization. We cannot determine the value of culture, i.e., beliefs, norms, ideas, etc., but the
value of anything can be determined by its measurement standard. Culture is a measuring rod or
weighing balance.

3. Civilization is always advancing but not culture. Cultural facts like dramatic plays or poems
may not be necessarily better today than the plays or poems of Shakespeare?

4. Civilization is easily passed without much effort to the next generation but not culture.
Cultural facts, e.g., any art or a piece of literature, cannot be learned without some intelligence. It
requires a few pains to understand it. Contrary to it, the equipment’s of civilization (building,
TV, etc.) can easily be inherited without much or any use of energy and intelligence.

5. Civilization may be borrowed without making any change but not culture. Borrowing any
cultural fact like any political, economic or social belief requires some necessary alteration to
adjust in the new cultural environment while this is not necessary to make any material change in
the civilizational equipment’s such as TV, computer, etc.

6. Culture relates to the inner qualities of society like religion, customs, conventions, etc., while
civilization relates to the outer form of society such as TV, radio, fans, etc.

7. Culture is more stable than civilization—cultural change takes place in years or in centuries
but civilization changes very rapidly.

8. Variability of cultures may not be accompanied by variability of civilization at different

places. Civilization may be similar in variable cultural areas. For instance, there is a great
difference between American and Indian cultures but there are many similarities in their
civilizational equipment’s.
9. Culture is a social fact, i.e., creation of the whole society while civilization, i.e., the invention
of any equipment may be by a single individual. Any ordinary person can affect any change in
the civilizational equipment but for any modification or alteration in any cultural fact requires the
power and imagination of whole society.

There are scholars who have designated culture and civilization as the two sides of the same
coin. William F. Ogburn (1964), in his theory of social change, pointed out two aspects of
culture, viz., material and non-material. For him, material aspect represents civilization and the
non-material aspect is the culture proper. Gillin and Gillin (1948) designated the material or
tangible part of culture as civilization or culture equipment which man in his endeavor has
modified from environment.

Importance of culture for a society

Culture is so important to society because culture is constructed by society. A person can't
understand one without the other because one shapes the other, the way people interact with one
another and perceive their environment is all a part of culture. Culture reflects the inner
workings of an individual society
.
Islam & culture
Prophet struggles to make revolution in cultural elements of a society especially, in values,
symbols, norms and traditions of the ancestors. Quran says:
َ ‫َو َذا ِقي َل لَه ُْم تَ َعالَ ْوا ىَل َما َأ ْن َز َل اهَّلل ُ َو ىَل َّالر ُس ولِ قَالُوا َح ْس بُنَا مَا َوجَدْ اَن عَلَ ْي ِه آاَب َءاَن َأ َو ْلَو اَك َن آاَب ُؤمُه ْ اَل ي َ ْعلَ ُم‬
‫ون َش يْئًا َواَل‬
‫ ِإ‬۱۰۴ ‫ون۔ ِإاملائدہ‬ َ ُ‫هَي ْ َتد‬ ‫ِإ‬

In surah Luqman, Allah says :

