Islamic culture

Islamic cultures or Muslim cultures refer to the historic ways of living that developed among many different people in the Muslim world. These practices were often shaped by Islam, which helped bring together people from many different backgrounds under one shared identity. In the early days, from the Rashidun Caliphate to the Umayyad Caliphate and early Abbasid Caliphate, much of the culture came from the Arabs, the Byzantines, and the Persians.

201 Dome Mosque, Tangail, Bangladesh

As Islamic empires grew quickly, they took in many more traditions from places like Iranic, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Indian, Caucasian, Turkic, Malay, Somali, Berber, and Indonesian cultures. Because of many different influences, Islamic beliefs look a little different in each place, leading to rich and varied traditions around the world.

Language and literature

Main article: Islamic literature

Arabic

Main article: Arabic literature

Arabic literature is the writing in the Arabic language, both stories and poems. It began in the 5th century and grew because of the Quran, which many people think is the best work in Arabic. During a time called the Islamic Golden Age, Arabic writing flowered and continues to this day with writers all over the world.

Persian/Iranic

Persian literature includes stories and poems in Western Iranian languages, especially Persian. It is very old, going back more than 2,500 years. Persian writers have come from many places, such as Iran, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, the Caucasus, Turkey, Central Asia, and South Asia. Famous Persian poets like Rumi and Omar Khayyam are known worldwide.

Indic

Main articles: Persian language in the Indian subcontinent, Bengali literature, and Literature of Bangladesh

For a thousand years, Persian culture has influenced India. Persian was the official language of many Indian empires, and Persian styles of writing affected languages like Urdu. In Bengal, Muslim writers used Islamic stories to explore many ideas, and one famous writer, Begum Rokeya, wrote an early science fiction story.

Turkic

Main article: Turkish literature

From the 11th century, Islamic literature began to appear in Turkic languages. For a long time, Persian was the official language in Turkish areas. Later, the Ottoman Empire made Turkish the official language, but many Persian and Arabic words were still used.

Art

Main article: Islamic art

Patachitra of Gazi Pir, Sunderbans, Bangladesh

Public Islamic art often avoids showing people or animals. Instead, it uses designs based on plants, called arabesque, mixed with beautiful writing known as Islamic calligraphy and shapes called geometric patterns. These designs appear on many things, from tiny pieces made of clay or metal to big decorations on buildings, even mosques.

"Wayang Kulit", the Indonesian art of shadow puppetry, reflects a melding of indigenous and Islamic sensibilities.

Sometimes, especially in paintings and small decorations, people and animals are shown. This happens more often in private art books owned by rich people. Writing from holy books is never shown with pictures of people.

Depiction of animate beings

Main article: Aniconism in Islam

"Advice of the Ascetic", a 16th-century Persian miniature

Some beliefs in Islam say it is wrong to make pictures of living things. This idea comes from respecting God’s role as the creator. Though the holy book does not clearly forbid such pictures, some teachings say artists should not create them. Because of this, most religious art avoids figures and uses writing, shapes, and plant designs instead. Still, in some places like Persia and India, pictures of important people, sometimes with their faces covered, appear in books about history and poems. These pictures aim to tell stories, not to go against beliefs. In everyday art outside of religion, pictures of people and animals have been common, though they are often drawn in a styled way.

Calligraphy

Main article: Islamic calligraphy

Islamic calligraphy is the beautiful art of writing used in places that share an Islamic culture. It includes styles like Arabic Calligraphy, Ottoman, and Persian calligraphy. People often write words from the holy book, the Qur'an, in these styles.

Calligraphy in Islam grew from two main styles: Kufic and Naskh, with many variations and regional differences. Today, it also appears in modern art and a style called calligraffiti.

Architecture

Main article: Islamic architecture

Islamic architecture includes many different styles of buildings linked to the Islamic world. It covers both everyday buildings and important places for worship, from the early days of Islam until today. In the beginning, Islamic architecture used ideas from places like Roman, Byzantine, and Persian cultures. As Islam spread to places like Southeast Asia, it also took in styles from Chinese and Indian architecture. Over time, Islamic buildings developed their own special looks, with beautiful designs on walls and roofs.

