The word culture has many different meanings. The term was first used in this way by the pioneer English Anthropologist Edward B. Taylor who said that culture is "that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society." Elements of cultures involves; artifacts, stories of histories, myths, legends, and jokes; rituals as in the ceremonies, and celebrations; heroes, symbols and symbolic action; beliefs that related to assumption and mental models; attitudes, and other rules, norms, ethical codes, and values.
Culture and society is not the same thing. While cultures are complexes of learned behavior patterns and perceptions, societies are groups of interacting organisms. While human societies and cultures are not the same thing, they are inextricably connected because culture is created and transmitted to others in a society. Cultures are not the product of lone individuals. They are the continuously evolving products of people interacting with each other. Cultural patterns such as language and politics make no sense except in terms of the interaction of people. If you were the only human on earth, there would be no need for language or government.
Unity
Unity can be defined as the state of being undivided or unbroken completeness or totality with nothing wanting. It can denote a combining of all the parts, elements and individuals into an effective whole. It has the quality if being united into one. So, overall understanding about unity is that it represents the element of being together. Unity in the Islamic concept can be referred to Unity of God in which it is often referred to as Oneness of God that we should only obey to one God and that is Allah.
The element of unity is very important with culture because culture means something that is different. Every culture contains different understanding about anything either is a small and tiny things to the serious one. Different cultures also have different belief and style of living and these differences can be a matter and big points to the failure. When we have the elements of unity inside ourselves and we teach others to understand about the importance of unity, we can counter any problems that come to us. It is very important to not think about others as different units especially when we are Muslim because we need to unite in order to help our Muslim brothers and sisters.
Diversity in culture means the variety of human societies with different origins, religions and traditions all living and interacting together in a specific region or in the world as a whole. Cultural differences that exist between people, such as language, dress and traditions, create the uniqueness of their own in this world. Signification of diversity can be seen in variations in the way societies organize themselves, in their shared conception of morality and in the ways they interact with their environment.
Cultural diversity is a part of our major lives and of who we are. By understanding other cultures and sharing same ideas can build friendship that can cause harmony and peace. For example, in term of food like Indian Curry which originated from India has become a popular dish and accepted by many cultures in Malaysia, Britain, America, Korea and even Japan. This is one example of diversity in culture where everyone can enjoy the dish not only because of its delicious taste, but because of its benefits for health. Indian Curry uses many herbs which is good for body system and can warm the body temperature.
Example of culture: Muslim in Japan
Japanese? What do you know about Japanese? People around the world might identify them as hardworking people through their development and very modern through their technologies. They are also known to be very courteous through their manner such as bowing and respecting other people. Their heritage is unique and interesting such as the geisha, the samurai, the sumo, and there are many amazing ceremony that shows how they bond with each other such as the Japanese Tea Ceremony, marriage ceremony as well as the Shichi-go-san ceremony which celebrates children of age three, five and seven on every November, 15.
Little did we know about their religion. What are their beliefs? Are they practicing Buddhism? Based on statistics, 84% to 96% of Japanese adhere to Shinto and Buddhism through birth records and not based on self-identification. About 70% profess to no religious membership and 84% claims no personal religion. Most Japanese do not exclusively identify themselves as adherents of a single religion; rather they incorporate elements of various religions in a syncretic fashion. However, Japan grants full religious freedom allowing minority religions to be practiced.
Despite of the majority of Japanese do not believe in religion, there are estimated number of about 115,000 to 125,000 Muslim populations in Japan although 90% are foreign residents such as Bangladeshi, Pakistanis, Iranians, Indonesian and even Malaysian, the remainder are ethnic Japanese.
Did we ever know that there are Japanese Muslims in this world? It is very rare indeed to found Japanese whom practice Islam. But, from the recent Tsunami-cum-earthquake disaster we have learned that there are Muslims in Japan and the Muslim community there have lent their support to help ease the sufferings.
Based on a report in OnIslam.Net, the survivor of the catastrophic earthquake that hit Japan on March 11, 2011 is still coping with the devastation and heartache caused by the natural disaster. Therefore, Muslims organisation such as the Islamic Relief, Zakat Foundation and Helping Hand has responded immediately to the humanitarian crisis in Japan with aid including food, clothing and fuel for electricity and heat. Here we can see the unity between people and how Muslim promote brotherhood to help those who in needs and by responding and helping to ease the sufferings is the only way to show true thankfulness and gratitude towards Allah s.w.t.
