University of Sharjah

Faculty of Shari’ah and Islamic Studies

Islamic Culture
Chapter One
The Concept of Islamic Culture and Its Characteristics

1- Definition of Culture and Islamic Culture:

The word Islamic Culture consists of two different words namely Islam and
culture. Both words have its own meaning, however when it is used as a word it has
its own technical meaning.

The word Islam is derived from the Arabic root "Sa la ma" which literally means
peace, purity, submission and obedience. In the technical sense, Islam means
submission to the will of Allah and obedience to His law. Everything and every
phenomenon in the world other than man is administered totally by Allah’s laws, i.e.
they are obedient to Allah and submissive to His laws. Man possesses the qualities
of intelligence and choice, thus he is invited to submit to the good will of Allah and
obey His law.

Linguistic Meaning of Culture

The word culture (thaqafah) is the equal and equivalent Arabic term to indicate
English expression of “culture”, and “ ‫ ثقافة‬thaqafah” as a term in Arabic has the
following meanings:

 Smartness, skillfulness and cleverness:

For example:
َ ُ ‫اف فَ َما أ‬
‫علَّ ُم‬ ٌ َ‫ َوثَق‬، ‫صانٌ فَ َما أ ُ َكلَّ ُم‬
َ ‫إِنِي لَ َح‬

Um Hakeem said in her response to Um Jamil “I am smart enough to be fooled or

tricked.”

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 Domination over something/someone and overtake:

For example

‫“إِن يَثْقَفُو ُك ْم يَكُونُوا لَ ُك ْم أ َ ْعدَاء‬

* “If they find you, they will be your enemies.”

* “If they have the upper hand of you, they would behave to you as enemies.”

‫فإما تثقفنهم في الحرب‬

* “Therefore if you overtake them in fighting”

* If you gain the mastery over them in war,

 To adjust, make straight

For example

"‫“ثقفت القناة‬

* “I have adjusted the stream”

The Oxford Advanced Dictionary of Current English defines culture as:

 Advanced development of the human powers.

 Evidence of intellectual development (of arts, science, etc) in human society.
 State of intellectual development among people; and particular form of
intellectual development, for example, we say: ‘We owe much to Greek
Culture’, or ‘He has studied Islamic Culture’.
 All the arts, beliefs, social institutions, etc characteristics of a
community, race, etc.
 Cultivating

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Technical Meaning of Culture

 Culture means the total body of tradition borne by a society and transmitted
from one generation to another. It is also the set of beliefs, values and
traditions that man learn and deduce from birth to death.

 According to Edward B. Taylor “ Culture is that complex whole which

includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, customs, and any other
capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society”. Based on
this definition, culture is learned through socialization process and can be
shared and transmitted.

The Concept of Islamic Culture

Islamic Culture is “A set of acquired theoretical and practical information

deduced from the Shari’ah founded by its belief system which are apparent in
the way of thinking and style of life of a wise person or a nation and translated
in their social life and dealings with others”.

The above definition of Islamic culture highlighted a few important points:

 Every culture grows out of some ideology. The ideology of Islamic culture
depend on the thoughts and ideas taken from Islamic teachings.
 It forms the right perception on the Creator, Man, Universe and life.
 The Islamic culture is translated in social life and the dealings with
others that indicate the comprehensiveness of this culture which
includes all aspects of human life. This includes their dealings with
other human beings and other creatures of Allah.

Distinction Between Culture, Civilization and Modernization

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The word culture is sometimes confused with other terms which have a similar
meaning. Among these terms are science (‘Ilm), and civilization (hadarah). The
connection and distinction between these terms can be summarized as follows:

Culture and Science

Connection

- both plays important roles in nations’ progress.

- both are mainly originated based on human intellect.
- Both are integral components of human history.

Distinction

- Culture is personal (special) while science is general

- Culture is behavior whereas science is realization and theory.

- Culture have restrictions whereas science has no restrictions

- Framework of culture is wider than range of science.

- Culture is social whereas science is conductive and practical.

Culture and Civilization

Connection

- Culture is related to the thinking and behavior rooted in people as a

result of their acquired knowledge
- Civilization is related to thinking and behavior and the achievement of
a nation or society throughout a specific period of history. This
achievement is rooted in the nation and developed as time passes by.
An example of civilization is the Islamic civilization, the Roman
civilization etc.

