Background: Muslim families living as religious minorities in Europe frequently encounter challenges in balancing Islamic ethical values with participation in local cultural traditions. Although previous studies have explored Muslim identity, migration, and intercultural integration, limited research has examined how Islamic family ethics shape engagement with secular cultural celebrations such as Sant Dionís Day in Valencia, Spain.
Purpose: This study aims to examine how Muslim families ethically negotiate participation in Sant Dionís Day and to assess whether such engagement is compatible with the principles of akhlaq, fiqh al-usrah, and maqāṣid al-sharī‘ah.
Methods: This study employed a qualitative case study design using semi-structured interviews with seven Muslim families residing in Valencia, complemented by documentary analysis of official cultural sources and relevant scholarly literature. The data were analyzed thematically and interpreted through the framework of maqāṣid al-sharī‘ah to evaluate the ethical dimensions of cultural participation.
Results: The findings identify three patterns of engagement: non-participation to safeguard religious identity, selective participation emphasizing cultural appreciation without compromising Islamic values, and broader participation motivated by civic inclusion. Across these patterns, participants consistently distinguished cultural appreciation from religious imitation through ethical reasoning and contextual judgment.
Conclusion: The study demonstrates that participation in local cultural traditions does not inherently conflict with Islamic family ethics when guided by sound religious knowledge, ethical intentionality, and awareness of Islamic legal boundaries. Such engagement can strengthen family resilience, intergenerational dialogue, and social integration.
Novelty: This study contributes an Islamic ethical framework for understanding Muslim family participation in secular cultural festivals by integrating empirical evidence from Muslim families in Spain with the perspectives of akhlaq, fiqh al-usrah, and maqāṣid al-sharī‘ah, thereby extending current scholarship on Muslim minority resilience in multicultural societies.
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