Communication patterns among Muslim community an exploratory study

Abstract

This research explores communication patterns among the Muslim community. Every act as well as communication that a Muslim makes is looked upon from religious point of view. As Islam has shaped living ways of Muslims, it has also influenced the communication behavior of the Muslim community. Communication patterns among Muslims are also shaped by their religion, Islam. Muslims have their own way of greeting each other. They have their own way of celebrating festivals, holding wedding ceremony, welcoming to new born baby and funeral rites, among other activities. At the time of such activities, whatever a Muslim speaks and passes comments are in the line with Islamic tradition. In the five time prayers each day, in some act transpersonal communication occurs while in some acts two-way communication occurs and instant feedback is also found. In the weekly Friday prayer mass communication occurs as the Imam delivers sermon before Farz prayer (obligatory ones) begins. Both mass communication and transpersonal communication occur during annual prayers of Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha, two major festivals in Islam. Mass communication also occurs when Ijtima (religious gathering) is held. Imams and scholars deliver sermons about Islam by relating them with contemporary issues. Sermons are aimed at motivating Muslims to do each and every act in accordance with the teachings of the holy Qur’an and Sunnah. If we talk about channels used by Muslims to deliver Islamic messages, they use various channels. Transpersonal communication occurs when a Muslims enters to a bathroom, exit from there, when he or she begins to have meal, after having meal, when sneezing, before beginning a journey, when looking into mirror, when seeing a bad dream, when using new cloths, before sleeping and when waking up, when there is thunderclap. Allah, in the holy Qur’an, commands to hold consultation before taking crucial decision in family or other affairs.