White Muslim Converts acting like Arabs Options

[Jon]

I find that a lot of White American Converts try to emulate the Arab culture. They change their names, wear the garb, and want to live in an Arabic country. If I was an Arab I would be insulted. I think it makes a mockery out of Arab Culture. Mostly I see this with High School kids who are "rebelling" against their parents or college students who want to be "different". I mean I couldn't just wake up one day and pretend I am Chinese. Has anyone else noticed this?

[MuhamedAbdullah]

I find that a lot of White American Converts try to emulate the Arab culture. They change their names, wear the garb, and want to live in an Arabic country. If I was an Arab I would be insulted. I think it makes a mockery out of Arab Culture. Mostly I see this with High School kids who are "rebelling" against their parents or college students who want to be "different". I mean I couldn't just wake up one day and pretend I am Chinese. Has anyone else noticed this?

They are not emulating Arabs but rather the Prophet, Sallalahu Alayhi Wa Salam.

[Jim]

They are not emulating Arabs but rather the Prophet, Sallalahu Alayhi Wa Salam.

Some of it is emulating the Prophet (pbuh).

I think Jon is on to something though. Many of us reverts tend to immerse ourselves in Arabic culture to an extreme extent.

I had a close friend once who did this. He was white American. He went to such an extent that even the Arabs told him to tone it down because he wasnt Arab, it wasn't his culture.

We can emulate the Prophet (pbuh) without assimilating out of our culture and assimilating into another culture.

It is not required that we change our names (unless our name is a bad, vulgar or false god's name). We are not required to wear Arabic clothing, eat Arabic food, or speak and think like Arabs.

We can be American and a Muslim or Irish and a Muslim, etc., without leaving our birth culture.

[Jon]

Exactly Jim. This is my point. I think some folks convert to a culture rather than a religion to avoid what is really bothering them. Another by product of retaining your own culture could start defining what is Islamic and what is Culture. We know this debate has gone on for ages. Ahem, Magna and Rachel.

[Kayak]

I find that a lot of White American Converts try to emulate the Arab culture. They change their names, wear the garb, and want to live in an Arabic country. If I was an Arab I would be insulted. I think it makes a mockery out of Arab Culture. Mostly I see this with High School kids who are "rebelling" against their parents or college students who want to be "different". I mean I couldn't just wake up one day and pretend I am Chinese. Has anyone else noticed this?

I know what you mean Jon. I'm not a revert so, I can't say anything else other than 'I've noticed it too'.

[watashi]

Jon,

that irritates me too. I am not an arab, and I don't see why I should wear an abaya when there are western clothes that completely fulfill the modesty requirements for women. I personally think that shalwar kameez are much prettier then abayas anyways, so if I was going to wear "foreign" clothes, it would be those. Or why do I have to break my fast with dates when I don't even really like dates and there are other foods that are just as nutritious as dates.

[Kayak]

Breaking fast with dates is a sunnah, not arab culture. It has nutritional value too, providing you with a source of glucose right after a long day of fasting. But it doesn't really matter at all as long as you break your fast. Most of the time, I eat fruit or something if I don't have dates, or just don't feel like eating it. Its not a sin if you don't eat it.

This post has been edited by Kayak: Aug 18 2008, 12:36 PM

[watashi]

Your right, K.
I just had to mention that because I don't like dates. I'd much rather eat a banana or some other fruit.

[Misbah (The One)]

Hi Jon

Gosh, ive had this debate so many times on Why Islam, you know yes of course some want to be as close or practice everything as close to the Prophet (pbuh) as possible, but i tell you most don't.

I actually really and i mean REALLY hate it, you dot on a Kufi wear the niqqab and wear the robes and have prayer beads in hand and every time a Muslim looking person passes you, you start to recite a surah!

It does my head in. and shall i tell you why they do it? i think as im very good at these things is that, they really and i mean REALLY want to be accepted as Muslim, they feel isolated when they walk into a Masjid (Mosque) they don't feel like they belong anywhere and its a shame as, Islam accepts everyone.

But it isn't their faults its these bigoted Muslim who like to stick to their own kind, Arab, Somalians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshi... hey you know how many of these groups look down at each other and think they are better than the other.

But i think most of all these converts do it because they have been or still are being shunned by their parents and relatives and get the whole 'Yeah, yeah course your a Muslim'

I know this from experience and sadly doing all this doesn't last on many occasions.

[Misbah (The One)]

I mean I couldn't just wake up one day and pretend I am Chinese. Has anyone else noticed this?

