Multiculturalism in Islam

[Kris_J]

Hi to Muslims!

I'm just curious if there is room for multiculturalism in Islam.

Can a Muslim have an anglicised Muslim/Islamic name? Thanks!

 

[Kazem]

Yes, there is plenty of room for multiculturalism in Islam (contrary to media stereotypes). And I am not sure what you mean by "Anglicanized" names?

~ Kazem

 

[Bookofknowledge]

Hi to Muslims!

I'm just curious if there is room for multiculturalism in Islam.

Can a Muslim have an anglicised Muslim/Islamic name? Thanks!

Consult a scholar before taking my words because I am not a scholar

yes there is room for multiculturalism in Islam as long as the culture doesn't voilate belief such as accept other god as God because Islam teaches "To you be your religion and to me mine"

Every name has it's own meaning and we are advice to have nice names. some names are translated as "Creator" well there is only one creator and that Creator is God hence we are advice to call ourself servent of Creator instead of just Creator.

Yes there is room for multicultrualism because Islam teaches a believer to respect his/her parents even if they are non-muslims as long as they do not ask to commit something which is illegal according to the law of Islam and one can not change their father's name. similarly there are rights of brother and sisters.

 

[arunma]

Yes, there is plenty of room for multiculturalism in Islam (contrary to media stereotypes). And I am not sure what you mean by "Anglicanized" names?

~ Kazem

I think what he means is: can you be a Muslim, and be named Bob at the same time, or would you have to change your name to something along the lines of Mohammad bin Ibrahim?

 

[Kris_J]

I think what he means is: can you be a Muslim, and be named Bob at the same time, or would you have to change your name to something along the lines of Mohammad bin Ibrahim?

Nailed it. Just an ordinary name - excluding "Christian" of course.

For example - Gabriel from angel "Jibreel".

Or just Bob.

 

[arunma]

Well, that's why I chose Bob. As far as I know, Robert isn't a Christian name, but rather a European one.

 

[Kris_J]

Yes, there is plenty of room for multiculturalism in Islam (contrary to media stereotypes). And I am not sure what you mean by "Anglicanized" names?

~ Kazem

Its very simple:

Ibrahim = Abraham

Isa = Jesus

etc.

 

[Kris_J]

Who would have thought that this would be a difficult question for a Muslim to answer.

I believe a Christian can have an Arabic name like "Yusuf" or whatever Joseph is in Arabic. Why can't it work the other way around?

Is it safe to assume that I will not get an answer because Muslims have agreed to not give the answer because it makes them look intolerant & arrogant?

 

[kamikat]

I do know converts to Islam that have kept their English names, Kathy and Robert. On the other hand, Kathy's children all have Islamic first names and English middle names. In her case, they wanted to honor both sides of their families. To me this is no different than andy other family. Also, she wanted a first name that "went" with the last name. It's the same in my family. My both have Scotish first names that sound nice with the Scotish last names because it would sound odd to have long, complicated Greek names (my heritage) with the Scottish last name of my husband.
kamikat

 

[Montalban]

Well, that's why I chose Bob. As far as I know, Robert isn't a Christian name, but rather a European one.

Saint Robert...
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13095c.htm

 

[Montalban]

I do know converts to Islam that have kept their English names, Kathy and Robert. On the other hand, Kathy's children all have Islamic first names and English middle names. In her case, they wanted to honor both sides of their families. To me this is no different than andy other family. Also, she wanted a first name that "went" with the last name. It's the same in my family. My both have Scotish first names that sound nice with the Scotish last names because it would sound odd to have long, complicated Greek names (my heritage) with the Scottish last name of my husband.
kamikat

On the issue of changing one's name...
In Orthodoxy it's been suggested to me as a convert that I should take a 'Christian' name. My name (in the real world) is not the name of any saint... but I've resisted up to now. I might go with Columba (a western saint, but still accepted by Orthodox).

Timothy Ware, the author is now known as Kallistos Ware, but he's also now a bishop.

In Islam you have to learn Arabic... the Koran is supposedly best in Arabic - god spoke through it

Even in Orthodoxy you don't have to learn Greek, or Russian, but sadly here in Australia English language services are few and far between.

 

[Galilean]

No, there is no room in islam for multiculturalism, only islamic culture.
Westerners would do well to follow their example (of core-culturalism that is).

 

[rahma]

I have an "american" name, and did not change when I converted, nor do I plan to change it.

My clothing styles are mixed, and I believe reflect the great multiculturalism that is inherent in the muslim ummah. Sometimes I wear abaya (egyptian), sometimes I wear jelbab (Lebanese), sometimes I wear Salwar Kameez (Pakistani), sometimes I wear pants or a skirt (american) and I've been looking for a Baju kurung from south east asia, but haven't had much luck.

Additionally, almost every dinner I've been to in the muslim community has been a fantastic representation of multiculturalism. The muslim communities I have been a member of have been very diverse, with people coming from all over the world, and when it comes to community dinners, everyone brings dishes from their old country. So you get hummus next to briyani next to soul food next to bami gorang next to koshari next to samosas.
*mmmmmm*

So yes, we can and are multi cultural.