EDC 6050 Advanced Philosophical & Historical of Islamic Education

Ethnic Culture Versus Islam Definitions: Ethnic - relating to a sizable group of people sharing a common and distinctive racial, national, religious, linguistic, or cultural heritage. - relating to a people not Islam, Christian, Hindu (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/ethnic) Culture - Culture is the acquired knowledge people use to interpret experience and generate behavior. (Anthropologist: James Spradley) - Culture is formed up of the knowledge we acquire as we grow up in a certain social group. Our attitude, behavior, customs, philosoph , lifest le, ! tradition all make up our culture. "g# $hen we are born and raised in %ala sian, we are all the product of the %ala sia Culture. Islam - &eligion ' a s stem of faith(belief ! worship of a controlling power )Allah*.

EDC 6050 Advanced Philosophical & Historical of Islamic Education

Malay Culture versus Islam Introduction It is undeniable that both religion and culture affect each other with different degrees of influence. How much religion affects culture, or vice versa, is actuall down to the person concerned. It is sub+ective. ,orn %ala %uslim - practice handed down from their father, and father-s father before that ' one generation to the other. - practicing Islam is something that the do out of habit rather than education the have received. ,orn .gain %uslim / Converts - learn the religion from scratch and throw awa their old beliefs - re'learn the religion / able to differentiate between Islam and %ala Culture )adat* Culture & Malay Muslim Biar mati anak, angan mati adat! - mala proverb which means , culture is ver important that the would sacrifice their child as long as the culture is protected. - and not sacrifice for Islam. - often man %ala %uslim are confuse between religion and culture. - at man occasion, the practice religion as part of %ala culture. - sometimes culture over'rides religion

EDC 6050 Advanced Philosophical & Historical of Islamic Education

"g# - 0ecorating homes before "id(Hari &a a o house / cleaned and nicel set up in preparation for "id. o miss the last da of fasting or else there would be no energ left for the great task ahead. o Impressing the guest who would be visiting is more important than fasting. - &amadhan ,reaking 1ast 1east(,azaar o %ala %uslim will spend their evenings before breaking fast at 2&amadhan ,azzar- overspending on food items +ust to get on the 2band wagon- of the Culture / 2ever bod else is doing it and I will do it as well-. o Islam encourages moderation and forbids over expenditure. - 2Bomohs" or $itch 0octors o .ct of bida-ah or shirik o %ost %ala s believe in the power of 2bomohs- and seek assistance from them. o 3he swear b the power of the 2bomoh- rather that do their 2Ha+at- pra ers to get their wishes fulfilled. o Contrar to the principles of the Islamic faith / makes a moker of the One 4od / acknowledges the existence of other force equall powerful.

EDC 6050 Advanced Philosophical & Historical of Islamic Education

Influence of Hindu Culture in Malay Islamic Practices. - 3he earl %ala sian %ala originated from Indonesia / great influence of Hindu &eligion - %ala 5ultan of earl %elaka had 5anskrit names / Hindu influence. - ,ecame %uslims not through the influence of .rabs but through the influence of Indian merchants / came to %elaka for trade. - .t that time, nation owed lo alt to the 5ultans / when 5ultans converted to Islam' the whole nation followed without an question asked. - ,ecame %uslims due to the tradition of lo alt to 5ultans rather than because the were committed to the religion. - 3he brand of %ala Islam is similar to Indian as compared to the Islamic practices to that of the %iddle "astern %uslims. "g# - 6ighting of lanterns / last seven nights before the end of &amdhan. o %odelled after the Hindu religious celebration of 0eepavali )festi#al of lights* - $edding ceremon o $Bersanding" % similar to Hindu practice / bride and bridegroom sit on stage so everbod could see them and to receive the blessings of the crowd who sprinkle scented water and flowers on them.

EDC 6050 Advanced Philosophical & Historical of Islamic Education

Conclusion 7. Is culture a subset of religion or vice versa8 9. Is being a %ala means being a %uslim or vice versa8 - I believe ever effort must therefore be made to preserve the culture of the :ur-an and 5unnah as compared to the culture of the certain ethnic group. 3his requires adopting the compan of those who are sunnah conscious, learning about the various sunnats and making an effort to bring them alive in ones home, communit and the ;mmah at large. - 3he onl success for us in this world and the Hereafter is in upholding the wa of life or the culture of the :ur-an and 5unnah.