As I traveled a couple of weeks ago to the Arabian world in the gulf I gave notice to the threads of Islam that are weaved so noticeably through the communities and infrastructure there. As you walk through the shopping malls, airports and hotels of Kuwait, Qatar, UAE and the like; you will most surely come across prayer rooms and washrooms for prayer. Most public buildings are equipped this way, and at minimum have signs indoors showing the correct direction for prayer.
I visited the new Islamic Art Museum in Doha I was struck at the use of patterns in the Islamic art that show the philosophy of the infinite in everything. I was impressed by the use of Arabic calligraphy (usually repeating a line from the Quran or a declaration of a one-and-only god) on dinnerware, rugs, tapestries and jewelry. It seems no matter where in the world or when in time the culture travels its faith is significant if not center.
Their food and dress follow the tradition of their holy rules and their laws echo the same. Their skyline is dotted with mosques and their weeks and days are punctuated into a regular rhythm by prayer.
There may be a tendency for westerners to shake their heads at the legalism. One may wonder “Why can’t they lighten up?” “Why all the rules?”
Admittedly I am a Christ-follower with a very different world-view from the majority in the Arab world. Though I have found myself asking some of the questions posed above and maybe I have shaken my head at some of the legalism of that culture I cannot help but be impressed too. I am impressed and maybe even a bit wanting of the consistency present. The entire Arab and Muslim world do not share the Islamic religion and its customs but they respect it and its presence in their lives. One does not have to share the Islamic values to appreciate a culture that integrates its moral beliefs into consistent reminders throughout their day-to-day.
As a Christ-following American I do crave this consistency. Oh to have a public system of daily and constant reminders of the faith system that built our country. To have popular public art that sought to glorify God rather than spit at Him. Oh to have a public desire to hold sacred the God that led our fore fathers to this land. To have our youth taught to honor our Christian history (even if they don’t worship it) rather than scrub the Christianity from it.
I visited the new Islamic Art Museum in Doha I was struck at the use of patterns in the Islamic art that show the philosophy of the infinite in everything. I was impressed by the use of Arabic calligraphy (usually repeating a line from the Quran or a declaration of a one-and-only god) on dinnerware, rugs, tapestries and jewelry. It seems no matter where in the world or when in time the culture travels its faith is significant if not center.
Their food and dress follow the tradition of their holy rules and their laws echo the same. Their skyline is dotted with mosques and their weeks and days are punctuated into a regular rhythm by prayer.
There may be a tendency for westerners to shake their heads at the legalism. One may wonder “Why can’t they lighten up?” “Why all the rules?”
Admittedly I am a Christ-follower with a very different world-view from the majority in the Arab world. Though I have found myself asking some of the questions posed above and maybe I have shaken my head at some of the legalism of that culture I cannot help but be impressed too. I am impressed and maybe even a bit wanting of the consistency present. The entire Arab and Muslim world do not share the Islamic religion and its customs but they respect it and its presence in their lives. One does not have to share the Islamic values to appreciate a culture that integrates its moral beliefs into consistent reminders throughout their day-to-day.
As a Christ-following American I do crave this consistency. Oh to have a public system of daily and constant reminders of the faith system that built our country. To have popular public art that sought to glorify God rather than spit at Him. Oh to have a public desire to hold sacred the God that led our fore fathers to this land. To have our youth taught to honor our Christian history (even if they don’t worship it) rather than scrub the Christianity from it.
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