ISLAM, CULTURE AND MODERNIZATION

IN THE NAME OF ALLAAH, THE MOST BENEFICENT THE MERCIFUL
All praise is for Allaah. We praise him, we seek His aid and we ask for His forgiveness. We
seek Allaah’s refuge from the evils of ourselves and from the evils of our evil actions.
Whosoever Allaah guides there is no one who can misguide him; and whosoever Allaah
guides him, there is no one who can misguide. I testify that, none has the right to be
worshipped except Allaah alone who has no partner; and I testify that Mohammad (S. A.W )
is His Slave and Messenger.
Assalaamu A’llaikum Warahamatullaahi Wabarakeekuh (May the Blessings and Peace of
Allaah be upon You )
The topic of the day is Islam, Culture and Modernization. The topic seems to be very long
and packed. But as students of students, we could not do much but just to discuss briefly
what Allaaah has blessed us with. May Allaah make it easy for us. Aaamiin!
If I sit back and analyse what the Qur’an and the Sunnah reported on what happened at the
time of ‘’jaahiliyya’’ (ignorance), what they said, did and procailaimed and compare to this
our times of ‘’Civililization’’, I become very said and afraid. It’s like we are almost repeating
some of their actions. We seem to mix the three elements of discussion today Isam, Culture
and Modernization anyhow and claim that, it's Islam. Other times, we say that is what was
been done, other times, we say its nothing or normal, other times, ‘’that is the current trend’’.
Sometimes too, out of arrougance and pride, we just deny the truth without any reason.
ALLAAHU AKBAR. May Allaah guide us!
My brother, my sister, compare these our sayings to those we referred to as the "ignorant
people" said and analyse for yourself! It’s very sad and serious. These are some of the things
that sent most people to HELL when the Messengers were calling them to the truth. Are we
not repeating that same act? ALLAAHU AKBR! May Allaah guide us. Mostly when these
people were called to the way of Allaah, they said what the Qur’an reported in Surah Al-
Baqara, 170 ‘’ and when it is said to them follow what Allaah and the Messenger has
revealed, they said; we follow that wherein we found our fathers. what! Even though their
fathers did not understand anything and had no guidance?’’
And in Surah Al- Maaida, 104. ‘’ and when it was said to them; come to that which Allaah
and his Messenger has revealed, they said, enough for us in that wherein we found our
fathers. what! Even though their fathers had no knowledge or guidance?
May Allaah guide us! My brethren in Eemaan! What I want us to ponder much about here is
the statement, ‘’ I’m following the way of my fathers’’. When even thogh Allaah caustioned
us to refer to Him and the Messenge (S.A.W) when anything is not clear for us. That's
through the Qur'an and the authentic Sunnah of our beloved Prophet (S.A.W)