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Distinction
- The scope of civilization is wider and more comprehensive than the
scope of culture.
- Culture is restricted to mental and intellectual aspects while civilization
is confined to the material side represented by industries, inventions,
innovations and the like

Characteristics of Islamic Culture

Islamic Culture has its unique characteristics that are the special features of this
culture and that distinguish it from other cultures. Below are some of these important
characteristics.

1. It is of Divine Origin (Rabbaniyah): ‫ربانية‬

The main characteristic of Islamic Culture is that it is Divine. Islam is not a
man-made religion. Its principal sources (The Holy Qur’an and Prophet’s Sunnah)
are from Allah. The goal of Islamic culture is attaining the pleasure of the Creator.

)138 ‫ّللاِ ِص ْبغَة َو َنحْ نُ لَهُ عَا ِبدُون (البقرة‬

َّ َ‫سنُ ِمن‬ َّ ‫ِص ْبغَ َة‬
َ ْ‫ّللاِ َو َم ْن أَح‬
|Our( Sibghah) religion) is] the Sibghah(Religion) of Allâh (Islâm)
and which Sibghah(religion) can be better than Allâh's? And we are
His worshippers (Al-Baqarah: 138)

‫اْلي َمانُ َو َٰلَ ِك ْن َجعَ ْلنَاهُ نُورا‬ َٰ

ُ َ ‫َو َكذَ ِلكَ أ َ ْو َح ْينَا إِلَ ْيكَ ُروحا ِم ْن أ َ ْم ِرنَا ۚ َما ُك ْنتَ تَد ِْري َما ا ْل ِكت‬
ِ ْ ‫اب َو ََل‬
‫نَ ْهدِي ِب ِه َم ْن نَشَا ُء ِم ْن ِعبَا ِدنَا‬
“And thus We have sent to you (O Muhammad SAW) Ruh (a
Revelation,) of Our Command. You knew not what is the Book, nor

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what is Faith? But We have made it (this Qur'an) a light wherewith

We guide whosoever of Our slaves We will.” 42: 51.

Rabbaniyyah leads the individual to:

 Realize his aim in life, his directions, his motives and the nature of his
mission.
 Attain peace and tranquility of mind.
 Enjoy internal peace and guidance to the straight path.
 It directs the individual to his true nature ‘Fitrah’ which Allah created
in him.
2. Harmony with Human Nature “FITRAH”
Fitrah is an Arabic or Quranic term that denotes original status of human being.
It is the human natural innate or ability to realize morality out of immorality. It helps
to develop the conscience of humans and to help them conform what they ought to
do and what they ought to avoid. In other words, the natural disposition will help to
guide human beings to conform to the way of life in Islam. When humans violate
their natural innate and deviated from God’s path, God sent Messengers to put them
on the right path.

ِ َّ‫الدينُ ا ْلقَيِ ُم َولَ ِكنَّ أ َ ْكث َ َر الن‬

‫اس‬ ِ َ‫ّللاِ ذَ ِلك‬
َّ ‫ق‬ِ ‫علَ ْي َها ََل ت َ ْبدِي َل ِل َخ ْل‬ َ َّ‫ّللاِ الَّتِي فَ َط َر الن‬
َ ‫اس‬ ِ ‫فَأَقِ ْم َوجْ َهكَ ِللد‬
َّ َ‫ِين َحنِيفا فِ ْط َرة‬
)32 ‫ََل يَ ْعلَ ُمونَ (الروم‬

“So set you (O Muhammad SAW )your face towards the religion of pure Islâmic
Monotheism Hanifa( worship none but Allâh Alone) Allâh's Fitrah( i.e. Allâh's Islâmic
Monotheism), with which He has created mankind. No change let there be in Khalq
illâh( i.e. the Religion of Allâh Islâmic Monotheism), that is the straight religion, but
most of men know not.” (30:32)

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This means that everyone can accept the Islamic culture as it does not
contradict with the need of human beings.

