to be proud of being a white english muslim?

[MoveBiatchGetOutTheWay]

Yes it sounds weird. Point is, some people (muslim and non muslim) are of the opinion you cannot possibly identify as this, but I love our culture and Im enjoying passing it down to my ds (in the form of afternoon tea and gentlemanly manners ;) )

I love my religion, and boy do I love my culture :)

Are you saying there are elements in the surrounding community that are actively opposed to integration and think the religion can only live in a 'culturally whole' environment? (Linked to Jinsei's comment 'If a truth is universal, it should transcend such artificial boundaries.')

BTW, in this household we have afternoon tea.
We also have Elevenses (except at weekends when we have brunch).

We are a five meals a day household.

Dione I think that's an important point especially where integration is concerned.

But a religion does put boudaries on some aspects of culture doesn't it. In particular dress, certain activities, food.

Well yes, obviously. Some things will be dictated by religion, but many others will not, so I guess the OP is saying that she shouldn't have to conform to the norms of some Islamic cultures if those norms are based in culture rather than religion. Some of the restrictions on women, for example, may be cultural rather than Islamic, and yet she may be under pressure from other Muslims to conform to these.

Is that the kind of thing you mean, OP?

i don't undertand religion, just respect that people do have religion from what i do know which is very little.

Sorry, my last post was clumsily written. When I said "Islamic cultures", I was referring to cultures where the people are predominantly Muslim, but my focus was on the culture, not the religion iyswim.

That must be a difficult thing to do especially if pressure is put on by that particular community. The OP expresses her independence whilst still observing religion. I guess that is something to be proud of.

I dont think we should respect all customs of other cultures just because it is pc to do so.

That would mean we have to accept fgm, child brides, human sacrifice, sati,chinese foot binding ect

Some of these traditions have died out now but only because people found them unacceptable and wer not afraid to say so.

I dont think we should respect all customs of other cultures just because it is pc to do so.

I agree that we respect the 'right' to have these customs but I don't particularly respect the actual custom itself if you know what I mean.

Yes, I imagine it is hard. I can understand that the OP doesn't like the idea that she has to completely reject her own culture in order to fully embrace her faith, why should she? No single culture has a monopoly on Islam, or on any of the other major faiths.

But I doubt that this feeling is unique to White Muslims. I bet quite a few British Asians who have been brought up here face similar dilemmas sometimes. And it may be even harder for them to opt out of certain traditions because they are perceived as being part of that culture - even when sometimes they have never even visited the country where that culture originated!

Probably not making much sense now, it's late.

No i dont think people have a right to a custom if that custom is just down right wrong. Many cultures have had (or still have) a custom of fgm and no one has the right to do that to a girl regardless of where they were born in the world.

It's odd to come on here just stating a fact.
I am 1M 65cm and like hot buttered crumpets.

There's no AIBU in that, nir is there in your OP.

Not quite sure what the point is......

I agree Jinsei. I think some young British muslims must really struggle caught between the older traditions and modern British culture. I know of many young asian boys and girls who meet in secret because what they do just wouldn't be allowed within their community.

I think the op just wanted to tell us all that she is a british muslim.

Well if that works for her then great but i cant really think why anyone would care

cantspel I was referring to rights such as eating/not eating certain foods, wearing headscarfs, religious symbols etc. Obviously i wouldn't respect a custom like fgm or similar.

It's the implied flip side to the OP that I think MoveBiatchGetOutTheWay is really trying to say without saying it cantspel.

It's about the 'people' who think she shouldn't be proud to be English.

About how those people might create a division in society between 'us' and 'them'.

So you don't care Cantspel. You don't have to.
The OP does and maybe its relevant to people who share her experience.

I don't share the OP's experience, but her post has made me smile. I love it when people are able to wholly accept who they are. Believe me, it's not as common as it should be.

I love a good I am what I am post.

OP i am a british white muslim too, original family bg is irish but born in england.
Parts of the english/irish culture that dont contradict islam then im fine with them, no problem at all although i think british non white muslims probs also feel the same, especially those born here for eg i dont see a lot of difference culture-wise between myself and my dh as we were both born and brought up in the uk although he is asian

but wouldn't say i am particularly so proud about it, its not something you chose so why be really proud? if it turns into asabiya/nationalism etc then it goes too far. if u just mean like alhamdulillah - ur happy with who you are. then fine i get u and i agree. but i dont see why we can not mix cultures - keep what we like from our original culture, assimilate whatever is good from the cultures u marry into or influence from ur community, or whatever else.

it is silly if people feel they have to pretend to be asian or arab when they become muslim, i have come across some people like that but normally they grow out of that and calm down a bit! although some people are misinformed like some people in the community start telling them they must wear shalwar kameez etc. if people only mix with their own v limited group of ppl all originating from the same country sometimes they dont know where islam starts and culture starts, so if you live in a community like that i can understand your issue

But this is am i being unreasonable and there is no question of being reasonable or not in this thread.

I am glad the op is happy with what she is but it is hardly a topic for debate as no one is going to say you cant be british and a muslim

Catspel Are you the forum police?

'Catspel Are you the forum police?'

i think i understand what the op is saying. firawla you know how people sometimes without thinking say "white girls" are like this etc? I think that is what she means.

Also it seems there is a wedding where people are saying there should be curry and bride should wear lengha but bride wants roast lamb and a white dress.

I think that you should describe how some people dont feel white dress is appropriate due to links to christianity, and some dont feel red lengha is due to links with hunduism, but some muslim cultures wear red lengha and some muslim cultures (arabs, some somalis etc) wear white dress.

As for food, it is quite possible to get fusion cusine, or buffet style with assortment of dishes.
the same goes for dress, if you look in asian shops you will find many fusion white lenghas which are half white dress and half lengha etc.

remember it is not about one culture dominating the other but bringing two cultures together, so meet them half way.

What the fuck is this about? You speak URDU ?