Akhtar Raja
The magnificence of the Moroccan team’s victories, and their recent graceful defeat, has been reflected in jubilant celebrations across communities, nations, and continents. Interestingly, this has been different in nature from fans supporting their respective country’s team. Why? What has spurned this rush of endorphins, tears of joy and screams of elation directed towards the skies?
There have been many poignant images in both mainstream and social media. But the ones that seemed to resonate the most were pictures capturing the players falling to the ground bowing and raising hands whispering prayers. Also, there were photos capturing the outpouring of love and humbled recognition for the towering institution and influence of the institution of motherhood. There were scenes of political solidarity against oppression. Other feats were depicted too–superb team management, charity, and sporting prowess. Together, what wonderful scenes these were.
What we saw was the uncovering of a rich tapestry sown with threads of different colours, densities, and material. Woven to depict vivid and opulent images of people united by a culture unrestricted by race, colour, nationality, origin, or any other physical or national feature dividing humans. Emotions were unified. People became one. Morocco’s sporting victories raised a worldwide canopy under which the treasures of a culture were celebrated by all those who were united and attracted by it.
Culture is born spontaneously. Its initial momentum is strong-akin to a fast-flowing stream descending, crashing, and accelerating down a steep mountain slope. Eventually it loses its speed and spreads lethargically across a wide landscape. It becomes a way of life but its length of existence in time and societal coverage differs. Culture sets out to change a way of life and to become part of it.
Efforts to change culture differ with the passage of time. Culture has to accommodate the ethos of educational institutions, the new frontiers of knowledge, fashion, art or music or a combination of some or all of these or other things. It hopes to survive the passage of time and overcome existing boredoms. Sometimes trivial occurrences create a new cultural flow
A change in the season can give rise to a new festival. Professors-from the educational elite endowed with their own mannerisms-longing for distinct recognition and adulation can innovate a fresh cultural norm.
Similarly, artists, poets, fashion designers and other groups exhibit their own forms of behaviour which they seek to label as culture. Culture is sometimes intended to be seen as part of ‘enlightenment’-striving to justify reason and individualism rather than tradition
On occasions it is difficult to tell whether new cultural norms are driven by passion or insanity. Older cultures such as those represented by religion impact and influence the way of life. Not infrequently, it may appear that culture has been developed having regard to the poor while neglecting them the most
Some cultures are born out of rebellion and the desire to initiate something new and to be different. Amongst the youth there are those who espouse cultural changes through tyranny of government, tyranny of religion or tyranny of parents
What we saw alongside the achievements of the Moroccan team was a longstanding, undiminished and universally rich culture being upheld. That culture was Islam.
Islam is a culture that has survived transition, time and space and embraced change. It accepts criticism but disallows both its imposition on others while guaranteeing the liberty of others to freely choose cultures they wish to follow. It has stood and continues to stand the test of time and absorbs transition and change. It remains original, profound, and innovative in response to changing times. It has no direct quarrel with democracy, socialism, capitalism, and other systems apart from the requirement to adhere to its structure of morals. In the flourish of red shirts and green stars the curtain was drawn back to reveal love, celebration, charity and justice by more than one country.
The same culture was a driving force behind the generosities laid forth by the hosting nation –something now widely evident in social media, if not mainstream international media. Guests were received with the same level of hospitality irrespective of who they were. This was contrary to the unsavoury portrayals by some.
Honouring visitors from around the world is at the heart of Qatar’s culture. Generosity is key as is graciousness in the face of rejection or criticism. This culture represents Qatar’s heartbeat and the pulse of many Muslims around the world. It is a culture that unites all that s good whether in the context of sport, a host’s conduct or wider issues which concern all people of sound conscience.
Akhtar Raja is a British lawyer based in London and Principal of Quist Solicitors.
