East Islam Vs. West Islam

Name
Course
Instructor
Date
East Islam Vs. West Islam
Introduction
Since the ‘War on Terror’ started, there has been renewed interest on Islam and different schools of thoughts among Muslims in the East and the West. Even though, Muslims are adherents of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), there are some differences between Islam in the East where and the West where Muslims are a minority. However, Islam had had a presence in the West during the earlier ages of expansion into Europe, but further conquest were halted by Christian armies especially in parts of Spain and France. Nonetheless, Muslim communities in Turkey, the North Caucasus, and the Balkans show that Islamic presence in Europe is not necessarily a recent phenomenon of immigration. This paper explores the differences between Muslims in Iran and America, and their interpretation of the Quran.
Background
The majority of Muslims in Western Europe and North America has their origins from majority Muslim countries, but have settled in the West after immigration or may be first and second generation immigrants. The political contexts between the two countries mould the way Muslim communities in the two countries. Iran follows the tradition of using the Quran for political means through commentaries, and this tradition has long existed in the Muslim community from the 7th century (Dabashi 241). Muslims in America are more diverse in America than in Iran, and religious freedom does not constrain any Muslim sect from practicing their beliefs as it happens in many majority Muslim countries where Alawites and Druze are at times regarded as heretics and not Muslims.
The historical evolution of the two countries highlights on the differences between the two countries where Islam is a state religion in Iran and in the U.S. Muslims is a growing minority. Many American Muslims are Sunni unlike Iran, which is one of the few countries, which has a Shia majority. Saudi Arabia the birthplace of Islam also follows Sunni Islam in religious rulings and issuing fatwa. Approximately 65% of Muslims in America are Sunni While 15 % do not state their affiliation among the two major sects and other sects like the Ahmadiyya (Pew Research). One of the major differences with Iranian Muslims in affiliation is that more U.S. born Muslims do not identify with any of the sects.
Muslims in Iran and the U.S
American Muslims are not as orthodox as their Iranian counterpart is, and the level of ethnic and national origin differences makes it hard for Americans to have huge followings on specific Islamic teachers, Muftis, or Sheikhs. Additional, 1 out 5 of Muslims in America are converts and they come from a background that does not follow orthodoxy, and among American born citizens the percentage of those who have embraced Islam rises to 69 (Pew Research). Thus, the background of the brand of Islam practiced differs, and although they adhere to the basic tenets of Islam cultural and personal experiences between the two countries bring about differences where orthodoxy is more likely to be common in Iran.
The religious authorities in the two different countries face different challenges, with the American Muslims having grown up in the secular world. Thus, the rise of different religious sources of authority and ability to access information through the internet has led to the growth of new ‘mass media’ muftis. Furthermore, the rise of cable Television is a signal of emerging differences, whereas in Iran broadcast is more restricted in firmly grounded in the Shia tenet. Thus, the basic tenets of Islam are still common between Iranian and American Muslims; but the American Muslim can claim to practice religion without fear of rebuke from religious teachers, and information is easily accessible from diverse sources. Since Iranian Muslims tend to get their information from classically educated scholars who hold Orthodox views on Islam, they are generally more conservative across social classes.
Another major difference between Muslims in America and Iran is that there different views on the role of Islam in public life. In essence, Iranian Muslims integrate their practices into the public life often than American Muslims, and although it is not a mark of their adherence, it is a reflection of the society. The Iranian state is a theocracy, and remains the only country to have clerics power across all the arms of government. Muslims in Iran use the Shariah law and politics is intertwined with religion, but Muslims in America do not use Shariah before court of laws. Thus, even when practicing Islam Iranians draw inspiration from using Shariah in jurisprudence
Since 9/ 11 and perceived discrimination against Muslims in the west, there has been renewed interest on Islam among Young Muslims in America. On the other hand, the autocratic rulers in Iran have led to the disenfranchisement of Muslims in the Middle East. Iranian leaders typically use Islam in their political ideology, and although there are no widespread street protests like in the Arab Spring, there is growing discontent. In America, young Muslims are being drawn towards conservative practices in Islam more than their parent’s generation (Abdo...