Is Islam Compatible with West?

eyda BLGN
Come, whoever you are, come, says Mevlana. For many years, there is a fight between
West and East under the name of culture, racism, superiority, inferiority, gender, secularism,
economy, politics, intellectuality etc. When it comes to the battle related to religion, we
have three expectative candidates named Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, As a matter of fact,
it can be said that the winner cannot be named. It is worth mentioning that every religion has
its own path. They explain themselves differently by using their own cultural backgrounds,
history, traditions and also, the effect of past and current conditions to future. From which it is
concluded that every religion has both shades of blackness and whiteness in the eyes of
people.
Apart from these, this paper debates multiple views of these paths given above. However,
when they think they come to end and drag into other ways. Against this background, the
central question that motivates this paper is: is islam compatible with west?
Oppositions help to explain the exact meaning of concepts. Starting from this point of
view, it can be explained that without East, West cannot be named. They need each other.
Neither the Muslim nor Christian historical path can be full understood without relation to
the other (Bulliet, 2004, p.10). As Menocal (2012) said There is no god but God (p. 18)
she clarifies that Islam uses the Arabic word Allah, God as if it were a proper name. It
creates a false impression for a Muslim as if it is a different god (ibid). The battle between
Islam and West starts with creator, and Muslims call a proper name; Allah.
According to West, it can be said that Islam is not free and respect. Islamic law is known
by all Western countries as a Sharia. It seems like Islam chooses Sharia instead of man-written
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laws and democracy. There is no free will, or sovereignty. When we look at the perspective,
the real problem cannot be seen as a religion. For years, people have been trying to separate
the church and the state. Apart from religion, this issue can be related to politics and culture.
West has been seen as democratic and has had positive values. Olivier Roy (2007) clarifies
that in order to criticize Islam the Christian right and Secular left are united (ix). In this
direction, from nationality to individuality it can be demonstrated that if you are stranger for
other religions, there is no individuality because you are the other one another.
Even in Islam, there arent the same ideologies. It is divided into two as Sunni and Shia
without same orders. Lewis (1990) states that Islam means not what Muslims believed or
were expected to believe, but what they actually did (p. 20). It can be given a direct question
as: How many Islam in the world? By referring this answer: Islam in Arabia, Islam in Turkey,
and Nigeria. When all these reasons are taken into consideration, Islam has written source,
rules called Holy Quran. Since several people read it in Arabic, it is not possible to understand
the meaning of all explanations except Arabs.
Moreover, Islam has strict rules when it comes to the convert to another religion and
marriage. On the one hand, Islam is known the religion of tolerance, but the Quran doesnt
have a specific term to express the idea of tolerance (Friedmann, 2003, p. 1). Additionally, it
seems that Islam is the only religion which cannot accept another one. It has distinct between
believer and unbeliever. On the other hand, interfaith marriages are vicious circle. When
considered from this point of view, a Muslim boy can marry with a girl who comes from
another religion, but it is not same for a Muslim girl because she cannot marry with a
Christian or the boy who comes from other religions. Friedmann explains its reason as
follows: it causes a superiority problem and incompatibility between husband and wife
because the wife is superior as being Muslim than her infidel husband (ibid., 161). As a
matter of fact, it is not only related to superiority, but also the problem of the childs faith.
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Lastly, as Bernard Lewiss question of Is Islam is a part of slavery?, a lot of people think
that racial hostility and discrimination has emerged within the Islamic world. Lewis expresses
that Arabs used blacks as slaves and Muslims refused to see black race. In this respect,
according to Lewis (1990), slavery reveals its presence (p. 102) by this way. In Islam, it can
be said that the unbelievers who are the captives of war can be taken as a slave, nevertheless,
when examined in the Holy Quran, it can be seen that they also have rights.
In conclusion, in order to give an exact answer the question: Is Islam compatible with
West? Firstly, it is necessary to analyze the backgrounds of both West and Islam. It can be said
that both of them have different cultural, historical, political, religious backgrounds, but
deeply, they have traces come from their backgrounds. It is important to emphasize that the
West and Islam provide a better picture of compossibilities. Without any opposition, it cannot
be seen similarities. Therefore, it is important to say that, there are holy books written for
human beings, the main problem is the interpretation of these books. Every culture has its
own interpretation, in addition, in these cultures, every person interprets differently.
Consequently, these misunderstandings affect the humanity. As known, every person has a
different world, but it cannot be forgotten that while creating this world, all worlds must find a
harmony to unlock the peace and humanity.
References
Bulliet, R. W. (2004). The Case for Islamo- Christian Civilization. Colombia.
Lewis, B. (1990). Race and Slavery in the Middle East: An Historical Inquiry. Oxford
University Press.
Menocal, M. R. (2002). Ornament of the World: How Muslim, Jews, and Christians Created a
Culture of Tolerance in Medieval Spain. Little, Brown, and Company.
Roy, O. (2007). Secularism Confronts Islam. Colombia University Press.
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