Culture

For some, our culture is all we know. In this tiny box that is our culture, lies our entire lifestyle—our attitudes, goals, our behavior and practices are all part of the culture we live in.

Though as an identifier, culture is an important part of everyday communication; as an entire lifestyle, it does nothing more than limit ourselves from a whole different world from the one we've seen growing up around the same relatives.

As the famous verse goes…

“O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, so that you may know one another. Verily, the most honorable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has taqwa. Verily Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.” [Al-Hujuraat 49:13]

If I were to implement this verse in my life today, I understand that I’ve become distant from my own culture. And I’m okay with that. In fact, I take pride in this. Because even though a rich cultural background is a vital part of every individual, culture itself, inevitably, limits communication from those who are outside of its boundaries. However harder I may have to work in a multicultural relationship, I know it reaps more benefits than detriments. There is compromise that I don’t mind and even enjoy, because in the end, all of it is worth it for the one you love. The one I love.