The importance of religious culture

By: Sabah al-Talqani

Culture in the modern era has become an important factor upon which that many nations seeking growth and development have come to rely. Every society has a mixture of cultures and traditions which together are part of how that society functions.

We as Muslims should adhere to the moderate Islamic culture that is the school of Ahl al-Bayt. This may be considered to be the basis of the Islamic religion, and those responsible for propagating Islamic discourse should therefore pay attention to this most significant feature, representing as it does the core of society on which the different aspects of life must rest.

When cultural projects are regarded as a means of distribution that candisseminate Islamic principles and reflect the authentic ideals of the Rising of Imam al-Hussain, this should be underwritten by a number of conditions. One of these is complete trust in the thoughts of Ahlal-Bayt, which represents the true path which remains unknown to many people. Millions of people are turned away from this path as a result of the way it is shown to them.. It is difficult to show to all people the culture of Ahlal-Bayt, which may supply deliverance from theworld ofutter materialism.

However, those who run cultural and media establishments need to convey to people what it was that our Prophet and Imamsintended for us by using moderate language which resembles the type of guidance that people will follow Nahj al-Balaghah is a good example of this.

Lastly, Imam Hussain was martyred for many aims and one of these is the propagation of the ethicsof Islam,whichpreserve the true culture of our Prophet. Whoever wishes to avoid thecoercion, violence, militancy and intolerancewhich are practiced by those sectswho follow a distorted view of Islam should therefore follow the path of Imam Hussain, who championed the rights of humankind.