Modern Islamic Culture

Welcome! This blog is designed to provide an overview of modern Islamic culture. Fashion, food, music, and art will be highlighted. This website is not designed for research purposes, but rather to provide an overview of modern Islamic culture, opinions, and practices from a variety of sources. To find out more information about a certain topic, be sure to click on the tags! Enjoy!

[his308-blog]

In general, Muslim children are raised like any other children born into a family of a certain religion.  It is a common misconception that Muslim children are banned from communicating with outsiders and often stay inside.  Muslim children ARE allowed to play sports and play with their friends.

[his308-blog]

So What? - Just because a child is raised in the Islamic faith, it does not mean they are completely different from other children.  They are still raised through love and cherished by their family.

Islam.ru is a very reliable source for not only Islamic articles but for other religions.

[his308-blog]

Taliban beheads 17 people at a party: Are music and dance prohibited in Islam?

Taliban insurgents beheaded 17 people at a party in southern Afghanistan on Sunday night. The attack may have been part of a power struggle between rival factions, but one government official said the attack was intended to punish the attendees for listening to music and dancing. Are music and dance...

This article shows that there is confusion on whether or not Muslims are allowed to sing and dance.  Most modern Muslim families do not engage in dance because it is believed to lead to sexual movements and inappropriate acts.  

[his308-blog]

So what? - Today many see Muslims as strict people who do not engage in anything we see as fun or enjoyable but that is not the case for ALL Muslims.

This article is from Slate.com, a scholarly blog that answers questions about the news. Usually professors or professionals answer the questions. Be sure to refer to the bottom of the page to see the “explainer”, for that will tell you how reliable the information in the answer will be. 

[his308-blog]

I'm A MODERN Muslim Woman Who Enjoys Dating — And That's OK

This modern Muslim woman has a POWERFUL take on dating.

Although this website itself may not be fully reliable, this article was written by Zeba Iqbal, a South Asian Muslim woman. Zeba discusses dating in the twenty-first century. As a child, her mother stressed the fact that she would not date, but she did want her daughter to be married. Instead of arranged marriages, the new term is now assisted marriage. Zeba also discusses matrimonial websites that to a non-Muslim, may sound like online dating, but to Muslims the primary goal is strictly for marriage. Despite her mother’s beliefs, Zeba continues to practice her faith, however she explains that it is okay for her to go on dates in modern society. This article was extremely fascinating to read a modern woman’s perspective on an Islamic tradition. Again, this is not a scholarly source, but it is great to get the opinion of a practicing Muslim woman in modern times. Worth the read!

[islamic-art-and-quotes]

Keep Calm

Originally found on: lena4eva

[his308-blog]

A modern and electronic representation of a reminder of Allah for Islamic people, mostly geared toward Islamic teens.

[his308-blog]

This picture seen above is usually seen as backgrounds on phones, electronic devices. and printed in poster form. "Keep calm and carry on” is a slogan that has taken over pop-culture in the past few years. The slogan has been modified to reach people of the Islamic faith, and is mostly geared toward teens. Not only does this picture represent modern Islamic culture, but simultaneously, it represents the long lasting beliefs and practices of Islam. The Islamic culture has many practices like prayer and meditation to constantly remind followers of the importance of God (Allah) to their religion and lives. This picture solidifies Islamic values while being represented in a modern way. 

[inspiringmuslimwomen-blog]

The Auburn Tigers, a women’s football team in Australia. How cool are they?

[his308-blog]

A group of modern muslim women involved and participating on a football team.

[his308-blog]

This is important because Muslim women are often seen as inferior and lacking rights. This article shows that Muslim women are involved in the same activities that men are regardless of their religion or gender. 

This posed-picture was taken to represent the involvement of Muslim women in international sports. There is no story with the picture, so the interpretation is up to the reader. 

[his308-blog]

Modern Mecca - The New Yorker

The transformation of a holy city.

This is a picture of a hotel that was just built it 2012 that is located right behind Mecca. It has made the pilgrimage easier to attend and overlooks the Kaaba. The Royal Mecca Clock Tower was a two billion dollar building and Mecca receives up to two million visitors each year. Because Muslims are coming from all over the world, they will need places to stay in the modern world. By clicking on the picture, it will take you to an article on the history of Islam by The New Yorker. 

[his308-blog]

http://www.foodmanufacturing.com/news/2014/03/demand-halal-food-rises-muslim-populations-grow

The photo above is a representation of how food mobility has grown over many years, especially for Muslim’s. Food trucks are all over main cities such as Philadelphia, New York, L.A. and etc. These cities have larger Muslim populations, and it is important that although these Muslims may not live a predominant Muslim country, they can continue to practice their faith. This modern transformation of food delivery allows for Muslims to continue to practice their faith by providing multiple and convenient food options. This particular food truck serves Islamic food that is considered Halal. 

[his308-blog]

Muslim MTV?

Can you imagine what an Islamic MTV would look like? Well, Ahmed Abu Haiba did when he launched a new music channel called 4Shbab TV. (“Shbab” means “young people” in Arabic…

4Shbab is a television network based out of Bahrain that tailors to Islamic viewers particularly young Muslims. This network is comparable to MTV in the US and other popular TV networks around the world geared towards a young-adult audience. The network has gained popularity all over the Middle East. This is important because it connects yet another part of Islamic culture with a popular part of young-American culture. 