Ce Suo Zai Nar?

That is where is the toilet?..lol

[Billy]

Is it cheaper to road tax a camel?

[yishmael]

I find that a lot of White American Converts try to emulate the Arab culture. They change their names, wear the garb, and want to live in an Arabic country. If I was an Arab I would be insulted. I think it makes a mockery out of Arab Culture. Mostly I see this with High School kids who are "rebelling" against their parents or college students who want to be "different". I mean I couldn't just wake up one day and pretend I am Chinese. Has anyone else noticed this?

You're exactly right. These people reduce Arab culture to a caricature of itself.

There's a social element to Islam, dictated by its perception in popular culture, which means that the rootless, groundless people who want to rebel or have psychological issues gravitate to Islam because people think it's frightening or violent, and the people who embrace it do so for those traits. I've seen kids with Usama t-shirts and things like this. In essence, they're adding substance to the stereotype, painting Islam as a violent, uncivilized way of life. They're doing the tradition a great disservice.

[yishmael]

They are not emulating Arabs but rather the Prophet, Sallalahu Alayhi Wa Salam.

If you want to emulate Prophet Muhammad (saw) you should embark upon a path of charity, self-discipline and good works to others. Dressing like a 7th century Arab is not required.

[Murteza]

^ditto

there many essence in islam such as give the poors, stood againts oppressor that more emulate our teaching rather than dressing like arabs

though not all arabs culture are irrelevant but sometimes this trend comes from the revert itself, so let them go

[Misbah (The One)]

psychological issues gravitate to Islam because people think it's frightening or violent, and the people who embrace it do so for those traits. I've seen kids with Usama t-shirts and things like this. In essence,

Hmmmm I don't think so, i mean about the 'Violent' bit.. so those who revert are all a bunch of nutters with psychological issues?



No, i didn't think so, so anyone who's slightly insane converts to Islam because its violent, Jim you hearing that? Rach? you too....




My 16 year old wear a Osama Bin Laddy T-Shirt, with 'Most Wanted' on it, and he gets a kick up his *** for wearing it by his mum and dad, and is ONLY and i repeat ONLY allowed to wear it in doors.. or else he gets battered!

[yishmael]

Hmmmm I don't think so, i mean about the 'Violent' bit.. so those who revert are all a bunch of nutters with psychological issues?

I never made a blanket statement, and you weren't able to suggest as much without a bit of selective quoting. I was speaking specifically about the same groups that the OP depicted: those who gravitate to Islam out of a desire to rebel or seek attention.

This is a minority but it's significant. Again: they do more damage to Islam in the popular consciousness than they add to it.

[jazain]

you have to be careful because there is a very fine line, we have discussed this topic in the revert section i believe. some people confuse wearing islamic clothing, changing their name to an islamic name and wanting to move to a muslim country as a person wanting to be an arab. yes there are alot of ppl who DO want to be arab and get things mixed up...become muslim et al. but those things mentioned are actually islamic things.

[Jim]

If you want to emulate Prophet Muhammad (saw) you should embark upon a path of charity, self-discipline and good works to others. Dressing like a 7th century Arab is not required.

Amazingly profound yet simple post Yish

[yishmael]

you have to be careful because there is a very fine line, we have discussed this topic in the revert section i believe. some people confuse wearing islamic clothing, changing their name to an islamic name and wanting to move to a muslim country as a person wanting to be an arab. yes there are alot of ppl who DO want to be arab and get things mixed up...become muslim et al. but those things mentioned are actually islamic things.

I've gotta argue with you about this.

What is an "Islamic thing" about the way a person dresses?

There's no evidence Prophet Muhammad (saw) dressed any differently than the lowest and scroungiest street criminals of 7th century Arabia, or than the highway robbers of his time, or than the man who owned the brothel in the neighboring town, or the fellow who made his living loaning money at incredible interest rates to poor people, etc..

Prophet Muhammad (saw) was worth studying and holding up as an ideal not because he dressed in the way that he did, but because of the way he lived his life in the real world. Even people who don't believe in his concept of God (like me) can learn things from the man and can admire him. How he dressed or the language he spoke has absolutely nothing to do with his superior qualities as a human being.

I admire Socrates and Shakespeare too. I don't have any desire to dress as they did.

[Jim]

The Prophet (pbuh) wore clothes of the Romans, Persia and Arabs. So, Islamic dress is not Arab only. It is multicultural.

More info in addition..

http://www.islamonline.net/English/In_Dept...article07.shtml