The Socialization of Muslim Children in America

IntroductionWithin the social and behavioral sciences, the study of socialization hasoccupied a central position. A commonly accepted definition that has beenoffered by Brim describes socialization as "the process by which individualsacquire the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that enable them to participateas more or less effective members of groups and the societym1 Thus,socializaton is a prooess that begins at birth and extends thmughout the courseof an individual's life. For the Muslim, this acquisition of knowledge, skillsand dispositions must be a process guided by the Qur'an and Sunnah. Theknowledge of Allah's will and the laws and patterns of His creation represent,in essence, all that can be known. The Qur'an is the guidebook in the questfor knowledge while the skills and dispositions needed by the Muslims arereflected in the life of Prophet Muhammad (SAAS). His Hadith and Sunnahprovide the Muslim with a realistic conat within which to apply abilitiesand attitudes in an Islamic manner. It is doubtful that any Muslim wouldquestion the relevance of the Qur'an and Sunnah to the socialization process.However, when this processes takes place within a non-Muslim society likeAmerica, the complexity of their application becomes an issue that requiresconsiderable attention. This paper will seek to address this complexity bysuggesting a conceptual framework for examining the socialization of Muslimchildren in America. First of all, it will contrast Islamic and Westernperspectives on socialization. Secondly, in an effort to "Islamize" our thmkingabout socialization, it will offer a clefinition of successful Muslim socialization.Thirdly, the paper will contrast the Islamic and Western world-views anddiscuss their implications for the socialization of minority status groups inAmerica. Finally, the paper will suggest elements of a conceptual frameworkthat can be used to study the socialization of Muslim children in America.In sha'a Allah, this effort will serve as a stimulus for those who wish tosystematically study Muslim socialization in the American context.Western Perspectives on SocializationLevine has suggested that three different perspectives on the socializationprocess have dominated Western behavioral science theory and research, eachreflecting a specific disciplinary orientation. Cultural anthropology seessocialization as enculturation or the intergenerational transmission of culture.This point of view sees the child as essentially a blank slate (tabula rasa),or as an organism that acquires culture by being immersed in it. Theenculturation perspective, in its more sophisticated form also recognizes therole of cognitive processes in socialization. The desired outcome seems tobe an individual who has absorbed the culture in which he has been raised

Epistemology · Islam · Political science · Process (computing · Relevance (law · Socialization · Sociology · Theology · Community Health and Development · Computer Science · Education and Islamic Studies · Law · Parental Involvement in Education · Psychology · Social Psychology

• Islamic Socialization of Children

  Open Access•Qudratullah Saddiqi, Mohammad Alam Safi et al.•Integrated Journal for Research…•2026

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