Big public buildings in Islamic architecture often include mosques, tombs, palaces, and forts. These ideas are used in many other types of buildings too, like public baths and homes. Islamic buildings often have large open spaces, tall towers called minarets, and special areas that point toward Mecca. They also use shapes, patterns, and writing in beautiful ways to make the inside of buildings feel special and calm.

Theatre

Theatre has been an important part of Islamic culture. In the past, people loved watching puppet shows and special plays. These puppet shows included hand puppets, shadow plays, and marionette performances. There were also live plays called ta'ziya, where actors performed stories from Muslim history. In some places, like Indonesia, there is a famous puppet show called Wayang. In Turkey, shadow plays called Karagoz became very popular and spread to many areas.

A Jatra theatrical performance in Bangladesh

In Iran, puppet shows have been enjoyed for a very long time. These shows are performed in small rooms with music and storytelling. Even today, puppet theatre remains a favorite in many parts of the Islamic world. After Pakistan became independent in 1947, some playwrights wrote about important Muslim history and leaders.

Dance

In Islamic cultures, dance has different meanings and uses. Some religious leaders said dancing might be okay for women alone at celebrations but not for men. Others thought dancing could be a good way to focus on God, as long as it was done with a pure heart.

Many Muslim groups have special dances as part of their worship. These dances help people feel closer to God. One famous example is the whirling dance of the Mevlevi order, started by Jalaluddin Rumi. This dance, known as "sama," was once common in the Ottoman Empire but faced challenges in modern Turkey. It is now recognized for its cultural importance.

Other groups, like the Chishti order in Afghanistan and the Indian subcontinent, also have their own dance traditions. These dances are often linked to music and poetry. In places like North Africa, dance is part of gnawa music. Even in everyday life, dances happen at weddings and festivals like Mawlid and Eid el-Adha. Many Islamic cultures have their own unique dance styles, from court dances to folk dances.

Music

Main article: Islamic music

Many Muslims enjoy listening to music. The areas where Islam began, like Arabia, the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia, have rich musical traditions. Because Islam brings together people from many different backgrounds, the music reflects this diversity.

Music has been shaped by many cultures, including the Seljuk Turks, who brought their styles after moving into Anatolia, now Turkey. Other places with many Muslims, such as parts of Africa, India, and Southeast Asia, also have their own musical traditions, though they have had less influence on the main styles of Islamic music.

Trade routes helped music travel between faraway lands long before Islam spread. The Sufis, groups of thoughtful Muslims, also helped share music widely across different regions.

Family life

Main articles: Islamic marriage and Islamic marital practices

Furir Bari Iftari is the tradition among Bengali Muslims in the Sylhet region of giving Iftar to the household of one's daughter's in-laws during the month of Ramadan.

In a Muslim family, special traditions welcome a new baby. Right after birth, special words are whispered into the baby’s ear. A few days later, a celebration happens where food is shared with those in need, and a small amount of money is given based on the baby’s hair weight. Families teach children important values, beliefs, and practices.

Marriage is a key part of family life, made through an agreement between two people with witnesses. The groom gives a gift to the bride as part of the agreement. While traditions sometimes suggest different roles for men and women, families vary greatly in how they live these ideas out.

Events and activities

Etiquette and diet

Main articles: Adab (Islam) and Islamic dietary laws

In Islamic culture, there are special ways to behave, called adab. This includes greeting others by saying "as-salamu 'alaykum" meaning "peace be unto you," and saying "bismillah" or "in the name of God" before meals. People also use only their right hand for eating and drinking. There are also rules about staying clean and healthy.

Muslims have special rules about what they can eat. They cannot eat pork, blood, or meat from animals that were not prepared properly. All meat must come from animals that were killed in a certain way and by people who believe in one God, like Muslims, Jews, or Christians. Food that follows these rules is called halal food. These rules help Muslims follow their faith and stay healthy.