َّ ‫َو َذا ِقي َل لَهُ ُم ات َّ ِب ُعوا َما َأ ْن َز َل اهَّلل ُ قَالُوا ب َ ْل نَت َّ ِب ُع َما َو َجدْ اَن عَلَ ْي ِه آاَب َءاَن َأ َولَ ْو اَك َن‬
َّ ‫الش ْي َط ُان يَدْ ُعومُه ْ ِإ ىَل عَ َذ ِاب‬
‫الس ِع ِري‬
‫ِإ‬
‫مغریب حمققنی اور مصنفنی مسلامنوں یک ثق افت اور اس المی ثق افت مںی ف رق نہںی ک رےت۔ اور اس المی ثق افت پ ر ابت‬
‫کرےت ہوئے معوما مسمل ثقافت پر ابت کرےت ہںی۔ اسالمی ثقافت اس ےس خمتلف ےہ۔ مسمل ثقافت مںی عالقایئ رس وم‬
‫و رواج یک ھجلک موجود ہویت ےہ۔ اسالمی ثقافت ےس مراد وہ خالص اسالمی ثقافیت اصول ہنی جو ق رآن و س نت‬
‫ےس ماخوذ ہںی اور اسالم ےک ماننے واےل اےنپ اےنپ معارشیت رسوم و رواج ےک مطابق اس کو ڈھال لےتی ہںی۔‬
Has Islam its own distinct culture?
Scholars are divided on whether there is a central cultural theme in Islam.
Some vehemently argue that there is such a central theme.
Others maintain that because of the universality of Islam it is wrong to insist upon a common
cultural theme.
‫‪This latter school of thought argue that culture is an historical heritage of a nation, people or‬‬
‫‪society in the fields of art, architecture, dress, cuisine, language, literature and other cultural‬‬
‫‪norms and pursuits. Islam, on the other hand, consists of beliefs, acts of worship, a code of‬‬
‫‪conduct and jurisprudence. So long as the culture of a society lies within the parameters of‬‬
‫‪Islamic beliefs, acts of worship, code of conduct and the shariah, that culture would be‬‬
‫‪acceptable in Islam. Many an artist, architect, poet, author and chef has, upon acceptance of‬‬
‫‪Islam, adjusted himself/herself so as conform to the Islamic requirements‬‬
‫اسالم اس کی وضاحت نہیں کرتا کہ عمارت محراب نما ہو یا سیدھی سادھی لیکن وہ یہ ضرور بتاتا‬
‫ہے کہ انسان جو کام بھی کرے وہ خوبصورت اور پختہ ہو‬
‫حدیث میں آتا ہے کہ ایک شخص وفات پا گیا رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کو اس کے جنازہ کے‬
‫لیے بالیا گیا آپ نے جنازے کے بعد جب اس کی تدفین کے لیے قبر پر آئے تو دیکھا وہ نا ہموار ہے‬
‫آپ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے فرمایا سوو الحد ہذا یعنی اس کی قبر کو ہموار کرو۔ صحابہ نے عرض‬
‫کی یہ تو فوت ہو چکا اس کو اس کا کیا فائدہ ؟ رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے فرمایا ہاں لیکن‬
‫اللہ پسند کرتا ہے کہ بندہ جب کوئی کام کرے تو خوبصورت اور پختہ کرے‬
‫ان ہللا حیب ان العامل اذا معل فاحسنہ و اتقنہ‬
‫لباس میں اس کی وضاحت تو نہیں کرتا کہ کوٹ پنٹ شرٹ یا شلوار قمیض پہنی جائے لیکن اسالم‬
‫لباس کے مقصد کو ضرور بتاتا ہے۔‬
‫اَي بَيِن آ َد َم قَدْ َأ ْن َزلْنَا عَلَ ْيمُك ْ ِل َب ًاسا يُ َو ِاري َس ْوآ ِتمُك ْ َو ِريشً ا‬
‫یعنی ساتر ہو اور خوبصورتی کا باعث ہو‬
‫رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے ایسا لباس پہننے سے منع فرمایا جس سے لوگوں کی عجیب‬
‫نگاہوں کا سامنا کرنا پڑے‬

‫قل‬ ‫زبان عربی ہو اردو ہو یا انگلش لیکن اس کا بھالئی اور اچھی بات کے لیے استعال کیا جائے‬

‫خریا او لیصمت‬
‫یہ وہ رہنما ثقافتی اصول ہیں جو اسالم کو آفاقیت عطا کرتے ہیں اور ہر جغرافیہ اور نسل کے لوگ بال‬
‫امتیاز اس کو اپنے عالقائی رسوم و رواج میں معمولی سی تبدیلی کے ساتھ اپنا سکتے ہیں‬

‫‪Ideology of Pakistan‬‬
‫‪Ideology of Pakistan basically means that Pakistan should be a state where the‬‬
‫‪Muslims should have an opportunity to live according to the faith and creed based‬‬
‫‪on the Islamic principles. They should have all the resources at the disposal to‬‬
‫‪enhance Islamic culture and civilization‬‬