Religion and Theology - Essay Example

?Religion and Theology: Islam in Europe Introduction Ever since Muslim immigrants started entering Europe, Islam has influenced Europe in all aspects. After the Second World War, European citizens saw propagation of a new faith, which, in gradual course of time became the largest minority group. In present times, immigrants from South- East Asia are being classified as Muslims and Non- Muslims in most European nations. The fact that they might belong to any other religious group is not taken into account. There are several reasons behind giving so much consideration or importance to Muslims. The chief among them is that Islamic law differs from the laws of ‘first world’ countries of Europe, and that Islam dominates lifestyle and culture of millions of Muslims in Europe (Roald, 2001, p 295- 296). Islam: Family Law The Islamic family law does not support the ‘liberal -minded ‘European family law. In European countries family laws support step families, unmarried spouse, nuclear families, free mixing of both the sexes, and above all, the equality of sexes. Conventional Islamic law holds male members of a family to be superior compared to their female counterparts. More importance is given to them and they also hold decision making power. Also, Islam propagates the doctrine of large family with many members (BuChler, 2013, p 100). Many orthodox Muslim families in Europe still abide by the Islamic family law which separates the rules and rights of women from men. However, in European countries like Bulgaria, modern age Muslim families are denouncing secularism (Ghodsee, 2009, p 5). The newer generations of Muslims are more in support of ‘multiculturalism’ and ‘tolerance’ policies that are held by European nations. They are not much affected by the fact that predominantly Islamic nations like Egypt has stressed CEDAW, 15th and 16th article denying formal equality of rules and right among men and women. In other words, Muslims in Europe are trying to redefine their identity outside the realm of Islam (BuChler, 2013, p 100). Conventions and Practices: With change of perspectives and outlooks, social practices are also changing among Islamic families. As in England one can find that marriages are still held through the ‘nikah’ ceremony. It is not recognized by the English court of law. With the changing of perspectives, around two-thirds of Muslim couples are marrying again to enjoy the protection of English legal systems. Also, they are renouncing pluralism of marriages as it is not recognized. They are holding their religious roots on one hand and on the other adopting the newer form. This scenario can be found all over Europe (BuChler, 2013, p 77). ‘Talaq’, another important provision of Islamic family law is “taken into consideration in gender- neutral divorce law and legal practice”. Also, in Europe, no direct legal measures taken against polygamy as because European courts do not hold polygamy as an unlawful act (BuChler, 2013, p 100). Though from time to time social issues have been raised about use of head- covering or hijab, many Muslim women still continue to wear them as a part of their religious convention. Islam: Law Council In European countries, Muslims have their own quasi- judicial institutions. These institutions are basically the shari?ah law councils which impart judgment to large sections of Muslim communities in Europe, as most Muslims in Europe do not recognize the authority and legitimacy of any other legal system. Thus they turn up to these councils mostly with problems regarding family matters. The law councils have a separate code of law and adopt unconventional modes of settling disputes, formulated according to legal norms of Islam. One such country is England where the unofficial yet autonomous shari?ah courts serve millions of Muslims (BuChler, 2013, p 76-77). Durham, Kirkham, & Torfs (2012, p 6) insist that from the view point of European Courts, no discrimination is made between Muslims and non- Muslim subjects, though their ways of resolving or settlement differs from the Islamic law courts. For instance, cases of Islamic autonomy “official and state preferred Islam” is created. Thus, under certain settings European Courts safeguard autonomy of Islamic minorities. Islamic Banking: According to Islamic Banking and Finance in the European Union: A Challenge, (2010, p 61- 63), Islamic minorities in Europe have introduced separate banking and finance system, entitled to serve the Muslim communities. It has gained importance in present rimes for its contribution to social inclusion. These banks keep to the shari?ah codes and function under the supervisory or regulatory institutions of respective countries. Many practices and activities of Islamic banking are often regarded as non- conventional. Sometimes, certain