(The source of this article is from the University of Wisconsin-Madison International Studies center, centering discussion and debates around Islam and other religious communities around the globe.)

[his308-blog]

Produced by Here on Earth: Radio Without Borders Original Broadcast: September 25, 2008 Click on the player above to listen to the show. Scholar Mark LeVine and director Saroosh Alvi joined Jean Fe…

This is just one of many sites outlining Islamic music and the role that it plays in Muslims’ lives, particularly the youth. In this particular case we look at Heavy Metal, a popular genre in many countries but one genre that one would not expect to be popular in Islamic culture. The website also contains links to individual case studies based on Islamic heavy metal bands in predominantly Muslim countries. This article draws parallels between Muslims and non-Muslims on an artistic scale, music, that typically would not be thought to have that sort of connection. 

(The source of this article is from the University of Wisconsin-Madison International Studies center, centering discussion and debates around Islam and other religious communities around the globe.)

[his308-blog]

Muslim American Comedians

On Tuesday, May 31st, Jean will talk with Tissa Hami, an Iranian American female comedian, and Dean Obeidallah, a Palestinian-American/Italian-American comedian. Both use comedy to break down the s…

This article focuses on two famous Muslim-American comedians who use performing arts to breakdown stereotypes that Americans have about Muslims. These two are just a few comedians leading the charge against the recent “Islamophobia” in the US even over a decade after 9/11. 

I find this article important and thought provoking because it is centered around an issue that is very much in the back of many Americans’ minds when they interact with Muslims in the United States, which is the issue of ‘Islamophobia’ that rose after the attacks on September 11th. Comedians like the ones discussed flip the issue around, breaking down negative stereotypes of Muslims through performance, in this case stand-up comedy. 

(The source of this article is from the University of Wisconsin-Madison International Studies center, centering discussion and debates around Islam and other religious communities around the globe.)

[his308-blog]

Muslim Pop Culture on the Rise in Indonesia

New political freedoms in world's largest Muslim democracy foster increased piety following decades under Suharto dictatorship

This article from 2010 explains how the modern Islamic culture has shifted in Indonesia as a result of several strict censorship bans being lifted. The focus of this article is an Islamic Book Fair, an event that has allowed Indonesian Muslims the chance to purchase books and other media that are both Islamic and directed towards a modern audience. Book fairs like these are one reason that modern Islamic pop culture is growing in countries that previously had a more conservative outlook on Islam. This is an informative and opinionated piece from a news website. However, this is not considered a scholarly source, but it is good for getting a general idea of current events and ideas. 

[his308-blog]

http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/generalnews/2013/08/09/Islam-Ramadan-ends-art-henna-tattooing-takes-stage_9138076.html

Modern day Muslim woman usually have henna art on their hands, forearms, etc. The henna symbolizes marriage,celebration  and holidays. Henna artists set up shop right after Ramadan to celebrate finishing their fast. Although the idea of henna tattoos and the designs are traditional, it demonstrates tradition in the modern world. 

[his308-blog]

http://www.babycenter.in/a25008323/popular-baby-names-among-muslim-parents-around-the-world

This is list of the most popular Muslim baby names around the world. The names that are chosen usually have a deep meaning in the Islamic faith.

[his308-blog]

30 Modern Hijab Scarf Style Fashion For Muslim Women's In 2015

30 Modern Hijab Scarf Styles A hijab is a covering mostly used by muslim women to cover their face and some portion of the body. It has been carried on by from history. It is a traditional muslim c...

This website shows the modern ways Muslim women wear their khimars and hijab. In the modern world today less women are wearing the full over-garment and are wearing jeans and regular clothing but still wear their khimars. 

This source is great to visualize the different ways Muslim women wear their head scarfs. It is interesting to see how they have modernized their fashion, while still adhering to the religion. Disclaimer: This is a fashion/style site so the all of the fashions displayed are only a reflection of the bloggers opinion and views of Muslim fashion. However, it is a good to see Muslim fashion modernized.

[his308-blog]

“Eid al-Adha is an Islamic festival to commemorate the willingness of Ibrahim (also known as Abraham) to follow Allah's (God's) command to sacrifice his son Ishmael. Muslims around the world observe this event.” During this celebration, Snapchat released a unique filter for the day. Technology is one of the biggest changes in modern society. With such a large percent of the world using technology, it is interesting that a traditional holiday can be represented through a modern app and available for people of all religions to use. It also brings awareness to religions and holidays that are happening, widening the scope and education of modern religion. 

http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/muslim/eid-al-adha

[his308-blog]

This website can be compared to any major American clothing retailer’s website. This shows that despite different ideas about the way that one can dress or present themselves, websites still exist that are geared toward what is in fashion and the latest trends in Islamic clothing for men and women. 

[his308-blog]

This website focuses on women in the modern Islamic world. With the spread of literacy, public education and job opportunities, many Muslim women have expressed their desire for more power when it comes to practicing and interpreting Islam.  This source is reliable due to it’s use of over 5,000 Qur’anic materials, primary sources, and scholarly works in order to provide an informed understanding of modern Islam.