How If Islamic Ritual Mix With Culture practicing

Developing any modification in ibadah is not permissible. Muslims should follow what Prophet did. But in fact, we find lots of people perform ibadah with some modifications. In my country Indonesia, NU Muslim community is claimed as community which doing ibadah mix with culture practicing. Other Muslim communities claim it as Bid'ah.

When we talk about Muslim or Mukmin, I will say no to any modification in ibadah, but when we talk about Dakwah, let's think hard and pray to Allah. It's not simple, Brothers and sisters. Consider where we are having the dialogue: in public or in our own community. Both are different.

When we talk in our own community, Muslim community, everything we talk should make us better Muslims. Just talk about how we can be better tomorrow. However, when we talk in public, there are so many divers religions. Look that diversity. Then, remember, Our God Allah orders us to teach them about Islam in a good way. Not to mock them, not to look down on them, not to make them angry, etc.

"Good way" is not as simple as how to spell it. In our own community, we define the 'Good', but in public, there are lots of different standards there. Our duty is not to define the best standard among them, but to make those people interested in Islam. This is our duty. When they are interested in what we show them, it's the time we can show them the beauty of Islam. May God always help us.

Back to the topic, the mixture of Islamic ritual and culture practicing. In my country Indonesia, Islam was brought by nine saints. Our ancestors were Hindu at that time. Therefore, until now many Muslims still practice the Hindu rituals.

Are they wrong?

Let's think twice to judge. Judging should be done after teaching, right?

I was born and growing up in NU community. Our family also mix culture practice and Islamic rituals. So I know them better than you are in the distance. I divide them into two categories: The educated Muslims and uneducated one. The educated one is divided into two: One who still practice as they think mixing culture practicing and Islamic ritual is okay, another one is those who do it just to attract uneducated Muslim to come to Masjid (Mosque) or to gather, because culture ritual is the best way to gather them, then when they gather, it's time to explain them the knowledge of Islam. The uneducated one is they are who still need caring, guidance, love, understanding, by the educated one. Most of them do not have much time to study Islam or they don't have money to study Islam as Islamic school is not free.

I am not qualified to judge which one is right and which one is wrong. Hope Allah always guides us.

______________________________________________________________