complications are created while administering Islamic banks due such practices. Out of the two fund mobilizing accounts offered by Islamic banks, profit- sharing investment account (PSIA) is not practiced in conventional banking. Contrary to fixed- returns concept, a share of the bank’s profit percentage is given by the Islamic banks in PSIA. Another noteworthy feature of Islamic banks is use of terms like “ijara, murabaha, istisna? and salam” in banking context. These terms are not inclusive in commercial banking, and therefore problems are created due to their complex implications. (Aldohni, 2012.). Some disparity also occurs when it comes to Islamic banking products like ‘Mudaraba’ and corporate governance. Apart from these, terms and conditions regarding long- term loans, investments are mild and lucid. Terrorism: Over a past few years, several European nations like Great Britain, Germany, Denmark, etc have experienced terrorist activities (Issues in Terrorism and Homeland Security: Selections From CQ Researcher, 2010, p xi). Investigations traced out that they were caused by Muslim extremists. The fact that radical Islam is active in Europe, all the European nations suffer from possibilities of terrorist attacks. Even countries like United States suffer from the same fear for a large number of Muslims hold European visa which is acceptable in US. Also, it has been found out that important metropolitan cities like London have become meeting place of numerous terrorist organizations. These have led European countries like France, Britain, and others to limit immigration of Muslims. At the same time they are also trying to inculcate respective national languages and beliefs among the existing as well as ‘new citizen’ Muslim populations (Issues in Terrorism and Homeland Security: Selections From CQ Researcher, 2010, p 160). This situation has placed Muslim population in a crucial stage because the extremists too are Muslims. The fact that Muslims who are against terrorism, are reluctant to voice their protests against extremism and this has further worsened the situation. Challenges of Islam In past few years, ‘Islam’ has emerged into something more than a religion. It has become one of the major religion- political forces in Europe. As Islam became globalized, one of the major challenges it faced was assimilation of religious roots. In Europe, total number of Muslims is increasing day by day. Thus institutionalization such a huge mass by building mosques, Islamic centers and schools is becoming a challenge, both in fields of politics and religion. To ensure that younger generations of Muslims are retaining their roots, is another major challenge as most of them are torn in-between their religious identity and socio- economic cultures. Lastly, due to absence of Islamic leaders in Europe, Islam is often thwarted and misinterpreted (Esposito & Burgat, 2003, p 11). Conclusion Presently Western culture, lifestyle legal systems, especially Western science is merging with the ways of Islam. In many European countries these changes are welcomed by new generation Muslims who have ancestral roots in some or the other Islamic nations. It is the result of efforts put from time to time to promote the status of Muslims in Europe. Present day approaches are different – they are more methodical and are inclined at removing the narrow restrictions imposed by the traditional Islamic law (BuChler, 2013, p 125). In this regard, it can be said that Islamists are gaining a new identity and aim in European nations. From the past decade, repeated terrorist and anti- social activities have impelled negative views about principles of Islam. The situation became worse after 9/11, with a majority of Europeans believing that nothing but violence is encouraged by Islam (Issues in Terrorism and Homeland Security: Selections From CQ Researcher, 2010, p 161). However, measure are undertaken to fight with these negative vibes. References Aldohni, A. K. K., (2012). The Legal and Regulatory Aspects of Islamic Banking: A Comparative Look at the United Kingdom and Malaysia. UK: Routledge. BuChler, A., (2013). Islamic Law in Europe? (Epub) Legal Pluralism and Its Limits in European Family Laws. UK: Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.. Durham, W. R., Kirkham, D. M. & R. Torfs (2012). Islam Europe and Emerging Legal Issues. UK: Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.. Ghodsee, K., (2009). Gender, Ethnicity, and the Transformation of Islam in Postsocialist Bulgaria. US: Princeton University Press. Islamic Banking and Finance in the European Union: A Challenge (2010), UK: Edward Elgar Publishing. Issues in Terrorism and Homeland Security: Selections From CQ Researcher (2010), California: SAGE. Roald, A. S., (2001). Women in Islam: the Western experience. UK: Routledge. Read More