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Letters to the Editor: Ramadan speaker and students respond to accusations of insensitivity
Issue date: 9/26/08 Section: Commentary
I was honored to give a talk on "Misconceptions about Islam" at the Muslim Student Association's Ramadan Awareness Dinner and Fast-a-Thon at UConn. Many professors and students expressed to me their appreciation for both the topics covered in my lecture and my manner of delivery. But of course one cannot please them all. So I am replying to one Ms. Cayla Smith who misunderstood one of the topics, was offended, did not ask me any questions then voiced her protest or disapproval via a Letter to the Editor printed Sept. 22 in The Daily Campus.
First of all, the Arabic word hijab means to cover, to veil, to screen, to shelter. It does not mean "headscarf" as Ms. Smith sought to define it. Hijab is used to refer to the modest, loose clothing that covers the Muslim woman's body except for her hands and her face. This could have been easily learned from a more careful observation of my talk and a less emotionally-motivated one. This common, internationally known meaning of the word hijab can also be easily found via everyday, non-Muslim sources of information like Wikipedia.
Secondly, the most important point that needs to be addressed from Ms. Smith's letter is her assumption, jumping to conclusions and putting words in my mouth. Her letter read, "Cleaver clearly implied that women in the U.S. who do not wear Hijab are at fault if they are ever raped."
This was not in any way clearly implied in my talk. A rapist is a criminal who has made a heinous and most horrible sexual assault. The fault of his crime rests100% on his shoulders. The comprehensive nature of the Sharia dictates that any person convicted of rape using a weapon be sentenced to capitol punishment. I wish American law were as just as the Islamic law in this regard.
Now the question at hand here is the high station and place of modesty in Islam for both women and men. Islam's religious dress codes are for loose modest clothing for both women and men. This is to cover the private area in Arabic, Al-Aouwrah. This private area is a much wider section of the body in Islamic teaching than it is in contemporary Western culture. Try to remember the pictures of women in old America and old Europe and how they used to go swimming while wearing long dresses. Then ask yourself two questions:
First of all, the Arabic word hijab means to cover, to veil, to screen, to shelter. It does not mean "headscarf" as Ms. Smith sought to define it. Hijab is used to refer to the modest, loose clothing that covers the Muslim woman's body except for her hands and her face. This could have been easily learned from a more careful observation of my talk and a less emotionally-motivated one. This common, internationally known meaning of the word hijab can also be easily found via everyday, non-Muslim sources of information like Wikipedia.
Secondly, the most important point that needs to be addressed from Ms. Smith's letter is her assumption, jumping to conclusions and putting words in my mouth. Her letter read, "Cleaver clearly implied that women in the U.S. who do not wear Hijab are at fault if they are ever raped."
This was not in any way clearly implied in my talk. A rapist is a criminal who has made a heinous and most horrible sexual assault. The fault of his crime rests100% on his shoulders. The comprehensive nature of the Sharia dictates that any person convicted of rape using a weapon be sentenced to capitol punishment. I wish American law were as just as the Islamic law in this regard.
Now the question at hand here is the high station and place of modesty in Islam for both women and men. Islam's religious dress codes are for loose modest clothing for both women and men. This is to cover the private area in Arabic, Al-Aouwrah. This private area is a much wider section of the body in Islamic teaching than it is in contemporary Western culture. Try to remember the pictures of women in old America and old Europe and how they used to go swimming while wearing long dresses. Then ask yourself two questions:
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 6
Jane Doeski
posted 9/26/08 @ 9:07 AM EST
If Islamic law is so sympathetic to rape victims, why do I recall reading that a rape victim in Saudi Arabia was sentenced to receive 200 lashes and 6 months in jail for being alone with a male who was not her relative when she was raped? I believe that happened in 2007, just last year. (Continued…)
Saleh
posted 9/26/08 @ 12:46 PM EST
Jane, you lack serious insight in this specific case.
From dozens of rape crimes in Muslim countries, this specific case was heavily covered in the US media. (Continued…)
Maria Greco
posted 9/26/08 @ 2:43 PM EST
I think you should read about the real cause of rapes in this country and others. It is not sexually as you make believe, it is a violent crime that has more to do with domination and control. (Continued…)
Jesus son of Mary (Peace be upon him)
posted 9/27/08 @ 5:37 AM EST
Worship God, the Creator, alone and worship none but him. Ask Him forgiveness, for He is Forgiving. Repent to Him with sincerely for He accepts sincere repentance. (Continued…)
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