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==Overview==
'''[[Muslim]] [[culture]]''' is a term primarily used in [[secular]] [[academia]] to describe all cultural practices common to historically [[Islam]]ic peoples. As the religion of Islam originated in 6th century [[Arabia]], the early forms of Muslim culture were predominantly [[Arab]]. However, with the rapid expansion of the [[Islamic empire]]s, Muslims came into contact with, and assimilated much from, the [[Persia]]n, [[Turkic peoples|Turkish]], [[Mongol]], [[India]]n, [[Malay]] and [[Indonesia]]n cultures.
The people of the Maghreb and the Sahara speak various dialects of [[Berber_languages|Berber]] and [[Arabic]], and almost exclusively follow [[Islam]]. The [[Arabic]] and [[Berber languages|Berber]] groups of languages are distantly related, both being members of the [[Afro-Asiatic languages|Afro-Asiatic family]]. The Sahara dialects are notably more conservative than those of coastal cities (see [[Tuareg languages]]). Over the years, [[Berber people]]s have been influenced by other cultures with which they came in contact: [[Nubians]], [[Greeks]], [[Phoenicians]], [[Ancient Egypt|Egyptians]], [[Ancient Rome|Romans]], [[Vandals]], [[Arabs]], and lately [[Europeans]]. The cultures of the Maghreb and the Sahara therefore combine indigenous Berber, Arab and elements from neighboring parts of Africa and beyond. In the Sahara, the distinction between sedentary [[oasis]] inhabitants and nomadic [[Bedouin]] and [[Tuareg]] is particularly marked.
The diverse peoples of the Sahara are usually categorized along ethno-linguistic lines. In the Maghreb, where Arab and Berber identities are often integrated, these lines can be blurred. Some [[Berber languages|Berber]]-speaking North Africans may identify as "Arab" depending on the social and political circumstances, although substantial numbers of [[Berbers]] (or '''Imazighen''') have retained a distinct cultural identity which in the [[20th century]] has been expressed as a clear ethnic identification with Berber history and language. Arabic-speaking [[Northwest Africa]]ns, regardless of ethnic background, often identify with Arab history and culture and may share a common vision with other [[Arabs]]. This, however, may or may not exclude pride in and identification with Berber and/or other parts of their heritage. Berber political and cultural activists for their part, often referred to as [[Berberist]]s, may view all [[Northwest Africa]]ns as principally Berber, whether they are primarily Berber- or Arabic-speaking (see also [[Arabized Berber]]).
== Terminological disagreement ==
Muslim culture is itself a contentious term. Muslims live in many different countries and communities, and it can be difficult to isolate much that unifies them other than the [[religion]] of [[Islam]]. As a result, religious Muslims sometimes claim that there is no Muslim culture, only a Muslim religion. However, secular academia does not acknowledge this distinction, since it views religon as one aspect of cultural [[anthropology]] and [[history]].
The Nile Valley through northern [[Sudan]] traces its origins to the ancient civilizations of [[ancient Egypt|Egypt]] and [[Kush]]. The [[Demographics_of_Egypt#People|Egyptians]] over the centuries have shifted their language from [[Egyptian language|Egyptian]] to modern [[Egyptian Arabic]] (both [[Afro-Asiatic]]), while retaining a sense of national identity that has historically set them apart from other people in the region. Most Egyptians are [[Sunni]] Muslim and a significant [[Copts|minority]] adheres to [[Coptic Christianity]]. In [[Nubia]], straddling Egypt and Sudan, a significant population retains the ancient [[Nubian language]] but has adopted [[Islam]]. The northern part of the [[Sudan]] is home to the, largely, Arab Muslim population, but further down the Nile Valley, the culturally distinct world of the largely non-Muslim [[Nilotic]] and [[Nuba]] peoples begins. Sudan is the largest and most diverse of all North African countries.
The noted historian of Islam, [[Marshall Hodgson]], noted the above difficulty of religious versus secular academic usage of the words "Islamic" and "Muslim" in his three-volume work, ''The Venture Of Islam''. He proposed to resolve it by only using these terms for purely religious phenomena, and invented the term "Islamicate" to denote all cultural aspects of historically Muslim peoples. However, his distinction has not been widely used, and confusion remains in common usage of these words.
North Africa formerly had a large [[Judaism|Jewish]] population, almost all of whom emigrated to France or Israel when the North African nations gained independence. A smaller number went to Canada. Prior to the modern establishment of [[Israel]], there were about 600,000-700,000 Jews in Northern Africa, including both [[Sephardic|Sfardīm]] (refugees from France, Spain and Portugal from the Renaissance era) as well as indigenous [[Mizrahi Jew|{{Unicode|Mizrāḥîm}}]]. Today, less than fifteen thousand remain in the region, almost all in Morocco and Tunisia, and are mostly part of a French-speaking urban elite. (See [[Jewish exodus from Arab lands]].)
