Being a Muslim is becoming an increasingly complex faith-based identity, that is greatly impacted by cultural, social, historical, and political dynamics in today’s world. People have started using hyphenated identities such as liberal-, conservative-, secular-, or progressive-Muslim to define themselves. Some argue that using such terminology makes the Muslim identity about the politics of liberalism, conservatism, or progressivism, and less about religion. Others may argue that this is an attempt to distinguish oneself from concepts of fundamentalism or Westernism, while still maintaining a cultural identity shaped by Islam.
Regardless of the reasoning behind why people may choose to self-define themselves with hyphenated identities, it is important to recognize that these are an outcome of people’s unique experiences in life. Cultural practices, family, educational background, travels, comfort level, and many other factors come together and shape one’s identity of faith (practicing or not) in various ways. That is why in Islamic Sufism, each human being is referred to be a universe of their own. For example, Ms. Hale, a university instructor in Turkiye, talks about her family upbringing, and how she practices some of the obligations that strengthen her faith identity. She also emphasizes the universality of Islam. According to her, ethnicity or nationality are not the defining factors for someone’s self-identification with Islam:
“I grew up in a conservative and religious family. I don’t only believe but I also practice the daily prayers or I fast in Ramadan as I have been fasting since I was five and I have been praying daily since I was 15. And this is why I identify myself as a Muslim. It’s not very easy for me to sub-categorize myself as a Muslim […] like Turkish Muslim or Kurdish Muslim, because Islam is universal and it is over ethnicity, over nationality, it’s an umbrella identity for most of us.”
Ms. Hajra, a university instructor in Paksitan, also argues that being a Muslim is a combination of family and societal influences that shape one’s values:
“I would like to call myself as being liberal Muslim or let’s say progressive. But u-uhm, it’s not really black and white in the society there are varied values, so I think that in being Muslim, being in a group or being in a specific category is not important when it comes to professing your belief. So, I would agree that sometimes those rules and different thoughts are put on you by the society and the family that you live in. And you have to struggle for what you believe is right and what you probably wanted to choose as an individual.”
Hajra’s comments stress the way that social influences can change from one space to the other, or from one period to another. Through this, she criticizes why religious identities are impacted by those elements while highlighting the impact of the dynamics between religion, society, and family values.
Ms. Nazli, another university instructor in Turkiye, also mentioned that family and society have been the most influential culture surrounding her Muslim identity. She practices Alawite-Islam, so making that distinction of sect in her identity matters. Being able to embrace one’s ancestry while acknowledging others’ feelings is important to her:
“Well, I’m, my family, my big family, my best friend, the school I went to, they are all in this culture. It’s very difficult to isolate myself and go to another country and leave my own life and my own belief in what I feel. It’s not all about me, it’s also about what my neighbor feels, also about what my ancestor lived like.”
Exactly! Being Muslim (and most likely in several other faith identities) means the protection of one’s heritage, all while maintaining invisible ties with their families, friends, communities. This also applies to people who convert/revert because in this faith, regardless of the religious affiliation one’s parents and/or family may have, they are still expected to keep ties with them and honor their heritage without deviating from their new Islamic way of living.
Each individual has a unique journey in life, one that both impacts, and is impacted by their faith. Hajra interpreted this as a form of “self-discovery.” For Hale, this is what holistically forms her life in a perfect way through worship and family. These conversations with friends who have various backgrounds from different parts of the world serve as a reminder that one’s faith is a personal experience, as well as a personal matter.
NOTES:
- Interviews reported in this blog were conducted in the summer of 2019.
- Quotes have been edited for purposes of clarity, readability, and flow by remaining loyal to the original meaning.
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Derya Doğan is a double-major PhD candidate in Education Policy Studies and Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures. She explores citizenship education and contemporary Islamic schooling practices in secularized contexts across the world in her research.
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Disclaimer: Any views and/or opinions represented in this blog solely belong to the author. Muslim Voices Public Scholarship Project is not liable for the opinions presented.
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