3. Moderation and balance:‫الوسطية والتوازن‬

Islamic culture is well balanced in its constituent elements and balance in its
teachings. Islam is a religion that gives to each aspect of human life its due without
any imbalance or exaggeration. The material, social, spiritual, cultural, and
intellectual aspects of human life are treated in a balance manner. It teaches
moderation and rejects extremism.

Islam never asks people to focus only on the spiritual dimension or on the
material dimension of their life. But it puts each dimension in its right place and
legislates the necessary instruction to fulfill and meet the need of that particular
dimension of human life.

َ ‫”و َكذَ ِلكَ َجعَ ْلنَا ك ْم أ َمة َو‬

“‫سطا‬ َ

“Thus, have We made of you an Ummat justly balanced community,”

(2:143)

Islam is of a balanced view towards the world and the Hereafter,

َ َ‫ّللاُ ِإ َل ْيكَ َو ََل تَب ِْغ ا ْلف‬

‫سا َد ِفي‬ َ ْ‫نس نَ ِصي َبكَ ِمنَ ال ُّد ْن َيا َوأَحْ سِن َك َما أَح‬
َّ َ‫سن‬ َ َ ‫َّار ْاْل ِخ َرةَ َو ََل ت‬ َّ َ‫َوا ْبت َ ِغ فِي َما آت َاك‬
َ ‫ّللاُ الد‬
)77 ‫س ِدينَ (القصص‬ ِ ‫ب ا ْل ُم ْف‬ُّ ‫ّللاَ ََل يُ ِح‬
َّ َّ‫ض ِإن‬ ِ ‫ْاْل َ ْر‬

“But seek, with that (wealth) which Allâh has bestowed on you, the home of the
Hereafter, and forget not your portion of legal enjoyment in this world, and do good
as Allâh has been good to you, and seek not mischief in the land. Verily, Allâh likes
not the Mufsidûn (those who commit great crimes and sins, oppressors, tyrants,
mischief-makers, corrupts).” (28:77)

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It balances between the individual’s need and the needs of society.

‫ّللاِ صلى هللا عليه و سلم ع َْن النَّبِي ِ صلى هللا عليه و‬ َّ ‫سو ِل‬ َ ُ‫ع ْن أَبِي َح ْم َزةَ أَنَ ِس ب ِْن َمالِكٍ َر ِض َي هللا‬
ُ ‫ع ْنهُ َخاد ِِم َر‬
]45:‫س ِل ٌم [رقم‬
ْ ‫ َو ُم‬،]13:‫ي [رقم‬ُّ ‫" َر َواهُ ا ْلبُ َخ ِار‬. ‫ ََل يُ ْؤ ِمنُ أ َ َح ُد ُك ْم َحتَّى ي ُِحب ِِل َ ِخي ِه َما ي ُِحب ِلنَ ْف ِس ِه‬: "‫سلم قَا َل‬

On the authority of Abu Hamzah Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him)
— the servant of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)
— that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“None of you [truly] believes until he loves for his brother that which he loves
for himself”. It was related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.
Moderation is the centre point between two extremes

Anas (Allah be pleased with him) reported that some of the Companions of Allah's
Apostle (‫ )ﷺ‬asked his (the Prophet's) wives about the acts that he performed in
private. Someone among them (among his Companions) said:
I will not marry women; someone among them said: I will not eat meat; and someone
among them said: I will not lie down in bed. He (the Holy Prophet) praised Allah and
glorified Him, and said: “What has happened to these people that they say so and
so, whereas I observe prayer and sleep too; I observe fast and suspend observing
them; I marry women also? And he who turns away from my Sunnah, he has no
relation with Me.”

ّ ‫هلَكَ المتَن‬
)‫َطعُون (قالها ثالثًا‬
The Prophet (pbuh) said, "Ruined are those who insist on hardship in matters of
the Faith." He repeated this three times

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ُ ْ‫س ِط فَت َ ْقعُ َد َملُوما َمح‬

،‫سورا‬ ْ َ‫س ْط َها ُك َّل ا ْلب‬ ُ ‫َوَل تَجْ عَ ْل يَدَكَ َم ْغلُولَة إِلَى‬
ُ ‫عنُ ِقكَ َوَل ت َ ْب‬
"And do not make your hand [as] chained to your neck or extend it completely and
[thereby] become blamed and insolvent." (17:29)

