I’m very much against culture when it opposes religion because it promises failure, it’s proof in our cultures! Sorry to say, but most of our afghans in ‘kharij’ (western countries) have lost themselves.
Examples- drinking ‘moderately’ thinking it’s okay! Not praying because only dehati (a term used to describe the backward) ppl do that, or looking down at girls who wear hijab.
They also consider themselves raseeda (advanced) if they adapt to the western way of life and sense of dressing, but when they open their mouth… they talk like they haven’t completed 10th grade.
Culture is backward and pagan! Islam liberated nations from pagan rituals, culture literally imposes sanctions. For example; in Afg culture- when a girl gets married, she has to have a massive wedding because they have this theory that the more the groom spends, the more he’ll love her. Instead, what implications does this cause? Financial burden for the newly wed couple. Materialism!
Other examples:
Culture- boys do what they like- club, drink, pre marital sex.. it’s all okay! bacha ast. but for girls, they have to be home by 6pm… sexism, inequality!
Islam- demands equality.
Culture- arranged marriages, you have to marry who your parents chose.
Islam- the girl has the ultimate say and final decision.
Culture- divorce is completely WRONG (especially in Pashton culture). So you live the rest of your life abused by your husband
Islam- Use divorce BUT as your last resort!
Why do u think the world is the way it is? Because gov’ts have substituted religion with secular, man-made systems with so many flaws. Democracy exists in Islamic political/legal systems (and i’m not referring to the Islamic systems we have in the present day Muslim countries). Look at the teachings, not the people. The Ottoman Empire was a system of perfection.
Now for the practical side of things…
Picture this: Your family is a culture loving family and considers culture as ‘Islamic’. So you guys move to ‘Kharij’ a western country. You’re fed up with the cultural issues which don’t make sense, so you rebel, going against it. You replace your parent’s culture with your own culture, the kharijee way… the ‘wrong’ way. Your parents disapprove, and so does the community.
So, what happened to Islam in the picture?
It was never there, so you’ve lost urself. The only understanding of Islam you have is the Islam your parents fed you.
Culture can not be integrated into the western society because the values clash. Islam can be integrated quite simply. It’s a simple religion as God tells us in the Quran;-
‘This day have I perfected your religion for you,Completed my favor upon u, And have chosen for you Islam as your religion, (Al-Maida 5:3)
So, who are we to judge Islam as ‘backward’? And attempting to modify it!
I am all for Islam!
My advice to the youth of today: Learn Islam for yourself! Research. Analyse. Debate. Most importantly- QUESTION! Don’t expect your parents to hand over Islam to you on a plate, they’re only human and bound to make mistakes.
Don’t preach with your mouth, preach by your actions- PRACTISE!
Finally, don’t follow what ppl do or say, find out for yourself. The perfect being, Prophet Moh’d left us with two things- The Hadith (his examples) and Quran.
Most ppl think being ‘afghan’ is being ‘muslim’. this where the confusion lies!
Afghans think that culture = religion.
In actual fact;
afghan= culture
muslim= religion
I rest my case!
Everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion and this is mine.
Rejuvenation of an Afghan Soul 