BEWARE OF CULTURAL IMPERIALISM!!

Beware of Cultural Imperialism Arshad Gamiet One of the most pervasive forms of misguidance is our human tendency to assume that a dominant culture is somehow superior to all other cultures. Just because the Western nations have economic and military muscle, we should not assume that they are also superior, morally, ethically and spiritually. This is a serious mistake. Many influential people in Muslim countries think that they should aspire to the dominant culture, and accept all its terms of reference. They believe that to be ‘modern’ you have to turn your back on your own heritage, to reject or at least hide your own religion in the garden shed. This inferiority complex, they think, is a sign of ‘education’ and ‘progress.’ Part of this problem is that people wrongly confuse their own tribal and national culture with Islam. In reality, Islam and Culture, and I mean tribal, ethnic and national culture, are quite separate and distinct ideas. I covered this topic in my previous khutbah. Islam is a way of living, away of being, ordained by Allah. It is a set of universal principles. Islam never changes. Culture is what people accept as normal behaviour from time to time and place to place. It’s always susceptible to change, depending on widely accepted norms in society. Sometimes, culture can be destructive when it becomes a vehicle of oppression for other people. Oppression and enslavement take many forms. There is open political oppression, when governments restrict the human rights of citizens, free speech and free movement. Sometimes oppression can be economic, where the rich exploit the poor. Quite often oppressive governments use military force not to defend their country from enemies outside, but to defend their interests against their own people. These are obvious and open forms of oppression. But there are also hidden forms of oppression, more dangerous because we hardly notice them. Cultural imperialism is a good example. It is unintentional when people naively think their own culture is inferior, and they must copy the dominant culture. But it can also be deliberate, when it involves the psychological manipulation of people’s wants and desires, enslaving their hopes and ideals. Cultural imperialism undermines a people’s self-confidence and self-image. The subtle, insidious nature of cultural imperialism easily traps the unwary. Language is one of the powerful ways in which one culture can assert its dominance over others For example, in South Africa the Afrikaans dictionary used to tell us that a ‘gentleman’ in English is a ‘witman’ or ‘white man’ in Afrikaans, the language of Dutch settlers. The English/Afrikaans dictionaries also addressed other races in a demeaning manner that would not apply to white people. In this country we are referred to as ‘ethnic minorities’ but no-one talks of the ‘ethnic majority.’ I prefer to use neutral terms like ‘the Asian community, the host community, the Afro-Carribean community and so on. Similarly, I don’t even like the term, ‘non-Muslim.’ It has a negative connotation. I prefer to say, ‘our friends and neighbours in the wider society.’ It’s much more friendly and inclusive. Islam is friendly and inclusive. When we read the papers or watch the news, we should be aware of the use and misuse of language. Be critical. Separate hard facts from opinions. Carefully examine the hidden assumptions. Don’t just blindly accept someone else’s framework of debate. Question the terms of reference. Does it make sense? Is it fair and reasonable? If you feel even the slightest twinge of discomfort, you can be sure that something is amiss. Don’t ignore your instinct, your intuition. Don’t let someone make up your mind for you. Don’t let others set your emotional agenda. If you’re not careful, someone else will decide when you should laugh, when you should cry and become angry. Before you know it, you may stop thinking like a Muslim, and you’ll simply have become another little brown Englishman or Englishwoman. Deliberately or naively, cultural imperialism turns people from the colonies into mirror-images of their masters: They become little brown Englishmen, and little brown Europeans. They pose no threat to the status quo, in fact they help to keep things as they are. They reinforce the false notion of superiority of one human being over another, one cultural system over others. Sadly, many Muslim countries are politically independent but culturally enslaved. Their elites uncritically accept western norms of behaviour. They espouse western notions of “freedom,” “democracy,” ”progress” and being “civilized” without questioning the underlying assumptions these ideas are based on. Forty years ago in South Africa, Steve Biko started the Black Consciousness Movement in South Africa, His views overturned the white/non-white, positive/negative, normal/abnormal paradigm and mindset. Biko’s life and tragic death was eloquently told in Richard Attenborough’s film, Cry Freedom. “Black” he said, is a more positive description than “non-white.” Muslims need to understand these hidden cultural assumptions and we must interrogate their validity. Don’t let others frame the debate on their terms. We must re-examine these assumptions where they are based on false notions of superiority. We must re-define the norms, where they are misguided, unfair or unjust. For example, the hijab/headscarf is not a sign of domination or oppression of women. It’s simply a dress code. It promotes modesty. Women should not be seen as sexual objects. The headscarf confers dignity on our women. Some Muslim regimes enforce it, some want to ban it, but among Muslims in the west, it’s clearly a matter of personal choice. Many sisters will tell you that it helps them define who they are. We don’t have to apologise for it. It’s not a sign of backwardness or enslavement. The real backwardness is in the assumption that western culture is somehow superior. The economic, political and military power of the West has also brought a certain cultural arrogance. This arrogance presents a world viewed through distorted lenses. Empires and their cultures rise and