Islam as a Culture of Arabification

Islam as a Culture of Arabification
By Dr. Maxwell Shimba, Shimba Theological Institute

Islam, while widely recognized as a global religion, carries with it profound cultural implications that extend beyond mere faith. Historically, the spread of Islam has been closely intertwined with the propagation of Arab culture, resulting in a process that can be understood as a form of Arabification. This cultural phenomenon is evident in several distinct dimensions of Islamic practice and identity.

Firstly, the linguistic element is prominent. Arabic is not only the liturgical language of Islam but is also positioned as the central medium for religious expression and understanding. Non-Arab converts are often required to learn Arabic to engage fully with the Quran, perform prayers (Salat), and recite religious texts correctly. The insistence on Arabic as the language of worship and knowledge transmission represents a deliberate cultural imposition, ensuring that adherents adopt not only the religion but also the associated linguistic framework.

Secondly, dietary and lifestyle practices underscore Arabification. Islamic dietary laws, derived from Arabic jurisprudence, dictate the consumption of specific foods (halal) and the avoidance of others (haram), which are closely aligned with historical Arab eating customs. Similarly, dress codes—such as the hijab, thobe, and other traditional garments—reflect Arab sartorial norms. These prescriptions shape the daily life of Muslims, fostering cultural assimilation into an Arabized lifestyle.

Thirdly, Islamic rituals are spatially Arab-centric. The act of worship requires facing Mecca, the Arabian city of profound religious significance, during prayer. Pilgrimage (Hajj) also centralizes Mecca and Medina as the spiritual and physical heart of Islam, reinforcing the primacy of Arab geography in the religious imagination. Even the structure of mosques and the aesthetic of Islamic art often mirrors Arab architectural traditions, further embedding Arab culture into the global Muslim experience.

Finally, these aspects collectively point to Islam not merely as a religion but as a vehicle for Arab cultural propagation. While Islam’s theological claims are universal, its practices systematically require adherence to Arab linguistic, dietary, sartorial, and spatial norms. The result is a dual imposition: acceptance of faith coupled with absorption into an Arab cultural identity. This cultural dimension has profound implications for non-Arab societies, where conversion to Islam often entails a degree of Arabization in daily life, thought, and social behavior.

In conclusion, the Arabification embedded within Islamic practice highlights the inseparable relationship between faith and culture in Islam. Understanding Islam in this light allows scholars and practitioners to critically examine the extent to which religious adherence involves cultural assimilation, particularly into Arab norms, and to explore the broader social, linguistic, and cultural ramifications of this process.

References:

• Lapidus, I. M. A History of Islamic Societies. Cambridge University Press, 2014.

• Hourani, A. A History of the Arab Peoples. Harvard University Press, 2010.

• Esposito, J. L. Islam: The Straight Path. Oxford University Press, 2016.

• Rahman, F. Islam. University of Chicago Press, 2015.

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