Islamic Cultural Identity

According to the Hay’s addressing model, my cultural identities as a Latina woman of low socioeconomic status makes me part of non-dominant groups. My identities set me apart from the majority population which means that; I am perceived inferior than those of dominant groups. My lineage constitutes of indigenous ancestors that like me, share a darker skin tone that till this day is seen imperfect.

During the Mughal era, the process of converting of Hindus to Islam started (Stearns 32). It should be emphasized that this process appeared when the Delhi sultans were reigning. In spite of the fact that a substantial portion of the Indian peasantry decided to remain Hindu, most of the urban dwellers, lower-caste Hindus and residents of some regions, for example, east Bengal, without any compulsions, accepted the faith of the Mughal sultans (Stearns 32). Nonetheless, according to the article of Peter Stearns, there was a reason why some people converted to Islam; it was because of the political and economic pressures that rendered by the Mughal conquerors (32). Due to these conversions from Hinduism to Islam, the religious map of India was substantially changed (Stearns

Islam originated in present day Saudi Arabia where the prophet, Muhammad, had been born. Islam would later be able to spread quickly through trade, the appealing nature of the Islamic faith, and military campaigns.

It all began in a cave. Muhammad started Islam in 610 BC and after that it spread throughout Arabia and regions near it. Islam was able to do this quickly because of its military success, trade connections, and political order.

The Ottoman and Mughal empires were two of the greatest and most successful empires to ever form in history. However, they both had some similarities as well as differences. Both empires went through tough periods of time, but at some point they also went through times of growth and prosperity. Although the Ottoman and Mughal Empire both did not force conversions into Islam, the Ottoman’s development relied on their tough military force, while the decline of the Mughal Empire was caused by Aurangzeb’s policy of religious persecution and high taxes.

The Mughals ruled over much of India more than 300 years who through seven generations remained in power over the subcontinent and tried to integrate Hindus and Muslims into a united Indian state. According to the text; “Muslim’s spiritual and philosophical life in India evolved together with the religious life of non-Muslims”. The Delhi sultanate as well as Mughal’s didn’t intervene in the religious obligations and believes of their people. The reason for the conquest of India by Mughals was purely a factor to strengthen their power over the region. The promotion of religion was not a major factor in the state policies.

A. FOUNDING: Islam was founded by Muhammad when he received word from Allah in a prophecy (or vision). He began life in Mecca where idolatry was a main fact of life but had to flee to Madinah to escape prosecution in what has come to be known as the Hijrah. Islam spread through his family and friends at first but later his companions known as sahabat continued his work by a number of successful conquests which spread Islam to most of the middle east. Islam reached it high point when Muhammad and his army from Madinah conquered Mecca which was later deemed to the the Holy City.

Reasons for the Spread of Islam Throughout time, Islam has come to be known as a great empire that rules from the Middle East and stretches across North Africa into Europe. The religion of Islam started off in 610 CE, when a merchant trader from Mecca, made a visit to a nearby cave called Mount Hira. The merchant trader was named, Muhammad Ibn Abdullah, according to him “it was on this visit to Mt.Hira that the archangel Gabriel squeezd him hard and cause the word to flow out, the words said that Allah wa the one god,” [Background Essay]. As years when on Muhammad preached the word of Allah and about the importance of charity. He first started preaching in a town called Medina and worked his way back to Mecca.

Islam originated 610 AD in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Throughout time there are many stories and legends on how Islam sprung. According to the Quran it declares, that the holy book of Islam was brought down by angel Gabriel from Allah. Angel Gabriel gave the holy book to Prophet Muhammad. To prove this, the Quran states, "this is a revelation from the Lord of the universe. The Honest Spirit (Gabriel) came down with it, to reveal it into your heart that you may be one of the warners, in a perfect Arabic tongue" (Sura 26:192-195). "Say, 'Anyone who opposes Gabriel should know that he has brought down this (the Qur 'an) into your heart, in accordance with God 's will, confirming previous scriptures, and providing guidance and good news for the believers '" (Sura 2:97). [http://www.allaboutreligion.org/origin-of-islam.htm] The prophets before Muhammad, all contributed to the religion of Islam, but prophet Muhammad made it final by the revelation of the Quran and how to be a correct Muslim.

The Islamic prophet Muhammad founded Islam in the Arabian Peninsula. The resulting unified polity in the 7th and 8th centuries led to a rapid expansion of Arab power and influence to the northwest Indian subcontinent, across Central Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, southern Italy, the Iberian peninsula, and the Pyrenees.[12][13][14] Tolerance, trade, and political relationships between the Arabs and the Christian states of Europe waxed

In 612, Islam began when the Prophet Muhammad began to preach to his friends and family in Mecca about what revelations he and his wife believed to be from God. As word spread and people converted, he and his followers gained friends and enemies and the ummah, community, became its own being that had a strong sense of unity. Muhammad established the religion,

For the period of 600 to 1500 CE, the Islam religion made an impact on the political system of South Asia. There was much indicated continuity, as well as changes throughout this effect on the region. The effect of the Turks conquests gave rise to a series of Turkish and Muslim authority of much of the Indian government. Also from the beginning of their rule and even before they used Muslim mercenaries or foreign people for its military structure, which grew because of this action. However, at the same time the Islam changed the taxing system which made people convert to Islam because it would benefit them by avoiding the tax imposed on the non-Muslims. In addition, the Muslim rule was amended to modify their beliefs of equality for all;

In 1956, Morocco emerged as independent from one of the many colonizers at the time, France. Those who were to lead the transition from colony to independent monarchy had two problems. First, France officially recognized Morocco as an independent sovereign state but insisted on guiding the creation of the new state (Balfaraj, para. 5-7). Second, as the case with its neighbour Algeria, France had annexed its colonies in North Africa and redefined them as French in culture, tradition and territory. In doing so, it declared a war on native culture and traditions (Hannoum, pp. 7-11). Hence, how was Morocco going to regain its native culture and what form would the newly independent Morocco culturally assume? Political theorists such as Anderson argued that nations will form when a national public consciousness arises. Others, like Habermas, theorised that nations would regain identity when the public and private spheres merge and, as per Andreson, when both spheres, melded into one, reimagine and actualise their pre-colonial national identity and ultimately emerge as a united construct. While both theories try to imagine, and define post-colonial national identity, female writers such as Assisa Djeba from Algeria, Souad Guellouz from Tunisia and Leila Abouzeid from Morocco immediately slipped into their culture, language, traditions and nationhood. Despite the utterly cruel cultural, linguistic and national suppression they faced under the French, none of the elements which

Muslim culture generally reflects the traditions and customs of Muslims that they adopt for a perfect and respectable life in the society according to the lessons of Quran. Muslim culture is a giant combination of diverse cultures, That’s because Muslims live in various countries all over the world. Most of the practices are common faiths and guidance for all Muslims no matter what country or even content they reside in.. These basic faiths and belives are based on the teachings of Islam. The Muslim culture is a subject of debate for many people who lives in different parts of the world and belong to diverse communities. Muslim culture represents the unification of brotherhood where all Muslims are bound to

1. A brief history about the Muslim rules in India from the late 1200 century to 1957 is described here.