Graphical Abstract
Subjects
Lifestyle encompasses a set of preferences, values, norms, consumption patterns, and perceptions that, as a shared and collective phenomenon, symbolically contribute to identity formation among individuals and societies. The scientific, cultural, social, and political transformations resulting from revolutions, the Renaissance, modernity, and the dominant principles of various philosophical schools in Western culture have shaped a distinct way of life for Western societies, which is now recognized as the Western lifestyle. Similarly, Muslims, relying on religious teachings and their indigenous culture, have developed what appears to be an Islamic lifestyle. While human experiences over time create commonalities in lifestyle beyond religious values and norms, commitment to religious principles in Muslim societies and the adoption of secular and materialistic approaches in Western civilization have led to distinct lifestyles. Given these differences, a comparative study of Islamic and Western lifestyles, particularly their foundations in Western civilization, becomes essential.
Lifestyle can be considered a pattern of individual and social behaviors and practices shaped by beliefs, values, and cultural norms. As two dominant lifestyle models in the contemporary world, both Islamic and Western lifestyles share many commonalities while also exhibiting fundamental differences. This study adopts a descriptive-analytical method with a library-based approach to compare these two lifestyles, examining their similarities and differences based on Quranic verses and the hadiths of Ahl al-Bayt (A).
The research findings indicate that, in general, an analysis of the similarities and differences between Islamic and Western lifestyles reveals that both emphasize justice, freedom, human rights, peace, and humanitarianism as fundamental values for human and social development. These values align with Islamic teachings, which strongly emphasize ethics and human virtues. However, the study also highlights key differences between the Islamic and Western lifestyles, particularly in areas such as:
One of the most significant distinctions is that the Islamic lifestyle promotes values such as fairness, forgiveness, self-sacrifice, compassion, and justice, reinforcing both moral and human values. Islam’s approach to environmental conservation and social interaction is proactive and influential, emphasizing responsibility and ethical commitment. Conversely, the Western lifestyle prioritizes the advancement of technology and economic growth as its core objectives. In policy-making and strategic planning, individual interests and personal well-being often take precedence over collective values and social welfare.
While both lifestyles uphold justice, freedom, human rights, peace, and humanitarian values, they present two distinct models in moral, cultural, social, economic, and political aspects. Islamic lifestyle places greater emphasis on ethical and human values, actively promoting them, while the Western lifestyle focuses primarily on technological and economic progress, often prioritizing individualism over collectivism. This study suggests that, despite their differences, developing shared human and social values and enhancing societal conditions and human excellence are achievable goals when considering both the similarities and differences of these two lifestyles. The findings can contribute to structuring and formulating appropriate policies to achieve these objectives. From a macro and future-oriented perspective, efforts to strike a balance between Islamic and Western lifestyles can significantly enhance human and social development in the long term. Furthermore, cultural exchange and collaboration in advancing shared human and social values offer a valuable framework for improving social conditions and human excellence, laying the foundation for future research and studies on this topic.