Moderation Areas

Its basis in morals is Its basis in

Its basis in Muslim’s
the purity of legislation is
creed is monotheism
intention easiness

Its basis in economy Its basis in social

is the human’s affairs is the
interest. Money is a coherent society and
tool and not a goal family

Moderation shall cover all areas of life. It is not logical to limit yourself to the
spiritual aspects of life and neglect the physical ones, and vice versa. This led to
failure to attain peace and tranquility. Michael Hart, in The 100, A Ranking of the
Most Influential Persons In History' New York, 1978, said: “My choice of
Muhammad to lead the list of the world‟s most influential persons may surprise
some readers and may be questioned by others, but he was the only man in history
who was supremely successful on both the secular and religious level.”

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4. Positiveness: ‫اْليجابية‬
Another unique aspect of Islamic culture is its positiveness. Islamic Culture
requires from its followers to be positive member of society. It also highlights their
aims in life, and prepares them to play positive active roles.

ِ ‫س ِري ُع ا ْل ِعقَا‬
‫ب‬ َ َ‫ت ِليَ ْبلُ َو ُك ْم فِي َما آتَا ُك ْم إِنَّ َربَّك‬ ٍ ‫ض ُك ْم فَ ْوقَ بَ ْع‬
ٍ ‫ض د ََر َجا‬ ِ ‫ف اْل َ ْر‬
َ ‫ض َو َرفَ َع بَ ْع‬ َ ِ‫َو ُه َو الَّذِي َجعَلَ ُك ْم َخالَئ‬
)165 ‫ور َّر ِحي ٌم (اْلنعام‬ ٌ ُ‫َوإِنَّهُ لَغَف‬

“And it is He Who has made you generations coming after generations, replacing each
other on the earth. And He has raised you in ranks, some above others that He may try
you in that which He has bestowed on you. Surely your Lord is Swift in retribution,
and certainly He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful” (6:156)

Yet in another verse the Qur’an mentioned:

‫ست َ ْع َم َر ُك ْم فِي َها‬ ِ ‫شأَكُم ِمنَ اْل َ ْر‬
ْ ‫ض َوا‬ َ ‫غي ُْرهُ ُه َو أَن‬ َ ‫َو ِإلَى ث َ ُمو َد أ َ َخا ُه ْم‬
َ ‫صا ِلحا قَا َل يَا قَ ْو ِم ا ْعبُدُواْ ّللاَ َما لَكُم ِم ْن ِإلَ ٍه‬
)61 ‫يب (هود‬
ٌ ‫يب ُّم ِج‬ ْ ‫فَا‬
ٌ ‫ست َ ْغ ِف ُروهُ ث ُ َّم تُوبُواْ ِإلَ ْي ِه ِإنَّ َربِي قَ ِر‬

“And to Thamûd (people, We sent) their brother Sâlih (Saleh). He said: "O my people!
Worship Allâh, you have no other Ilâh( God) but Him. He brought you forth from the
earth and settled you therein, then ask forgiveness of Him and turn to Him in
repentance. Certainly, my Lord is near (to all by His Knowledge), Responsive.(11:61)

Islamic culture encourages its followers to achieve what is the best in all aspect of life,
spiritual and material. It is the very nature of the Islamic concept to encourage and
urge the human being to do something positive and productive, because according to
the Islamic concept man is an active agent and not a passive recipient on this earth.
Man is the deputy of Allah on earth, and he has been made the deputy in order to
actualize the way prescribed by Allah, which is to initiate, to build, to change, and to

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make developments in the land in reliance on the natural forces that Allah has created
to be of use to human beings in their work.

Messenger was asked what type of earning was best and replied, “A man’s work
with his hand and every business transaction which is approved.”
The Prophet (pbuh) said, "If the Final Hour comes while you have a shoot of a
plant in your hands and it is possible to plant it before the Hour comes, you
should plant it."

5. Rationality, Realism and simplicity ‫الواقعية والمثالية‬:

Islamic teachings are simple and clear, they are free from superstitions and
irrational beliefs. Pillars of beliefs and acts of worship are based on reason and sound
logic. Islam is a realistic religion because it does not impose requirements on an
individual unless it is logical that he will be able to perform it.

