The world we inhabit appears to be divided into collectivist and individualist countries; 99 in the first category and 24 in the latter[1]. My focus here is on the former. All of the countries from which our Muslim neighbours come are collectivist societies, while countries of the West are generally individualist societies. The Muslim people who have migrated here tend to operate with a collectivist mindset. Some of them, especially those of second or third generation, are likely to be somewhere between the extremes on the collectivist-individualist continuum.
Collectivist culture prioritizes the needs, goals, and harmony of the group over individual desires, emphasizing interdependence, loyalty, and social cohesion. In such cultures, individuals define themselves primarily through their relationships and roles within groups such as family, community, or nation.
There are several social and cultural implications. Collectivist cultures shape identity, decision-making, and social behaviour. People tend to prioritize consensus, the reputation of the group, and the collective good when making choices.
Kashmir where I grew up is widely considered a collectivist culture. Family, community, and social networks were always prioritized over individual interests. Individuals were deeply interdependent and prioritized the well-being of their family and local community over personal goals. Our social connections were central to daily life, and such relationships guided professional, personal, and social decisions. The concepts of ‘wasta’ (connection) and ‘biraderi’ (wider family) were quite prevalent, leading to people relying on close friends and relatives for support instead of formal institutions. The extended family system was a cornerstone of our society, with multiple generations often living together. Loyalty to family was paramount, and individuals frequently placed family interests above their own. According to Hofstede’s cultural dimensions[2], that describes collectivist/individualist cultures, societies such as Kashmir score low on individualism and high on collectivism.[3]
In individualist societies people make the big decisions themselves. At the most, if they wish to do so, they might consider the opinions of one or two close friends or family before doing so. However, in collectivist societies big decisions are usually made by elders of the family. Before individuals make any such decisions they would seek the agreement of their family members. Thus, in big decisions the phrase ‘lok kya kahengey’ (what will people say?) is very meaningful. This is especially so in making any counter-cultural decisions. The phrase continues to be present in present day Pakistan (see the 2025 article by Ali, Anis and Mazhar[4]). It also plays a part in the UK where there is a large Asian population[5]. More generally, this video[6] is worth looking at in order to understand many of the Muslims we live alongside.
For those wondering why so few Muslims become followers of Jesus one major factor could be that people are pre-occupied with that question ‘what will people say?’. The phrase carries within it the fear of community judgment, loss of family honour (izzat), and the pressure to conform to strict community expectations. Thus major life choices—such as choosing a university, career paths (such as a preference for the arts over traditional paths like medicine or law), and marriage partners—maybe altered to align with what the extended community will approve of.
The ‘biraderi’ system, the tight-knit nature of the community can mean that news and gossip travel quickly. This tight network provides a support system but it can also act as an enforcement mechanism for cultural norms. The fear of bringing shame upon the family often leads to the silencing of personal struggles, mental health issues and domestic disputes especially in faith-related decisions.
In the book ‘Against the Grain’, the faith story of Khalad Hussain, he speaks of a woman who was found in bed with a man who was not her husband. She was immediately pressurised to commit suicide, on account of ‘what will people say’, because her action brought shame on her whole family. Hussain himself became a follower of Jesus after being given the verses in Jeremiah 15:19-21, where God promised to keep him safe and called him to not pay attention to ‘what people might say’.
As Christians, it is worth remembering that the peoples and cultures that produced the biblical texts were overwhelmingly collectivistic. Collectivist culture is not wrong in itself. Identity, guilt, honour, shame, blessing, and responsibility were understood communally, not primarily individually. Following Jesus calls us away from rugged individualism and toward a shared, communal way of life in Christ, demonstrating “original unity” marked by mutual belonging, shared responsibility, and ever-deepening relationships (NT Greek koinonia) that stand as a counter-witness to our culture’s epidemic of loneliness and isolation.
We need to seek to have a greater understanding of people whose culture is collectivist and be patient with them. The Muslims we live alongside are from a different cultural context but are also going through a change process here in the West, that is different for different people. We need to pray for God’s guidance and blessings for He understands. We should be willing to play our part in sowing the seeds and watering as necessary and then being patient. We need to remember that often patience in the Bible also means endurance and awaiting God’s timing. We need to understand that those who decide to become followers of Christ, including those who do so secretly, are being extremely countercultural as they are making an individual decision in a collectivist culture. Some of these people might need refuge in a ‘safe house’. Also, we should not give up on those people who do not respond to our message immediately.
[1] Collectivist Countries 2026
[2] https://www.simplypsychology.org/hofstedes-cultural-dimensions-theory.html
[3] https://threadsofkashmir.blog/2024/10/28/a-broad-ethnography/
[4] Effects of public perceptions and social conformity on behaviour and mental wellbeing of young adults in Pakistan | Discover Psychology | Springer Nature Link