Question: Should parents and their married sons live together or separately? Is it not natural to move out and settle elsewhere?

Married children living with parents or separately is an issue that has been left to culture and circumstances; no ruling has been given by the Shari‘ah in this regard and wisely so because what maybe possible in one type of family set up may not be in another.

DOES WESTERNIZATION = MODERNIZATION?

Usually when we talk about traditional wushu's relevance to modern times, we concentrate on the question "how can it help us to improve ourselves and our society?" Of course, those of us who love the art easily have a lot to say about that. All we have to do is examine our own experiences. Though details vary from person to person, basically our stories would hit on the same points: It's a great exercise for health and fitness. It builds strength of character and promotes inner growth. It challenges us to awaken and develop those parts of ourselves in which creative abilities and expanded thought exist. The outcome to our acceptance of this challenge is the next chapter in every person's story.
As an ethnic art, it provides practitioners a living experience of Eastern philosophy and wisdom. And let's not forget the obvious: it teaches advanced techniques which can be used for high-level combat. Performed correctly, the movements have a power, flow, and depth that is beautiful to watch and fulfilling to perform. One could accurately say that traditional wushu massages the entire person: body (inside and out), mind, and spirit.
To an outsider, this must seem too good to be true. But, this isn't the whole story. Practitioners must have the guidance of a true master who transmits the techniques of a pure lineage. For their own part, they must log in many hours of hard work, be willing to face their own errors and limitations, and carry on in the midst of discomfort and uncertainty. They must endure physical, emotional, and mental pain, persevere through frustrations, and struggle with long, boring hours of stance training, basics, and repetitive practice. They must discard many old habits and learn to think, move, act, and react in ways that go against their natural, customary way of doing things.
Traditional wushu is very old, as is the culture in which it was born. It is the culmination of centuries of wisdom, experience, testing, and medical knowledge. In contrast, our lives move at a machine-gun pace, with too many things to do, too much information to contend with, and too many changes which have come too quickly. Today's technical innovation makes yesterday's invention obsolete. And events half way around our shrunken globe can affect us with almost the same intensity as if they happened down the block. In this context, a discipline with roots in a strong culture that spans many centuries can be a lifeline of stability, grounding, and peace.
But being old doesn't automatically make something better in every way. With the passing of each generation, all areas of life--traditions, arts, religions, science, fashion, etc.--are automatically reevaluated in the light of the current situation and tastes. In addition, no matter how ancient, traditional wushu is a living art. Quite naturally it must continue to evolve and grow. In other words, it must be modernized or it will lose its vitality and die.

modernization and westernization:a core concept

It is extremely important for all us to know that both these are not to be confused with each other.they are entirely different from each other.as modernization is not a bad thing if we keep our limits and know that where our religion ,culture values norms stop us.
adopting modernization means moving along with the world and being able to be competitive with them so we need to adapt modern ways in a few aspects.so that we do not lack behind and the world does not go ahead from us.
however westernization is not something favourable as this means forgetting our culture, our eligion our norms and adopting of west.completely forgetting who we are and what are our roots.its vital for us to condemn the westernization cultureand stick to ours.if we want to be able to teach our future generations that where do we belong to.this concept is for europe ,america and other non-muslim countries but we need to know that being muslims its our duty to follow our customs,norms and values.

Modernization effect on culture

Modernization is blamed as one of the reasons for the youth to forget their culture. Many parents in urban areas are not practicing their culture; as a result the youth are not exposed or interactive with their own culture. Parents have already forgotten their responsibilities; they should maintain and improve their culture by teaching it to their children despite the gush of other intruding cultures dominating them. Nowadays, parents are making their children a Westerner instead of making them a Nepali. Our culture is being pushed aside by new models from abroad spreading by satellite. The logic of profit have always dominated the human minds similarly to the youth here, they go to different developed countries for opportunities for they are highly paid there. The youth who have gone to different countries like America and Australia in search of opportunities come back as an American or an Australian completely, not a Nepali.The food reflects the tradition of our country. The young generation has already forgotten the traditional food like “gundruk”, “sinki”, etc. instead it is replaced by fast food, etc. Fast food has already dominated the world in food. T-shirts and jeans have already dominated the entire youth clothes market. National dress must also be given priority. Nepalese sweets are in the point of extinction because everybody prefers foreign sweets. The foreign movies have already dominated Nepali movies. Many youth doesn’t like the presentation and screening of the actors but we can work for the betterment.

