The Effects Of Irja On The Identity Of Muslims Living As Minorities: A Case Study Of Australia

Abstract

The call for complete integration and assimilation and adoption of the “Australian way of life” as promoted by a growing segment of the Muslim community with the notion that Islam is only a theological system that has no connection with a person’s moral, social and economic lifestyle. Those who oppose this call regard it as a call to “Separation of Actions from Faith” commonly classified by Muslim Scholars both in the past and present as a call to the ideology of Irja’ loosely translated as “postponement”. The ideology of Irja’ has been thoroughly refuted by Islamic scholars in the past and many books have been written in refutation of this belief. This research paper will look to determine to what extent has this ideology of Irja’ found its way into the Muslim community in Australia and what are the effects of this ideology or calling to this ideology, on the identity of the Muslims living as a minority.