Lately Facebook has started becoming what Friendster used to be,
a flurry of random pictures with articles, many of them replicating hoax emails that used to go around in the late '90s and early 2000s. Someone had somehow posted this on one of the wall photos:
Which translates, roughly, because my Malay has gone rusty,
"Avoid wearing the hijab in a way that it resembles a Christian nun's headdress."
"Avoid wearing the hijab in a way that it resembles a Christian nun's headdress."
And later at the bottom of the pictures, it translates, why should you show the neck (i'm assuming it's referring to the way the scarf gathers around the neck) to be like a nun's?
and at the bottom of the page,
"He who emulates a certain society, will be one of them"
"He who emulates a certain society, will be one of them"
I will admit right here right now that I am the last person who should ever talk about religion and I know what I am about to write in this post will probably be held against me one day but correct me if I am wrong,
Are we really going to be judged by the way the detail of our clothes stand, as to our lifetime's worth of intentions and how we have treated other beings in this world?
There are very,very serious issues out there in this world that we all need to address,
this is the least that anyone should worry about.
Just the fact that someone made the effort to come up with this print almost reflects the rift between Christians and Muslims in Malaysia that keep getting exacerbated by little things like these nowadays. It's very sad, and frankly very upsetting.
I always thought that if you are strong in your intentions and beliefs,
no one can ever take your faith away from you.
If you look at it this way,
wearing corn rows does not make me black as much as dyeing my hair bleach blond does not make me white. Even if I do an extensive surgery to change my entire appearance I know deep inside, in my soul, that because of my roots, history and culture, I am and will always be an Asian-- a Malaysian at that.
You are who you really are inside.
Having a headscarf emulate a little detailing of a nun's headdress does not instantly make you Christian as much as stepping into a mosque does not instantly make you Muslim.
Mankind took this long to get to the level of a significantly more understanding society--
open and more accepting towards the differences we all have,
let's not disregard that.
There are very,very serious issues out there in this world that we all need to address,
this is the least that anyone should worry about.
Just the fact that someone made the effort to come up with this print almost reflects the rift between Christians and Muslims in Malaysia that keep getting exacerbated by little things like these nowadays. It's very sad, and frankly very upsetting.
I always thought that if you are strong in your intentions and beliefs,
no one can ever take your faith away from you.
If you look at it this way,
wearing corn rows does not make me black as much as dyeing my hair bleach blond does not make me white. Even if I do an extensive surgery to change my entire appearance I know deep inside, in my soul, that because of my roots, history and culture, I am and will always be an Asian-- a Malaysian at that.
You are who you really are inside.
Having a headscarf emulate a little detailing of a nun's headdress does not instantly make you Christian as much as stepping into a mosque does not instantly make you Muslim.
Faith and belief is so much deeper than that, it's goes right into the crevices of your soul,
to what you really believe in and what you intend to do as that person.
Mankind took this long to get to the level of a significantly more understanding society--
open and more accepting towards the differences we all have,
let's not disregard that.
I do agree with you Kimmy, it's such a Malaysian habit to point out allllllll the little things while ignoring the elephant, dinosaur and whale in the room. Even moreso in matters of religion and culture. Trust me when I say the current Malaysia does not even come close to the ideals of what Islam truly is and should be (IMHO and with my limited knowledge). Kadang2 memang pelik tengok the things that are posted as reminders. Of course they had good intentions, but what people need are a different kind of help, things to do with the heart and soul. Their very faith, and not just headscarves.
ReplyDeleteThat said, the hadith (saying of the prophet) in the image is valid and does apply to things like wearing a nun's outfit (on purpose, with full intention). However, I don't think the first thing I would think about that style of tudung is, "Oh, it looks like a nun's headdress". The reason that style is better avoided is just because of it fitting to the neck rather snugly (similar effect as wearing a see-through scarf -- you can see what's inside).
That's all I wanted to say, in case you needed the info. ;P Take care over there! :)
thank you Neesah! see if they had explained what you did (how it fits snugly and about the analogy with a see through scarf) I would have completely understood it! And it makes soooo much more sense!!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately not many people tend to have an open view on things, and will rather believe what is being passed by word of mouth rather than investigate or analyse the real logical reason behind the matter. Hence they might grow up to see the wrong perception in things, i.e. anything that may unintentionally have the slightest similarity to something that might be derived from other religions is considered haram.
And it's true about the typical Malaysian habit to make issues of little things when stuff is happening all around. And while I may not be Muslim, living with a Pakistani housemate has completely opened my eyes to a whole different side of the religion. She has told me very interesting things about the Quran that i have never heard of when I was in Malaysia, like wholesome pictures that depict how the religion really is and really should be. (i.e. how people of the book lived harmoniously with one another.) And I just think It's very sad that I can't see it in Malaysia. =/
Thanks for your thoughts!!