|
|
| Guide
to Islam for New Muslims |
| Page 3
|
| V. Male/Female Relations Islam provides a code of manners for male/female interaction outside the home. It is impossible not to interact with the opposite sex in daily life such as in the workplace, school or shopping centres. Some very conservative Muslims have this silly and miss-guided notion that men and women are forbidden to have any interaction unless they’re married. Reading the Qur'an and Hadith, however, we get a different picture. The early Muslims, until recent times, had a relatively egalitarian attitude towards male/female relations. Muslims have only freaked out in the last two hundred years with isolationism and ultra-conservatism becoming rampant. Today's arch conservatives would have you believe that a woman's place is in the kitchen and nothing more, but this is not what you will find when you read about Muslim society in former times. Men and women can interact in legitimate settings such as in a business; market, school or social gathering provided they follow certain points of Etiquette. Women and men must be wearing clothes that fulfil Islamic requirements of decency. Men must be covered from the knees to the neck. A turban or other form of a hat is strongly recommended. Muslim men are required to have some sort of a beard if they can grow one. Many secular minded Muslims agree with this point, because they feel inferior to European-derived civilization which usually shuns the beard, but the Prophet (saw) said in a Hadith for men to grow a beard. Women must be covered from their ankles to their necks and down to their wrists in loose fitting clothes. In addition, a head covering must be wrapped over the hair. This is called the Hijab, or scarf. Face veils, gloves and socks are optional. (These are the same kinds of conservative Muslims who think that women are forbidden to drive cars in Islam. Cultural opinions have no superiority over true Islamic positions.) B. An unmarried man and woman should never be alone together in a room. No person should ever be alone with someone of the opposite sex unless they are married to that person. C. Men and women are not to talk to each other in a soft or intimate-sounding voice unless they are married to each other. Women are to address men in a firm and even tone so that the men don't get any false ideas. D. When meeting and greeting: Men shake hands and hug only other men. Women shake hands and hug only other women. (Unless they are married to each other, of course.) E. Men and women who are not married to each other never touch. F. If two people are interested in getting married, the woman should arrange for a male relative to act on her behalf as her representative. That way she doesn't have to feel pressured or undignified. If a woman doesn't have any reliable male relatives to represent her interests, she may choose another Muslim male, usually an Imam or other trusted person to act on her behalf. VI. Names Islam does not require a person to change his or her name. The only case where a person should think about changing their name is if the meaning of their name is offensive. (Once a man came to the Prophet (saw) and introduced himself. The man's name meant "Downcast and sombre." The Prophet (saw) suggested he change his name to a better one such as Abd’ur Rahman (Servant of the Merciful.) Many Muslims like to take on Islamic or Arabic-style names as an expression of their affiliation, but this is not required. An Arab name is not always an Islamic name. Names identified with Islam exclusively usually have some relationship to being a servant of Allah or to the Prophet and the most famous Muslims around him. There are many books, which give lists of names associated with both Islam and Muslim culture. Some examples of currently available books (of which the IAA library has many) are: 1. A Dictionary of Muslim Names. IBTS. 2. The Book of Muslim Names. MELS. 3. A Digest of Muslim Names. Amana Publications. 4. Names for Muslim Children. |
| In
the name of Allah |
| |
| |
 |
 |
 |
