Isolation, Assimilation or Positive Integration The Dilemma of Muslim Minorities

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Isolation, Assimilation or Positive
IntegrationThe Dilemma of Muslim Minorities

• Jamal A. Badawi, Professor Emeritus
• St. Marys University, Halifax, NS, Canada

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Outline

• Is civic responsibility a religious
• obligation on Muslims?
• Does that apply to Muslim minorities living in
  Non-Islamic societies?
• How to relate to the larger society without loss
  of ones identity?

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Is Civic Responsibility CR A Religious
Obligation?

• 1. Faith includes CR
• Islam Complete way of living
• Political Islam a confused expression
• 2. CR is a manifestation of faith
• Faith and action are inter-twined
• 3. CR re-enforces faith
• Sense of contribution to social wellbeing

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Does This Applies To Living In Non-Islamic
Societies?

• Yes. Islam guides actions everywhere
• Non-Islamic and Un-Islamic societies
• Not all values and practices of non-Muslim
  societies are inherently un-Islamic
• Are there non-Islamic Muslim societies?
• Many cultural norms and practices of Muslims are
  non-Islamic or even un-Islamic

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Relating to the Larger SocietyA. Isolation
Arguments for

• Only way to maintain our Islamic identity in a
  different majority society
• Some ethical, social and cultural values in the
  West are incompatible with Islam
• Without the shield of isolation, future
  generations will fully assimilate and lose their
  Islamic identity
• Assimilation has been occurring already

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Relating to the Larger SocietyA. Isolation
Arguments Against

• Isolation is un-Islamic as a norm
• Prophets P did not isolate themselves from
  their wrong-doing societies
• Prophet Muhammad P continued to reach out to
  those who rejected truth
• Pioneers who spread Islam became full positive
  partners in their new societies
• Isolation enhances suspicion and fear

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Relating to the Larger SocietyB. Assimilation
Arguments For

• We are mostly citizens and lawful residents, not
  guests or visitors
• More and more are born here, are here to stay and
  have greater social connections
• Our acceptance by others requires that we accept
  all social cultural norms
• Our children suffer rejection if they look or act
  differently from others

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Relating to the Larger SocietyB. Assimilation -
Arguments Against

• Losing or compromising Islamic identity leads to
  anxiety and lack of inner peace
• Deeper Identity crisis when core values are
  compromised
• Is displeasing Allah to gain other peoples
  acceptance a fair price?

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Relating to the Larger SocietyC. Positive
Integration The Way

• Term is used sometimes to refer to assimilation.
  Reverse is true too
• Challenge of integration without isolation or
  assimilation?
• Citizenship in Western democracies does not
  require anyone to compromise his/her core
  religious identity
• Main objectives of secular laws are compatible
  with the Maqasid of Shariah

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Relating to the Larger SocietyC. Positive
Integration The Way cont.

• The Quran invites all to co-operate with one
  another in righteous endeavors.
• Prophet P praised Hilf al-Fudhool Pact of
  Chivalry even after Islam
• Helping humanity is serving and pleasing Allah
• Mercy to all Core of Prophets mission 21107
• People are the dependents of Allah and the most
  beloved by Allah is one who is most beneficent to
  Allahs dependents

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For Some Further material

• Email jamalbadawi_at_hotmail.com
• Site IslamOnline.net click on Reading Islam
  the click on Islam in 176 hours audio
• also type name and enter Muslim and non-Muslim
  Relations
• Also Jannah.org type Gender Equity in Islam
• Youtube Type name

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Faith and Civic Responsibility

• Jamal A. Badawi, Professor Emeritus
• St. Marys University, Halifax, NS, Canada
• Email jamalbadawi_at_hotmail.com
• IslamOnLine.net/Reading Islam/Islam in 176 hours