Why Can't Muslim Women Marry Christians and Jews?

This is a question that I would never ask my Muslim friends and certainly, never, ever among my family. If they happen to be on this blog then, well, I will have a lot of explaining to do for this.

I have been wondering about this a lot lately, especially ever since Mondowess brought it up in a post about a US lawmaker, Anthony Weiner, a Jew, who is to wed Huma Abedin, a Muslim and former aide to Hillary Clinton.

In the Quran, God gives permission for Muslim men to marry the "People of the Book," a term of respect used for Jews and Christians. At the same time the Quran also prohibits from marrying "mushrikeen" women, or anyone who believes in and worships more than one God.

The scholars have been unanimous for centuries regarding the interpretation of this law. Muslim men may marry People of the Book, but Muslim women cannot marry People of the Book because God gave that permission to the men only.

The likely question then arises, why?

The number one most common reason given is that the man is the head of the household and his children will follow his religion but not that of the mother. For a long time this made sense to me and I accepted it. Then I started thinking critically about the issue. Now days, I don't think any man can claim that he is the sole head of the household, even Muslim women will raise an eyebrow to that.

The reality is that many Muslim men marry Jewish and Christian women. Many times their girlfriends or wives do not convert. The Imam marries them and asks God to bless their union.

But if a Muslim women is dating a Jewish man or a Christian man then it become a big scandal. No Imam will marry the couple unless the man converts. I have not seen many Muslim girls choosing to marry a non-Muslim man.

But I know of many, many Muslim men who have married outside of the faith. I have also seen many marriages break up in our Muslim community even when there were children involved. And most of the time, the women have gotten custody of the children. I know of a family whose kids used to attend the mosque regularly and after the divorce they are now attending their mom's church.

So does this bias still make sense in this age?

Either the scholars of Islam need to put a complete ban on the men marrying outside of the faith or they should not have an objection to Muslim women doing the same.

Some people may point out that the law was not written by men but by God Himself and He only gave permission to men. However, the Quran almost always addresses the men in many instances when giving permission to do something or prohibiting something.

In fact, the wife of the Prophet (S), Aisha, was a bit upset by this that she asked why does not God address the women more often? Then God revealed a the verse,33:35 (one of my favorites), and in it he addressed both men and women. The Prophet (S) then explained that even though God addresses the men, He is speaking to the women as well.

In my next post, I will post the verses that refer to marriage and write a bit more on them.

Fashion + Political Statement = Hijab

I am giving a link to a blog post about fashion and Muslim women at the end of this after the You Tube video. This particular post shows videos on how to tie the hijab. This is in Arabic so I didn't understand what they said. But apparently, the woman was discussing hijab and fashion and then showed how to tie a Palestinian keffiyah in a Spanish style head wrap.

Many Muslim girls are donning the Palestinian Keffiya as a political statement and fashion accessory. One of the women in the video even matched her lipstick with her scarf.

Many non-Muslims may be surprised to find out how much thought and effort many women put into donning on the hijab in different styles and matching it with their clothes and accessories.

In this particular video I am fascinated by how fashion, a political statement--peace in Palestine, mix of cultures--Palestinian/Muslim/Spanish/Western/Arab were all mixed in. Wow. Sometimes even I am intrigued by how diverse Muslims and "Muslim" cultures are.




Click her to go to Hijab Style, where hijab is discussed from a purely Islamic/fashion perspective--most of the time

Here are other posts on MY blog that discuss the hijab--mostly in a political context:

Judges and Hijab
Niqab vs. Skirt

Niqab vs. Skirt--Which Makes You Feel More Comfortable?

I find it interesting that nearly every newspaper has carried this particular AP photo to accompany their hijab/niqab story:



My local paper, the Houston Chronicle, made a video about women who wear the niqab. The Houston Chronicle put up the above picture by AP in their slide show.

If you asked a typical non-Muslim American, (or Westerner), who would they identify with more, they would obviously chose the girl in the skirt. She looks like them.

If someone asked me that, a product of East and West, I would have to give it a long thought. So, I gave it a long thought. I would feel comfortable with any of these women in any given situation--as a neighbor, a teacher, a friend, and even a stranger in the street.

Once again, France has ignited a fierce debate in the world about Muslim women. Many Muslim women consider covering in one way or another to be their religious obligation to God.

Recently, in Germany, a Muslim woman was murdered by a man.

He had called her a terrorist and she had taken him to court. He stabbed her 18 times INSIDE the court. She was two months pregnant. Her 3 year old son was present while she was stabbed.

The man's full name is not given, but his nationality is described as a Russian man with German descent.