Muslim Youth in the 21st Century

As the twentieth century comes to an end it is time to reflect on our achievements and failures in responding to the Qur'anic challenge of creating a good society on earth. The entire human history has been a history of the struggle to bring about this ideal society. The ideal that Islam is seeking is also a universal ideal for the entire humanity. It has been a mission of all the prophets and all the sages to see that humanity through its spiritual and moral perfection brings about the establishment of a just community. But it has not been an easy task. Many a people in the world have struggled and strived to make this earth a better place to live: a place that would reveal a balanced individual exhibiting a highly spiritual life informed by absolute moral values through the primary institutions of socialization like family, community, religious centers, and so on. In this regard the Qur'an has reminded us more than once that "A man receives but only that for which he strives; that his endeavors will be judged, and only then will he receive his recompense in full." (53:39-41) In other words, humanity has to continue to strive to earn its final reward in full. How to maintain that dynamic momentum in faith by striving to remain a Muslim, that is, a person who has "submitted" his/her total being to the Divine will?

Modernization Theory

Modernization theory has evolved in three waves. The first wave appeared in the 1950s and 1960s. One made the attempt to explain the diffusion of Western styles of living, technological innovations and individualist types of communication (highly selective, addressing only particular persons) as the superiority of secular, materialist, Western, individualist culture and of individual motivation and achievement (Lerner, 1958), Schramm, 1964).
This first wave of theory produced three variants (McQuail, 2000: 84):
1.
Economic development: mass media promote the global diffusion of many technical and social innovations that are essential to modernization (Rogers, 1962). See Diffusion of Innovations theory.
2.
Literacy and cultural development: mass media can teach literacy and other essential skills and techniques. They encourage a ‘state of mind’ favorable to modernity, e.g. the imagination of an alternative way of life beyond the traditional way.
3.
National identity development: mass media could support national identities in new nations (colonies) and support attention to democratic policies (elections).

Westernization is a process, whereby societies come under or adopt the Western culture in diffrent matters such as industry, technology, law, politics, economics, lifestyle, diet, language, philosophy and values. Westernization has been a pervasive and accelerating influence across the world in the last few decades. It is usually a two-sided process, in which some societies follow westernization and some usually confuse it with Modernisation.

Modernization includes the destruction of the existing culture, replacing it with a more efficient western culture. In Pakistan, modernization is often confused with westernization because the Mulla's think of empowering women, essential part of modernization, as westernization.

We should stop thinking of modernization as apart of westernization because this has stopped us from accelerating in the international arenas and has also diminished our goodwill amongst other societies.

On the right you can see an image of Japanese Prince Yorihito wearing a western outfit, this also shows that the most conservative societies have mistaken westernisation as modernization.

Modernisation and Westernisation

Salaam All,
As we can see majority of people they are adopting western culture just to show that they are modern but we have never analyzed about westernization and modernization.
Lets think about westernization what is westernization?
Westernized means To make or become like the people of Europe and America in customs, or like their institutions, practices or ideas.
Now what is modernization?
To switch to more modern methods or techniques.
Its absolutely OK when we talk about institutes and techniques of western countries, as far as that is a part of modernization but that does not mean whatever people of western countries do that is also a part of modernization, because that is their culture and you cannot compare culture with Techniques.