== Religious practices ==
Muslim culture generally includes all the practices which have developed around the religion of [[Islam]]. As such, it includes many aspects of religious worship which conservative Muslims may disagree with, such as the veneration of [[Sufi]] teachers (usually called [[pir]] in [[Persian_language|Persian]], and [[sheikh]] or [[murshid]] in [[Arabic_language|Arabic]]). In [[South Asia]], the veneration of Sufi teachers was especially important as it was similar to local [[Hindu]] practices of [[bhakti]] or devotion to spiritual [[guru]]s. This similarity allowed for syncretist forms of worship which combined elements of Hinduism and Islam, such as the [[Baul]] tradition of [[Bengal]], and facilitated the peaceful conversion of most of Bengal.
== Language and literature ==
===Arabic===
Early Muslim literature is in [[Arabic_language|Arabic]], as that was the language of [[Muhammad]]'s communities in [[Mecca]] and [[Madina]]. As the early history of the Muslim community was focused on establishing the religion of Islam, its literary output was religious in character. See the articles on [[Qur'an]], [[Hadith]] and [[Sirah]], which formed the earliest literature of the Muslim community.
With the establishment of the [[Umayyad]] empire, secular Muslim literature developed. See [[The Book of One Thousand and One Nights]]. While having no religious content, this secular literature was spread by the Arabs all over their empires, and so became part of a widespread culture.
===Persian===
By the time of the [[Abbasid]] empire, Persian had become one of the main languages of Muslim civilization, and much of the most famous Muslim literature is thus [[Persian literature]]. See [[The Conference of the Birds]] and the poetry of [[Rumi]].
===Turkish===
With the spread of Islam to [[Central Asia]], the comical anecdotes of [[Nasrudin]] became widespread. While primarily secular, these were sometimes used by Sufis as aids to teach students to re-think their common perceptions.
===South Asian===
In [[Bengal]], the [[Baul]] tradition of folk music produced a syncretist poetry which merged Sufism with many local images as well as images from [[Hinduism]]. The most prominent poets were [[Hason Raja]] and [[Lalon]].
For early Muslim feminist literature, see [[Rokeya Sakhawat Hussain]].
===Modern===
In modern times, classification of writers by language is increasingly irrelevant. The [[Egypt]]ian [[Nobel laureate]] [[Naguib Mahfouz]] has been translated into English and read across the world. Other writers such as [[Orhan Pamuk]] and [[Salman Rushdie]] write directly in English for a wider international audience.
== Festivals ==
See articles on [[Eid ul-Fitr]], [[Eid ul-Adha]], [[Ashurah]], [[Mawlid]], [[Lailat al Miraj]] and [[Shab-e-baraat]].
== Marriage ==
See article on [[Islamic marriage]], [[Nikah]] and [[Nikah Mut'ah]].
'''Marriage in Islam''' is considered to be of the utmost importance. The final [[prophet of Islam]], [[Muhammad]], stated that "marriage is half of religion"; there are numerous [[hadith]]s lauding the importance of marriage and family.
In [[Islam]], [[marriage]] is a legal bond and [[social contract]] between a man and a woman as prompted by the [[Shari'a]]. There are two types of marriages mentioned in the [[Qur'an]], the [[Nikah]] in verse 4:4 and the [[Nikah Mut'ah]] in verse 4:24.
== Art ==
See article on [[Islamic art]].
[[Image:Kaftar.jpg|thumb|left|Islamic tilework of the Shrine of Hadhrat Masoumah, first built in the late 8th century.]]
[[Islam|Islamic]] [[art]], a part of the [[Islamic studies]], has throughout history been mainly abstract and decorative, portraying geometric, floral, [[Arabesque]], and [[calligraphy|calligraphic]] designs. Unlike the strong tradition of portraying the human figure in [[Christian art]], Islamic art does not include depictions of human beings. The lack of [[portrait]]ure is due to the fact that early Islam forbade the painting of human beings, including their [[Muhammad|Prophet Muhammad]], as Muslims believe this tempts followers of the Prophet to [[idolatry]]. This prohibition against human beings or icons is called [[aniconism]]. Over the past two centuries, especially given increased contact with [[Western civilization]], this prohibition has relaxed to the point where only the most orthodox Muslims oppose portraiture.
Islamic art is centered usually around [[Allah]], and since Allah cannot be represented by imagery ["All you believe him to be, he is not"], geometric patterns are used. The patterns are similar to the [[Arabesque]] style, which also involves repeating [[geometric]] designs, but is not necessarily used to express ideals of order and nature.
{{main|Islamic calligraphy}}
Forbidden to paint humans and taught to revere the [[Qur'an]], Islamic artists developed [[Arabic calligraphy]] into an art form. Calligraphers have long drawn from the Qur'an or proverbs as art, using the flowing [[Arabic language]] to express the beauty they perceive in the verses of [[Qur'an]].