When extremist Muslims kill or terrorize people, Muslims are front page news for weeks. When an innocent woman dies at the hands of a blode haired, blue eyed man, because he hates Muslims and dislikes Muslim women's attire, he barely makes it to front page.

Huffington Post runs every negative burqa/hijab post prominently, but so far (and the story is now old in news time) they haven't found the space for this shocking hate crime.

This isn't going away just because the Western media didn't think it was front page world news.

I have a strange feeling that this won't be the last anti-Muslim murder. Racism against Muslims is on the rise across Europe. Will Europe go through another ugly phase of intolerance towards "the other?"

Does God Allow Spitting on People During Sabbath?

God does not want the Jews to do anything on the Sabbath except worship.

I have heard that translates into not even switching on the light. I wasn't sure if that was true as it was told to me by a Jewish friend who's always making fun of everyone.

It seems it is true.

Australian reporter, Anne Barker, got drenched in conservative spit when she turned on her tape recorder to cover a protest by Orthodox Jews in Israel, who wanted a local carpark to shut down on Saturdays. She was backed into a corner as they continued to spit all over her. She said she was humiliated.

I can only imagine.

I don't know much about Jewish law. However, in the Quran, God does mention the Sabbath by name four times: 2:65, 4:47, 4:154, 7:163, and 16:124.

In chapter 2, verse 64, God warns the people about how serious He is about observance of the Sabbath, and hence all religious observances. He was so put off by some people who kept breaking the Sabbath that He cursed them and turned them into apes and pigs.

In chapter 4, verse 154, God, again, describes how seriously He took the matter of breaking the Sabbath. He took an oath from the Israelis, while raising a mountain over their heads: ' "Enter the gate with humility"; and (once again) we commanded them: "Transgress not in the matter of the sabbath." And we took from them a solemn covenant.'

My question is, why do these Orthodox Jews believe that it's ok to protest on a Saturday? And why is spitting on a person ok on a Saturday, much less any other day of the week? Those should also be incorporated in Sabbath rules.

The Palestinians throw rocks and the Jews spit. What a holy mess.

Bill Pickett was From Taylor, Texas

Taylor--I walked around the town center, and practically every lamp post, every bench, was donated by local families and citizens.

Here is a plaque dedicated to Bill Pickett, donated by the government, I suppose, to a black cowboy who invented a special technique you can read about here:

I vaguely recall reading about him in that wonderful book,"The Day the Cowboys Quit." I read it for a history class. I remember making an A. I don't remember what really happened in the book, but I remember enjoying it and finishing it in two days.

Taylor's population is over 13, 000. It's official website states that Taylor has more talent than jobs and is looking for industries. Which translates to: we are willing to let big industries exploit us, and bring big city pollution to our relatively peaceful and quite towns.

Among the few claims to fame, Taylor also houses the family detention center, T. Don Hutto, where immigrant families spend time behind bars.

Texas Style Bathroom Sinks

On our way to Taylor, Texas, we stopped for a bathroom break at a McDonald's in the small town of Elgin and the sink was in the shape of Texas.

Allahu Akbar! A Prayer for Iranis

Iran is erupting.

The people, feeling helpless, finding no one by their side, cut off from the outside world, are standing on rooftops everyday and crying out to God at the top of their voices, Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!

God is the Greatest! God is the Greatest!

God is greater than the religious ulemas that have subjugated the Iranians to a rigid form of Islam, interpreting the people's religion for them. They decide their lives for them. They decide what form of government is best for them. But God is the Greatest, even Greater than the ulemas.

Surely, God is watching how His people are being oppressed. Surely, the help of God is near. For how can the Heavens not shake when the people call on their Lord?

The people's prayers have turned into a protest. Will the ulemas kill people who are just praying, saying God's name, declaring His Praises?

Yusuf Ali's translation of the Quran, Chapter 4, Verse 75: And why should ye not fight in the cause of Allah and of those who, being weak, are ill-treated (and oppressed)?- Men, women, and children, whose cry is: "Our Lord! Rescue us from this town, whose people are oppressors; and raise for us from thee one who will protect; and raise for us from thee one who will help!"

I would like to join the Iranis in their hour of need with prayer. Allahu Akbar! Surely, you are the Greatest! Our Lord, rescue the Iranis from this hour of trial, whose men, women, and children cry out to you. Rescue them from their oppressors, and raise for them those who will protect them and help them. They are weak and they are ill-treated.

For me, my stand with the Iranis isn't about politics as much as it is about solidarity with people who want just a little room to breath in, to make small choices for themselves.