Note: the pagangs of Makka claimed to be following the way of their father Ibraheem (A. S)
even though they were doing what was not right. ( that's worshipping of Idols).
My brothers and sisters, what did the beloved uncle of the Messenger (S.A.W) said before he
passed on when even though the Messenger (S.A.W) wanted him to proclaim the Kelima
based on which he would intercede for him ?
What happened to the Father of our father Ibraheem (A.S)? lets ponder over what happend
and do some comparisons with our attitudes towards guidance now. ALLAAHU AKBAR
Now lets briefly digest what Islam, Culture and modernization are and how to cope with each
May Allaah help us.
ISLAM- we could simply define Islam as the total submission to the will of Allaah and
obedience without any coercion. Islam in itself is a complete code of life of which Allaah
wants every human to adopt. And Allaaah accepts nothing but Islam as He said in Surah Al
imraan , 19 ‘’ indeed, the religion in the sight of Allaah is Islaam....’’ may Allaah guide us.
CULTURE- we could say culture is a the way of life of a group of people. Meaning culture is
what human has institutionalised for himself as a way of life. This is influenced by soo many
factors such as the environment and this is the reason why our culture differ from each other.
Certain foods produce might be seen as food per our environment but something else
somewhere. Certain animals are seen as very sacred for some people and are therefore
worshipped but these same animals are seen as food elsewhere example, cattle. Some days
are very sacred for some people in some communities but not for others and so on and so
forth. Simply put, culture is the practices, believes, and other ways of life for a group of
people which could either be from good or bad source. Therefore culture could be accepted
or rejected on the bases of obedience to the Creator not His creation.
My dear brothers and sisters the Creator created us purposely for his worship as He stated in
Surah Adha- Dhariyaat, 56 ‘’ and I (Allaah) created not the jinns nor the humans except
they should worship me (Allaah)’’
I always argue that, Deen did not come to meet our culture, it’s rather our culture that met the
Deen. Reason been that, if Aadam(A.S) was a our father and a Muslim who was guided by
Allaah how to live on earth, meaning the Deen of Allaah was the first to come. It was out of
space between the prophets and messengers, the time that the guidance of Allaah got to us,
disobedience and ignorance that made us picked certain behaviours and practices termed
CULTURE!
Allaaah in His infinite wisdom understand the nature of human and He sent the last Prophet
and Messenger,MUHAMMAD (S.A.W) to the whole of humanity and even the jinns to
clarify everything for us; from Knowledge of Allaaah and His Worship ,food, clothing ,
speech and everything to Death , Resurrection and Judgement. ALLAAHU AKBAR! May
Allaah guide us! Allaaah said in Surah Al; Anbiya’ ,107 ‘’ and We have not sent you, (oh
Muhammad), except as mercy to the worlds.

Now this is what your creator is saying so if your culture too says something else, what do
you then follow? May Allaah guide us! If you believe that Allaah created you and and you
further believe in the purpose of creation, then you have to follow our CREATOR
(ALLAAAH).
My bretheren in Islaam, lets use Islam to Strain everything. Filter what you call your culture,
analyse it and see, If Allaah has no problem with it, Alhamdulillaah, if He has, We throw it
away to satisfy our creator.
May Allaaah make it easy for us All.
Briefly on Modernization. Please Islaam is in itself current. It fits every situation and era.
You can’t modernise it. Now practices like Hijaabs have been modernized! You will find a
sister in a mini skirt and scarf, leggings with some funny top with scarf on the head, if you
ask sister what this, she would say, it's hijaab. What caused this! modernization
Is this the understanding of the companions on hijaab? Are we following Allaah and the
Messenger (S.A.W) or what the world (society ) says?
Again , wedding cards and pre-wedding pictures. You would find a lot of funny and
UnIsamic acts going on. If you talk, they say that’s what is trending now. Please let’s not
follow the ‘’Kuffaar ‘’the disbelievers and go against the sunnah all in the name of
modernization. Allaah warned us severally in the Qur’an on following them.
My brothers and sisters Allaah Said in Surah Al- faatir ,43 ‘’due to arrogance in the land
and plotting of evil, but the evil plot does not encompass except its own people. Then do they
await except the way of the former people. But you will never find in the way of Alllaah
any change , and you will never find in the way of Allaah, Alteration.’’
The Messenger (S.A.W) said, ‘’ He who innovates something in this matter of ours
(ISLAAM) that is not of it, will have it rejected (by Allaah)" ( 40 Hadith, Imam Anawawi,
hadith 5 . Albuhaari, 2697)
My bothers and sisters in Islaam, I entreat myself and you to learn more about Isaam so that
we can do the ‘’STRAINING’’ properly in order not to regrette on the day of Accountability.
May Allaah grant you the reward of reading and learning and grant me the reward of passing
on the knowledge. May Allaah accept it from us and guard us from ‘’shaithaan ! aamiin! May
He grant the innovators and or the moderators reward and accept it from them and us all as an
act of worship! Aamiin!
Whatever good we said is from Allaah and the mistakes are from ‘’Shaithaan’’ and then our
mistakes. May Allaah Pardon us and guard us against the tricks of ‘’shaithaan’’!aamiin!
Blessings and Salutations unto Mohammad (S.A.W), His Household, His Companions and
All those who would Follow the guidance till the day of Judgement. Aamiin!
Assalaamu A’llaikum Warahamatullaahi Wabarakeekuh (May the Blessings and Peace
of Allaah be upon You )