Everything Western is not necessarily modern and everything modern is not necessarily western. For example, there is nothing modern about drinking alcohol , these are rather some of the diseases, which the western societies are gripped by with disturbing consequences (and unfortunately, the same things are now being blindly followed by our own societies, thinking it to be modern and cool).There are institutions and systems in the West which are based on fair and just principles, or universal principles, because of which their societies have progressed. Due to progress they have advanced in many areas of life, especially in science and technology, through which they created facilities that helped them become more and more productive thus helping able to contribute in further advancement their country. If that is what we call “Modern”, then this is not because of the West but because of the Universal Principles, which any society may apply and become advanced. Islam is all about Universal Principles and therefore Islam is the basis for any society to become Modern or advanced just as the Muslim World was (modern) before the Western World started adopting those same principles (which the Muslims did previously). But unlike the Muslims, the Western world monopolized their advancement therefore (in an unfair manner) keeping itself ahead of other societies.However, as far as cultures are concerned, it is natural for a culture to make its place in a society or in the world at large if it enjoys a great influence over the others, just as the American or Western culture is doing today (whether by force or by influence, due to its technologically/materialistically superior position in the world which is reflected through all sorts of media). We have to be careful whenever it comes to choosing between a cultural value and Islamic principle, because culture is about a person’s identity but Islam is about life

Islam and Modernity

Most Muslims do not really think of Modernity in terms of a break with the Past. Modernity means new and better technology and an improved standard of living. But unlike in Western societies, it also means a renewal with the Past, a return to the original ethos of Islam, of Mecca and Medina. If that society remains the perfect society, which must be copied in the late Twentieth century, then the idea of Progress, or a break with the Past is a nonsense.
This mind set has other subtle and important implications. Universal suffrage is welcomed, but not necessarily the idea that individual freedom or freedom of opinion are essential preconditions for the exercise of democracy. An Islamist would understand Hurriyat al-ra'y, or Freedom of Opinion, to mean the right to think what you like but only within the boundaries of what is permitted in Islam. Too often, it seems, Islam is defined in a narrow and restrictive sense.
The dilemma raised by Hurriyat al-ra'y is rooted in Islam's early history. The first century of the Islamic state is marked by murder, intrigue and civil war, epitomized by A'isha's struggle against Ali, and, soon after, by the bloody schism between Sunni and Shi'i which resulted in a state of fitna or chaos. Freedom of Thought, for many Muslims, therefore is synonymous with dissent and fitna and must be avoided at all cost. For a traditional Muslim, freedom of thought therefore signals a return to Jahiliyya, the Age of Ignorance and Darkness.
Western cultures, in varying degrees, claim that human beings should act and think according to their own desires and beliefs. But for many traditionalist Muslims, individualism thus defined also opens the door to selfishness, a denial of God, and, once again, chaos or Fitna. Passions, desires and, above all, the human imagination, must therefore be tightly circumscribed. Loudspeakers outside the compound of the Tabhlik-i-Islami (a powerful Islamic missionary society) in Raiwind ( Pakistan) declare apostate anyone who dares to praise Reason. Reason is an attempt to set oneself up above God. Human Reason is an act of blasphemy that must be punished! the loudspeakers blare. At such moments, the most innocent and unspoken thoughts can take on the terrors of blasphemy.

Islam and Modernity

Most Muslims do not really think of Modernity in terms of a break with the Past. Modernity means new and better technology and an improved standard of living. But unlike in Western societies, it also means a renewal with the Past, a return to the original ethos of Islam, of Mecca and Medina. If that society remains the perfect society, which must be copied in the late Twentieth century, then the idea of Progress, or a break with the Past is a nonsense.
This mind set has other subtle and important implications. Universal suffrage is welcomed, but not necessarily the idea that individual freedom or freedom of opinion are essential preconditions for the exercise of democracy. An Islamist would understand Hurriyat al-ra'y, or Freedom of Opinion, to mean the right to think what you like but only within the boundaries of what is permitted in Islam. Too often, it seems, Islam is defined in a narrow and restrictive sense.
The dilemma raised by Hurriyat al-ra'y is rooted in Islam's early history. The first century of the Islamic state is marked by murder, intrigue and civil war, epitomized by A'isha's struggle against Ali, and, soon after, by the bloody schism between Sunni and Shi'i which resulted in a state of fitna or chaos. Freedom of Thought, for many Muslims, therefore is synonymous with dissent and fitna and must be avoided at all cost. For a traditional Muslim, freedom of thought therefore signals a return to Jahiliyya, the Age of Ignorance and Darkness.
Western cultures, in varying degrees, claim that human beings should act and think according to their own desires and beliefs. But for many traditionalist Muslims, individualism thus defined also opens the door to selfishness, a denial of God, and, once again, chaos or Fitna. Passions, desires and, above all, the human imagination, must therefore be tightly circumscribed. Loudspeakers outside the compound of the Tabhlik-i-Islami (a powerful Islamic missionary society) in Raiwind ( Pakistan) declare apostate anyone who dares to praise Reason. Reason is an attempt to set oneself up above God. Human Reason is an act of blasphemy that must be punished! the loudspeakers blare. At such moments, the most innocent and unspoken thoughts can take on the terrors of blasphemy.