== Architecture ==
See article on [[Islamic architecture]].
===Elements of Islamic style===
Islamic architecture may be identified with the following design elements, which were inherited from the first mosque built by [[Muhammad]] in [[Medina]], as well as from other pre-Islamic features adapted from churches and synagogues.
*Large courtyards often merged with a central prayer hall (originally a feature of the [[Masjid al-Nabawi]]).
*[[Minaret]]s or towers (which were originally used as torch-lit watchtowers for example in the [[Great Mosque of Damascus]]; hence the derivation of the word from the Arabic ''nur'', meaning "light").
*a [[mihrab]] or niche on an inside wall indicating the direction to [[Mecca]]. This may have been derived from previous uses of niches for the setting of the [[torah]] scrolls in [[Jewish]] synagogues or the [[haikal]] of [[Coptic Christianity|Coptic]] churches.
*Domes (the earliest Islamic use of which was in the eighth century mosque of Medina).
*Use of [[iwan]]s to intermediate between different sections.
*Use of geometric shapes and repetitive art ([[arabesque]]).
*Use of decorative [[Arabic calligraphy]].
*Use of symmetry.
*Ablution fountains.
*use of bright color.
*focus on the interior space of a building rather than the exterior.
===Interpretation===
[[image:Mahan.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Mahan, [[Kerman]], [[Iran]]. Built in the 1300s.]]
Common interpretations of Islamic architecture include the following:
*The concept of [[Allah]]'s infinite power is evoked by designs with repeating themes which suggest infinity.
*Human and animal forms are rarely depicted in decorative art as Allah's work is matchless. Foliage is a frequent motif but typically stylized or simplified for the same reason.
*Calligraphy is used to enhance the interior of a building by providing quotations from the [[Qur'an]].
*Islamic architecture has been called the "architecture of the veil" because the beauty lies in the inner spaces (courtyards and rooms) which are not visible from the outside (street view).
*Use of impressive forms such as large domes, towering minarets, and large courtyards are intended to convey power.
== Music ==
See article on [[Muslim music]].
[[fr:Culture islamique]]
'''Islamic music''' is Muslim religious [[music]], as sung or played in public services or private devotions. The classic heartland of [[Islam]] is [[Arabia]] and the [[Middle East]], [[North Africa]] and [[Egypt]], [[Iran]], [[Central Asia]], and northern [[India]] and [[Pakistan]]. Because [[Islam]] is a multicultural religion, the musical expression of its adherents is diverse.
The indigenous musical styles of these areas have shaped the devotional music enjoyed by contemporary Muslims:
* [[Arab music|Arab classical music]]
* [[Persian music|Persian classical music]]
* [[Hindustani classical music|North Indian classical music]].
The [[Seljuk Turks]], a nomadic tribe that converted to Islam, conquered [[Anatolia]] (now [[Turkey]]), and held the [[Caliphate]] as the [[Ottoman Empire]], also had a strong influence on Islamic music. See:
* [[Music_of_Turkey#Classical_music|Turkish classical music]].
Sub-Saharan [[Africa]], [[Indonesia]], [[Malaysia]], and the southern [[Philippines]] also have large Muslim populations, but these areas have had less influence than the heartland on the various traditions of Islamic music.
All these regions were connected by trade long before the Islamic conquests of the 600s and later, and it is likely that musical styles traveled the same routes as trade goods. However, lacking recordings, we can only speculate as to the pre-Islamic music of these areas. Islam must have had a great influence on music, as it united vast areas under the first caliphs, and facilitated trade between distant lands. Certainly the [[Sufi]]s, brotherhoods of Muslim [[mysticism|mystics]], spread their music far and wide.
== References ==
* ''The culture of Islam: changing aspects of contemporary Muslim life'', by Lawrence Rosen (University of Chicago Press, 2004)
* ''Studies in Islamic culture in the Indian environment'', by Aziz Ahmed (Oxford India Paperbacks, 1999).
== External links ==
===Art===
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/features/art/index.shtml Islamic Art page] from the BBC.
* [http://www.lacma.org/islamic_art/intro.htm Introduction to Islamic art] from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
===Architecture===
* [http://www.islamicarchitecture.org/ Islamic Architecture - mosques and palaces]
* [http://archnet.org/lobby.tcl ArchNet] Islamic Architecture Community.
===Music===
====Popular music====
* [http://www.yusufislam.org.uk Official Cat Stevens / Yusuf Islam Site]
* [http://www.wharnsby.com Official Dawud Wharnsby Ali Site]
====Traditional music====
*[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/08/15/INGMC85SSK1.DTL African Muslim music and jazz]
===Literature===
* [http://www.library.cornell.edu/colldev/mideast/islamlit.htm Islamic Literature] at Cornell University.
[[Category:Islamic culture| ]]
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