"Righteousness is not turning your faces towards the east or the west. Righteous are those who believe in God, the Last Day, the angels, the scripture, and the prophets; and they give their money, cheerfully, to the relatives, the orphans, the needy, the traveling alien, the beggars, and to free the slaves..." (Quran, 2:177)
Muslims in Japan have widely retained their sense of religious and cultural identity and have generally been established as members of Japanese society; however, the Japanese public must continue to accept these religious and cultural differences in order to maintain a functional society in which the rights of all people are protected.
Many of the Japanese Muslims are women who converted to Islam through their marriage to Muslim men. Muslims in Japan often encounter the problem of finding halal food products that are permissible according to Islamic law. These products usually exclude pork, alcoholic beverages, and also refer to the method used in animal meat preparation. Women, both foreign Muslims and Japanese Muslims, also face the issue of wearing the hijab, a cloth cover that covers different amounts and areas of the woman depending on individual interpretation, teachings, cultural backgrounds, etc. Though there have been several instances of harassment towards Muslims in Japan, it appears that these incidents are gradually decreasing through time.
Multipurpose Role of Mosque
As mosques are the only places that are exclusively for Muslims, mosques in Japan play a vital, multi-purposed role. A hundred years ago, there were only two mosques in Japan, now there are around forty. As both land and construction is expensive in Japan, many office and residential buildings are converted into mosques, usually with a separate place reserved for women and children. Mosques are used not only for congressional prayers, but also for social gatherings.
During Ramadan, the month of fasting, many Muslims come to the mosques in order to celebrate with their fellow Muslims. Mosques are also used to hold Islamic study sessions and weddings, with space for offices and places for relaxation. Mosques are places where Muslims can gather, worship, and socialize, though not all Muslims go to mosques.
Muslims in Japanese society face no particular mal- treatment, as all foreigners in Japan must deal with similar forms of discrimination. As it is with many societies, those who adapt to a new society's way of life are far more likely to be accepted. Japan is no exception; most Japanese people do not have a particular discriminating attitude towards Muslims. However, those who openly bring their religion to not only the public, but also their work place, may be faced with cultural barriers. Though these incidents are rare, they still present a problem for practicing Muslims. Especially in the work place, devout Muslims who pray five times a day for ten-minute intervals will find it difficult to fit into a culture in which constant hard work is expected and highly valued. Though this may be a source of discomfort for some, many Muslims have found ways to compromise by making up prayers after work that may have been missed during work hours. In this way, many Muslims have managed to adhere to both Japanese and Muslim lifestyles.
Many Japanese Muslim converts may find it difficult to conform to strong cultural expectations while simultaneously fulfilling their religious duties and rules. The Islamic faith prohibits the consumption of alcohol and pork which conflicts with behavioural expectation at Japanese welcoming parties or end of the year festivals. Many Muslims state that when given an explanation, their colleagues politely accept this refusal of alcohol. However, there are wide ranges of individual experiences regarding religious rules; some Muslims have met with understanding, others have met with criticism. The Japanese public must accept these differences in order to create an understanding society which functions with little friction between diverse groups. Generally, it appears that these problems are becoming less severe and may eventually be obliterated all together.
Though Islam is not the predominate faith in Japan, there are many restaurants, grocers, food servers, and catering services which serve both imported and local halal food. There are several websites that list the location, contact information, and the owners of specific areas where Muslims may find halal food suppliers. Through this growing availability of halal food, Japanese society is showing an adaptation to Islamic laws and what society has not yet managed to provide, individuals have made their own adaptations. Muslims who live in convenient locations can purchase food from halal shops and Muslim Associations scattered around Japan that also supply halal food.
Though there are few Muslims in Japan, today's Japanese public has generally accepted them as members of Japanese society. For the most part, Japanese people have accepted their cultural differences as colourful aspects of the world and have understood that these cultures are actually not very different from their own. It is this understanding, this openness, and this innate compassion that is essential in fighting for the rights of all people and the preservation of human dignity.