Eastern Value System

The eastern value system is based on norms, traditions and customs, which are inherited from generation to generation. For a western society, this is markedly different where people are kept together not by traditions and customs, but by slogans of patriotism and liberty.Each society has its own intrinsic values and traditions that offer a sense of communitas. Culture is solidified by upholding the traditions that can be traced back to their roots, and disintegrates when mimesis of alien cultures erodes the native.Arguably, tradition imposes the cultural force and social norms while modernity in this context struggles to improvise upon the given tradition to seek flexibility and individuality. In the event of change, modernity seems to question the reliability of the traditions. Change is an equally strong phenomenon that cannot be underestimated. The tradition and modernity interplay is evident in the social drama between the younger generations, both in Pakistan and abroad. In a discourse on culture it is conventional to discuss the tradition and modernity struggle vis-à-vis because of the dialogical narrative between the older and younger generation. However, the tension between the bi-polarity will be voiced through the ever-changing reality that we see in retrospect in forthcoming interviews.A group of 18 to 25 year-old students in Karachi, expressed that they are having trouble grappling with several issues concerning inherited traditions. Many were confused with whether any of these traditions could pass the test of modern times. For most the question became a dauntless monologue and boggled them to the extent that it became a big part of their conversation.

Islam, Christianity, and demand for devine guidance

Failure of Fascim, Communism, Capitalism and all other man-made idealogies along with the failure of Christianity to fight materialism and secularism and to satisfy the spiritual hunger created by the vicittitudes of modern life in the West, as lamented by Pope Benedict, is also an important factor which has created a demand for a divine guidance and an idealogy and religion like Islam.

Modernization

Modernization is a concept used in sociology and politics. It is the view that a standard, teleological evolutionary pattern, as described in the social evolutionism theories, exists as a template for all nations and peoples. It should not be confused with the sociological concept of rationalization, or the concepts of urbanization and industrialization.
According to theories of modernization, each society would evolve inexorably from barbarism to ever greater levels of development and civilization. The more modern states would be wealthier and more powerful, and their citizens freer and having a higher standard of living. According to the Social theorist Peter Wagner, modernization can be seen as processes, and as offensives. The former view is commonly projected by politicians and the media, and suggests that it is developments, such as new data technology or dated laws, which make modernization necessary or preferable.This view makes critique of modernization difficult, since it implies that it is these developments which control the limits of human interaction, and not vice versa. The latter view of modernization as offensives argues that both the developments and the altered opportunities made available by these developments, are shaped and controlled by human agents. The view of modernization as offensives therefore sees it as a product of human planning and action, an active process capable of being both changed and criticized.

the modernization of a society required the destruction of the indigenous culture and its replacement by a more Westernized one. Technically modernity simply refers to the present, and any society still in existence is therefore modern. Proponents of modernization typically view only Western society as being truly modern arguing that others are primitive or unevolved by comparison. This view sees unmodernized societies as inferior even if they have the same standard of living as western societies. Opponents of this view argue that modernity is independent of culture and can be adapted to any society. Japan is cited as an example by both sides.