11-18-2003, 10:59 AM
As Salam A`alaman itaba`alhoda
JohnDoe, u came to this board willingly to investigate Islam as u told me trying to take it from Muslims rather than Islamophobia. Islam is based on Quran and Sunnah. Originally u don’t believe in either. However, we can not invent rules to reply to u. So pls be patient with us while we explain to u. It is either u want to know or just act challenging. As I said earlier u came here willingly. Our role is just to open the door and switch the light on. Not to push u in. So stop feeling threatened.
As for your comment, u will need some explanation on the inter gender relation in Islam
Quran commands both genders (not only men) to lower their gazes, in other words, not to look at the opposite sex. The look usually leads to the rest. U might be passing by and look at a suit in a window display. U decide to go in and get it. U can not say Islam is extreme in this. There is saying I am sure u know it that goes like:” Find them feed them, love them leave them”. Therefore, to find them is to look at them. Islam dries the source of the sin. So we are commanded not to look at the opposite sex. Under not condition the man u r talking about means to disrespect the woman. Matter of fact, I feel disrespected if a man looks at me directly. See I am not wearing Niqab (face cover) and I work with men. Yet when I talk to them, I try not to look them in the face directly, so they try as well, while I make my interaction with them on a minimum level. It is out of respect to myself and an effort to help my Muslim brothers maintain a pious attitude and avoid any temptation.
In addition that there are certain manners we must abide by in terms of talking among genders. We know it and try to apply it.
Again u just tend to bring a certain incident and build a whole theory on it making a premature judgement. By no means such attitude is disrespectful to a woman on the contrary. Simply the man is protecting himself. Leave alone, u never mentioned how this woman was dressed. If she was dressed up immodestly, he even has more reasons not to look at her avoiding sins.