Religion and Socialization: The Psycho-Sociological Role of Islam in Socializing Individuals and the Muslim Community (Ummah)

Socialization is studying social interactions and understanding the processes of social organization, which creates self-awareness about our culture or the society in which we live. Socialization also means learning about social expectations and their development. It also means internalizing the values and norms we adhere to as individuals of a particular society to develop our personality and unique identification. Such internalization of the normative framework is not peculiar to individuals alone; communities have their own socialization process. Agents of socialization include the family, the school, the peer groups, and religion. The present paper discusses the role of religion in the socialization process of individuals and the Muslim community (Ummah), with a particular focus on Islamic teachings and principles.