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+--- Thread: Our Society Suffers From Schizophrenia (/showthread.php?tid=9956)
Our Society Suffers From Schizophrenia - Red Sea Diver - 07-22-2003
By Dr. Khaled M. Batarfi •
kbatarfi@al-madina.com
A foreign journalist told me about a weird incident that happened to
him on
his flight from Jeddah to London. After taking a short nap on board, he
woke
up to set eyes on a totally different scene. His veiled neighbor
wearing the
familiar long black abaya had disappeared. In her place, he found a
beautiful and stylish girl in tight pants checking her make-up. Still
dazed,
he looked right and left trying to find his veiled neighbor, but then
came
the second surprise: All surrounding veils were gone. Some men who had
been
taking care of their women were busy watching others, some of the
completely
silent women started talking and laughing loudly, expensive dresses
came
out, and for the first time the astonished journalist saw and heard
Saudi
women. In London, it was the same. Cheery Arabs were gathering in
London’s
markets, squares and nightclubs dressed in the latest Western
fashions.My
confused friend asked: If your religion and traditions specify certain
features for a woman’s dress, why is their use limited to your country?
Why
can’t I phone my friend’s wife in Jeddah if I can meet her in full
make-up
in London? Why does my Muslim friend perform his prayers regularly five
times a day in his country and turns his back on some or all of them in
London? Is your religion confined to the land of Islam or do rules vary
according to time, place and occasion?I explained to him that these few
don’t represent the whole of society. There are maximum and minimum
levels
of veiling depending on persuasion and circumstances. Covering the face
is
required in most Islamic schools of thought.Although
I believe in that answer, I also share the desire to explore the
reasons for
the “schizophrenia” many segments of our society suffer from. Our young
are
taught the noble values and virtues of the Prophet (peace be upon him)
in
schools and mosques, and learn about them from radio and TV, but when
they
are out in the real world dealing with adults and observing the
behavior and
attitudes of their teachers and parents, they discover that what they
had
learned is necessary. Confusion rules and
innocence
is submerged in a sea of contradictions.We are in real need of
religious,
sociological, and scientific studies concerning these phenomena.
Experts in
each field should participate in exploring ways to get us out of this
situation. Allah doesn’t help a people unless they help themselves.
Our Society Suffers From Schizophrenia - Muslimah - 07-23-2003
I fully agree with the basic theme of this article. However, I am sure that there were some who maintained their veil. Those are the ones who took the veil in compliance with Islam and not adhereing to the tradition dress. In countries like Egypt for example where no national dress is available. Women walk in the streets either veiled, not veiled but modestly dressed up or iin ultra fashion clothes. It depends on the person. Same thing applies on men. There are those who maintain all their worship duties whereever they are. While others who do it only under obligation just find a chance to skip. It is the human being. Other wise why there are ranks in jannah and why many Muslims shall have a taste of Hell.
As simple as this