fall, just as day alternates with night and the seasons follow each other in succession. This is Allah’s Decree. In His Noble Book, He reminds us: “Qulil-laah humma maalikal mulki tu’til mulka man-tashaa’u watanzi-ul mulka mim-man-tashaa’, Wa tu’izzu man-tashaa’ watuzillu man-tashaa’ Biyadikal khair. Innaka ‘alaa kulli shay-in qadeer! [Sura Al-‘Imraan 3:27] “Say: ‘O Allah, Sovereign of all dominion, You grant dominion to whom You will and take dominion away from whom You will. You exalt whom You will and abase whom You will. In Your hand is all that is good. You are able to do all things”. (Al-Imran, Verse 26)…” But to solve the real problem of cultural imperialism, and of Muslims’ misplaced inferiority complex, we have to turn again to the Holy Quran. Where else?! “O Mankind, I have created you from a single pair of a male and a female, then I made you into nations and tribes, so that you may know [and respect] one another, not that you should despise one another. Truly the best of you are those most inclined to good conduct, and Allah has full knowledge and is aware of all things.” [Sura Al-Hujuraa 49:13] We need to articulate the Islamic world view and celebrate the Islamic ethos. We have to reassure our neighbours in the wider community that they have nothing to fear from a resurgent Islamic awareness. This is a natural and healthy process, when people regain self-respect and self confidence. In modern street parlance, we should be saying, ‘Islam is cool, man! Islamophobia is so, yesterday! Come on, for once, just step outside yourself; step outside your Eurocentric mindset, for once, step outside your misplaced sense of cultural superiority. You have nothing to lose but your prejudices.’ Let’s change the wrong perceptions, the fear and hatred of Islam. Through our personal example, we must show our friends and neighbours in the wider community that living Islam is a mercy and a blessing to all. There’s nothing to be afraid of. Those who promote violent political agendas, both inside and outside our faith communities, are the dangerous ones. Militant jihadis and far-right white supremacists are desperate people, who misuse Islam to try to clothe their political ambitions with a measure of respectability. We Muslims who live in the ‘West’ have a huge responsibility to our neighbours in the wider society, to our children and to future generations. We must show by a clear, practical example, that Islam offers an alternative, sustainable way of living. We must try to be role models for others: We should educate ourselves with the essence of our faith, so that we can deal with the challenges of modern living, and be totally at peace spiritually, morally, and intellectually. We can reduce the impact of cultural imperialism by taking a few simple steps. Change the channel or better still, switch off the TV. Don’t constantly expose yourself or your children to programmes that condone immoral attitudes. In school, college or the work environment attitudes towards drugs, alcohol, male-female relationships and same-sex relationships are very different to ours. Smile, be courteous and say why we differ. Treat others with respect and they will respect you. Don’t be rude or confrontational. On the other hand, don’t court popularity or seek approval for yourself by adopting values that will displease Allah. Islam shows us where to draw a line in the sand, but always with dignity and grace. Explain that Islamic values protect society as a whole, and some aspects of western culture lead to abuses of all kinds, from drugs and alcohol to the innocence of children and dignity of womanhood. Western liberties and excess has left a trail of broken families and a crumbling society. Islam offers a healthier alternative, placing the society’s wellbeing above the whims and caprices of individuals. Say this in a courteous and pleasant manner. The way to resist the domination of one culture over another is to return to the true Islamic idea of unity in diversity. Human beings are one species, a unity, within the diversity of many cultures, languages and ethnicities. Allah’s divine Unity [Tawheed] is the unifying principle that connects all the diversity of His creation. We were created from the union of Adam and Eve, then multiplied through countless tribes and nations, diverse, colourful, yet equal in our status as human beings, custodians and trustees of Allah’s creation. This is an awesome responsibility. We Muslims are people of the middle way, the Ummatan wasatan. We ought to shun all kinds of extremes. We can be British, Pakistani, white, black, Asian, but essentially we are all equal human beings. We must never become obsessive with national or cultural pride. That’s losing the plot. Islam is not exclusive. It’s inclusive. We must be warm, welcoming and we must enable others to feel comfortable and secure in our presence. Prophet Muhammad said in a well known hadith, “A Muslim is one from whose hands and tongue other Muslims are safe. A Mu’min [true Believer] is one in whom all humanity will find safety of their lives and property.” When we consider the rising levels of fear, suspicion and Islamophobia today, we have to ask, how much are we ourselves a part of the problem? How far have we fallen short of our noble Prophet’s standards? Some of us still judge one another by wealth, by nationality, by race and social status. This is pre-Islamic behaviour, Jahiliyyah. Yet Allah and His Prophet constantly remind us that our only acceptable ranking is in our piety, in our loving awareness of Allah, expressed through our thoughts, words and actions. This is the only way we can measure superiority or inferiority among people: good actions driven by gratitude and love for Allah. We have to live in a constant state of love, fear and hope, loving Allah because He clearly loves us, fearing His displeasure and being ever hopeful of His Mercy. This is the real meaning of taqwa. I sincerely pray that Allah will help you and me, and all our loved ones, to become real people of taqwa, al-muttaqeen. Ameen. Then and only then, can we begin to free ourselves from psychological domination and cultural imperialism.