A Piece Of Cardboard

It happened yesterday, and made getting asleep so very difficult that I had to write about it this morning … to someone.

Leaving the local Superstore, I was confronted by a woman sitting on a low wall looking quite sad.  She was colourfully well-dressed, complete with a hijab, and seemed healthy.  I was surprised, not so much by the Islamic dress, but by a an old piece of cardboard that she was holding tightly in front of her, upon which was written, “I AM POOR GIVE ME MONEY”.  I experienced the proverbial ‘double-take’ … and walked away.

That’s why I had difficulty sleeping — not because of the hijab (known to be worn by some Christians also) but because she was a Muslim and, therefore, without a doubt, a refugee … and ... I walked away.

I needed answers.  Why, on a cold November day, did she need to sit outside the Superstore, apparently ignored by most people?  Why didn’t she visit the local mosque and talk to a charitable imam.  The government gives welfare cheques to all refugees, why is it insufficient (It is greater than my pension)?  Does she have a husband who demands more money?

So many embarrassing questions that need to be addressed.

NB.  It must be noted that, personally, I have some acceptance of Canada’s refugee policies … it is illegal immigrants that make me extremely angry (whatever their ethnic origin).  Just saying.

Religion 6 — Shawls and Scarves

As an occasional teacher of English to Muslim students but, now, resident in an English-speaking country (Equally, acknowledging the existence of our French-speaking cousins), I feel justified in making the following suggestion or request for, at least, two reasons.  Firstly, our language must not be ignored because of its essential effect on accurate communication in our multi-ethnic society and, secondly, there needs to be opposition to some misinterpretation in translation by extreme individuals of other cultures.

There is an increasing backlash against the wearing of certain clothing for (so-called) religious reasons.  From a language point of view, specifically, I shall focus upon shawls and scarves, known as a hijab in some foreign languages.  And, that, is my first point;  if the discussion was about the wearing of a scarf or shawl, either around the neck or over the head, would there be so much heated discussion?  I doubt it.  Therefore, let us start speaking English.

Of course, the real problem is hiding the face, but that is a completely separate matter from the point of view of identification and security ... and has nothing to do with religion.

Here, I should be pleased to quote from an authorized English language version (Wikipedia) of the Qu’ran.  I am sure that it will cause some surprise.

“And say that the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband's fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, etc. ...”

Sura 24 (An-Nur), ayat 30-31, Qur'an

“O Prophet! Tell thy wives and thy daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks close round them. That will be better, so that they may be recognized and not harassed. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.”

Sura 33 (Al-Ahzab), ayah 59, Qur'an

However, there are many different interpretations of what "modesty" requires.  The Qu’ran admonishes Muslim women to dress modestly and cover their breasts and genitals.  The Qu’ran explicitly states that "O wives of the Prophet, you are not like anyone among women" (Qu’ran 33: 32) and as such has separate rules specifically for the wives of the Prophet.  However, many people often mistake it for rules for all Muslim women.  The Qu’ran has no requirement that women cover their faces with a veil, or cover their bodies with the full-body burqua or chador.  The Qur'an does not mandate or even mention the hijab (A scarf).

Comments are not only welcome but requested.

Religion 1 - The Burqa

Just the word alone attracts much attention. Discussion related to the Burqa, is not only a religious issue but also becomes a political issue (Just to name two).

It is my experience that many people do not understand the definition of a burqa. It is, simply, an outer garment worn by women in some Islamic traditions to cover their bodies in public places. Confusion exists in the use of words such as, hijab and niqab. These are individual parts of the burqa — the hijab being a head covering, and the niqab being a face covering (or veil).

I can see little reason to be offended by a woman wearing a burqa that does not have the niqab. In fact, some European women, in the summer, may wear a Indian sari as an evening dress, even though they have no knowledge of Islam. The sari being little more than a burqa with the hijab and niqab removed.

It is interesting to note that all women are asked to cover their heads with a scarf, as a matter of respect, when entering churches and cathedrals. Yet, ironically, some of those women, would still be critical of Muslims wearing a simple burqa.

The wearing of a niqab in public is the most controversial aspect of this discussion because a liberal interpretation of the Koran fails to convince most people that God (Allah) commanded that women must be completely covered. In addition, it is recorded that Mohammed said that both women and men should “dress and behave modestly in public.” This is a tradition that happened long before Islam, and should be interpreted according to today’s normal behaviour.

I read that a Muslim cleric had stated that women must wear a niqab because when a man looks at a woman’s body he looks, first, at her face. This is ridiculous because all things being equal, in other words, when a man has the opportunity to look at a woman’s naked body, the face is not the initial attraction.

Therefore, it is not surprising that countries are beginning to seriously consider banning the niqab (France has already done so) with arguments against being made by men and women indoctrinated by unfortunately biassed, and bigoted, interpretations of the Koran.

Discussion related to health matters or assimilation into other societies would be something to include at another time.