The Importance of Environmental Awareness in Da’wah

As stated in the Quran, "He (Allah) sent among the unlettered people a messenger from among themselves." The phrase "minhum" (from among themselves) highlights the importance of the prophet being from the same community as those he was sent to guide.

This is relevant today, as it emphasizes the need for Muslims to integrate positively (not assimilating) into their communities. This integration does not mean losing one's identity or values but rather being an active and contributing member of society while maintaining one's faith and principles.

The relationship between religion and culture

Islam does not aim to change the cultural practices of a community as long as they do not contradict Islamic principles, values and universal human ethics. In fact, Islam respects all human cultural practices, as long as they align with Islamic principles.

However, it is essential to distinguish between religious practices and cultural traditions. In many Muslim communities, cultural practices are often mistaken for religious obligations and practices.

For example, in some communities, wearing a specific type of clothing, such as a jubah (Middle Eastern cloth) or shalwar kameez (South Asian cloth) is seen as a religious requirement. However, this is not the case. The Islamic requirement is to dress modestly and cover one's aurah (private parts).

A Simple yet True Story

In our community in New York, I recall a simple yet true story. One dawn (fajar) after a brief lecture following prayers, a congregant approached me, tearful. That particular fajar, I had discussed the latent dangers threatening the future of Muslims in America. I asked him what was wrong, and he replied, "My son. Please help me."

I inquired about his son, and he explained that his son no longer wanted to attend the mosque. This congregant was known for his piety, rarely missing fajar prayers at the mosque. With tears streaming down his face, he said, "He doesn't want to come to the mosque anymore."

I sought to understand why his son had lost interest in attending the mosque. However, the father himself admitted to being unsure. A few days later, I visited their home and invited the son to join me at a restaurant. Over tea, I asked him, "Why don't you want to come to the mosque anymore?"

He appeared calm, even chuckling slightly, and replied, "It's not that I don't want to go to the mosque. I enjoy attending prayers there. However, every time I go, my father always judges my clothing as un-Islamic."

I soon understood what was happening. The father, despite being deeply religious, struggled to distinguish between religious teachings and cultural practices. As a result, he inadvertently made his son feel unwelcome at the mosque, simply because of his attire.

This phenomenon is not unique to our community; it occurs throughout the Muslim world. I do not diminish the good intentions of those who wear traditional attire, such as jubah or shalwar kameez, as a means of following the Sunnah. However, measuring one's commitment to faith and the Sunnah based on clothing is misguided.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) wore a jubah, but so did Abu Lahab. How, then, can we determine whether wearing a jubah is truly following the Sunnah? The answer lies with Allah, who judges our intentions. While clothing that covers our aurah (private parts) is indeed in line with the Sunnah, other aspects of attire should be understood as part of human cultural practices.

_Director, Jamaica Muslim Center & President, Nusantara Foundation_