THE ROLE OF MUSLIMS IN DIASPORA

THE ROLE OF MUSLIMS IN DIASPORA National Integration T HE total number of Muslims in the world today is 1.57 billion, of which 5 million reside in the United States. A large proportion lives in countries where they are minorities. These include countries where Muslims have migrated to recently. Those Muslims who live outside their country of birth are referred to as Muslims in Diaspora or Muslim Immigrants. Muslims have their freedom in these countries to follow what they want in their personal lives. They have all the facilities to pray, fast, celebrate their festivals, dress how they want and take up whatever jobs they like, eat what they want, and so on. However, when it comes to community living and the laws of the country or the organizations they work for, Muslims have to understand that they should abide by these rules, which are common for all the citizens of the country or for all the staff of an organisation. It is a simple understanding of the owner's or the employer's rights. Muslim immigrants have a common problem, which is cultural in nature. They have to live in a culture that is different from what they are accustomed. This is the first question facing Muslims who settle in other countries. Migrants of other communities easily adopt the culture of the foreign country and blend with the local population. Muslims must follow similarly. This is an international norm. People who migrate and settle in another country should abide by the law of that land. Similarly, they must also adopt the local culture. This leads to harmony between the migrants and the locals. Disharmony will become an obstacle in the development of both groups. Muslims cannot develop a different norm for themselves. For example, if Muslims settle in another country and admit their children in schools for education, they must follow the school regulations. They must adjust to the prevalent culture, not demand that the school authorities should bend the rules to suit their culture. Similarly, Muslims residing in a country where freedom of expression is considered absolute will have to accept this. If, for instance, people of this country, while exercising their freedom of expression, publish cartoons in their newspapers that hurt Muslim sentiments, then it is