All the teachings of Islam flow from those basic beliefs and are simple and
straight forward. For example, if someone is unable to perform prayer standing, he
can do so sitting. If he is unable to perform pilgrimage due to financial inability, then
he is excused from this duty till he achieves financial ability. During the month of
Ramadan if someone is sick or travelling and cannot fast, he may make up for that
period later on. Similarly, in the case of someone who is in dire necessity, what was
forbidden in Islam is permitted for him for that period in as much as it needs to save
his life without excessiveness.

Islam is a religion of ease it does not accept extremism or rigidity. Allah intends
every facility for you; He does not want to put you in difficulty. Allah does not
impose upon any soul a duty but to the extent of its ability. Allah tasks not a soul
beyond its scope.

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‫يسروا وَل تعسروا‬

The Prophet (pbuh) said: “Simplify, and not do complicate (things).”

ْ ‫ّللاُ نَ ْفسا إِ ََّل ُو‬
‫سعَ َها‬ َّ ‫ف‬ُ ‫ََل يُ َك ِل‬
“Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity.” (2:286)

َ ‫ نَذَ َر أ َ ْن يَ ْمش‬:‫ قَالُوا‬،»‫ « َما بَا ُل َهذَا؟‬:َ‫ قَال‬،‫ش ْي ًخا يُ َهادَى بَيْنَ ا ْبنَ ْي ِه‬
‫ «إِن‬:َ‫ قَال‬،‫ِي‬ َ ‫سل َم َرأَى‬
َ ‫علَ ْي ِه َو‬ َ ‫أَن النبِي‬
َ ُ‫صلى هللا‬
َ ‫ َوأ َ َم َرهُ أ َ ْن يَ ْر َك‬،»‫سهُ لَغَنِي‬
.‫ب‬ َ ‫ب َهذَا نَ ْف‬
ِ ‫ع ْن ت َ ْعذِي‬َ َ‫َّللا‬

Prophet saw an old man being supported between his two sons. He (pbuh) said:
“What is the matter with him?” They said: He had taken the vow to walk (on foot
to the Ka'ba). Thereupon he (Allah's Messenger) said: “Allah is not in need of this
man torturing himself.” The Prophet commanded man to have a ride.”

6. Universality(Allamiya):‫عالمية‬
Islam is not meant only for a particular group of people or a particular period
of time, but it is addressed to all mankind, regardless of their social strata, races,
colors, languages, cultures, and civilizations. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is
the mercy for all mankind and the universe.

َ ‫َو َما أ َ ْر‬

) 107 ‫س ْل َناكَ ِإ ََّل َرحْ َمة ِل ْل َعالَ ِمينَ (اْلنبياء‬
“And We have sent you (O Muhammad SAW) not but as a mercy for
the' Alamîn (mankind, jinns and all that exists)” (21:107)

Prophet Muhammad’s Message is universal. He was sent for all humans, all times
and all places. Other Prophets and Messengers were only sent to their nations.

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ِ َّ‫اس بَشِيرا َونَذِيرا َولَ ِكنَّ أ َ ْكث َ َر الن‬

) 28 ‫اس ََل يَ ْعلَ ُمون (سبأ‬ َ ‫َو َما أ َ ْر‬
ِ َّ‫س ْلنَاكَ إِ ََّل كَافَّة ِللن‬
“And We have not sent you (O Muhammad Saw ) except as a giver of
glad tidings and a Warner to all mankind, but most of men know not.”
(34:28)

) 158 ‫سو ُل ّللاِ إِلَ ْي ُك ْم َج ِميعا (اْلعراف‬ ُ َّ‫قُ ْل يَا أَيُّ َها الن‬
ُ ‫اس إِنِي َر‬
Say (O Muhammad: “O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the
Messenger of Allâh.” (7:158)

Since Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was the last Prophet and messenger and the
Quran is the final Divine Book protected by Allah from any change; his message
will continue to benefit all future generations. Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) mission
encompassed not only spiritual and religious teachings, but also guidance for social
reforms, economics, material spiritual life, family life, legal and cultural, national
and international affairs. The universality of Islamic culture invites us for tolerance,
cultural dialogue, peaceful coexistence, and all values that unite humanity and bring
them in closeness.

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