Yaser El-Waly on Preserving Meaningful Traditions Traditions provide a tie between humans and the past; however, traditions are more than just following old practices without thinking about them. Traditions should be filled with memories, values, family history, and lessons that stay meaningful despite changes in times. The way Yaser El-Waly feels for Islamic values indicates his awareness of traditions’ ability to offer continuity. On the other hand, holding on to the important things does not always mean not moving forward. In many cases, traditions have to keep their meaning with changing times. Yaser El-Waly on Why Traditions Matter For Yaser El-Waly, tradition can act as a symbol for all those things which a family or community finds significant. It can be eating together, or a specific family get-together, or charity work or something related to receiving guests. It may be a simple activity, but the significance of that activity gets enhanced over time. Tradition can also help to establish a sense of belongingness. It helps young generations to learn about the practices of previous generations. Yaser El-Waly on Passing Values Between Generations Yaser El-Waly finds merit in the concept whereby tradition serves as an avenue for teaching young individuals about concepts using practical experiences. While children do not always grasp the significance of a certain practice at first introduction, years down the road, the underlying reasons behind such tradition might be apparent. That is one of the aspects which makes family traditions strong. The point being that family traditions sometimes teach without necessarily explaining concepts. The lesson can be learned subconsciously. Yaser El-Waly on Adapting Without Losing Meaning However, Yaser El-Waly understands that traditions are bound to shift as situations change. People relocate, generations get old, technology changes ways of communicating, and people live differently. Not all traditions should necessarily stay exactly the same for younger generations to embrace them. Perhaps, what is more critical than the details is the idea behind the tradition. The family which used to congregate in one spot can now do so in many spots. There might be some difference in the way it happens, but its core idea will not change. Yaser El-Waly on Creating New Traditions According to Yaser El-Waly ’s perspective, preserving tradition does not mean that families cannot create new ones. New traditions can emerge naturally from changing circumstances. A regular family call, an annual community activity, or a shared practice of helping others can eventually become something future generations remember. And that brings about an interesting connection between heritage and creation. Mankind inherits its heritage from the past generations but gets an opportunity to create something for the benefit of future generations. Yaser El-Waly on Traditions in a Changing World Thoughts by Yaser El-Waly are especially pertinent in multi-cultural societies like Australia, where people of various cultures live side-by-side. Families in such cities like Melbourne, Sydney, and Perth can practice traditions of their respective culture while at the same time being part of a larger culture too. It does not have to be a clash. By learning other peoples’ traditions, understanding is promoted, while holding onto one's own traditions gives a feeling of self-identity and belonging. Traditions may serve as bridges instead of barriers. Yaser El-Waly on Remembering the Reason Behind a Tradition Yaser El-Waly explains the significance of knowing why something is being preserved. There is also a possibility for traditions to become meaningless sometimes because they have been maintained without knowing the reason behind the maintenance. If there is a reason behind something, then that reason allows people to preserve the true essence of whatever is being preserved. In this way, traditions can become relevant to the younger generation. They do not need to be told that something has always been done in the same manner. The reason behind maintaining traditions would give them the importance of their preservation. Yaser El-Waly on What We Leave Behind Yaser El-Waly ’s view of tradition ultimately points toward something larger than preserving familiar routines. Each generation is left with particular values, customs, and experiences from the previous one, which decides what is worth keeping, what is worth adapting, and what new traditions should be forged. Traditions are not worth their value merely by virtue of being traditional; they retain their value in reminding us of the importance of that which we are supposed to remember. Insofar as the value endures, tradition does more than bind the present to the past; it quietly hands something of value to the future.