From: hyder@cs.utexas.edu (Syed Irfan Hyder)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.pakistan
Subject: Re: Mr. Gopal's thought experiment & Q/A (was  Women and Burqa)
Date: 12 Apr 1992 14:53:39 -0500
Organization: U Texas Dept of Computer Sciences, Austin TX
NNTP-Posting-Host: pageboy.cs.utexas.edu

Mr. Gopal's oringinal Question to the netters was:

-------------------------------------------------------------------
The Thought Experiment: 
			Now ASSUME that the Quran explicitly (I mean 
really explicitly in big bold CAP fonts) mentioned that all women MUST 
(100%/definetely/under all circumstances) follow the hijab or purdah 
system, covering your entire body from head to toe at all times (forever). 
I mean showing any part of your body is an ABSOLUTE NO NO. Its worded 
in such a way so that there can be absolutely no doubt as to its meaning.

WOULD YOU WEAR THE PURDAH THEN ?  
---------------------------------------------------------------

In article <12229@tamsun.tamu.edu> gagrawal@cs.tamu.edu (Gopal Agrawal) writes:
>
>Yes, I am actually looking for a clear 'YES/NO' answer (if explanation 
>given, all the better). But not the vague answer that I received last time.
>No, I'm not particularly interested in engaging discussion with Ms. Yasmin
>only. In my original posting I clearly mentioned that these questions apply
>equally well to all the female netters on SCP. But since no other female 
>seems to be addressing this issue at this time, I address them to Ms. Yasmin.
>I hope other netters will also espouse their views on this. I have already
>received some replies from the males (like Mr. Syed Hyder) in this context,
>but until I receive more replies confirming his views, I will not immediately
>accept that all muslims think the way he would have me believe (because my
>experience with some of my muslim friends here say otherwise). 

Lest people become confused about my views that I conveyed personally
to Mr. Gopal. Here is my answer:

My. Answer for the above thought experiment will be a "definite" 
YES. As I posted earlier, I am still researching the "extent/validity"
of burqa. But, I  have no hesitation in saying that once the decision
of Quran and Sunnah will become clear I will "submit" to it.
If such a decision becomes clear in any "injunction" (let alone this
one), I will simply "submit" myself to it, however irritating it
may be to me (this is my understanding of being a Muslim from Quran)
If, however, due to my personal weakness, I violate such an injunction
 then I will violate the injunction keeping in mind that I am
committing a "sin". I will not try to find "justifications"
for my "sinful actions". May Allah give me strength and will
to abide by these words. Because on my own without HIS help,
I know fully well, that I am so weak that I can never abide by 
such claims.

>
>As to whether I'm investingating into the psyche of one particular muslim
>or all muslims in general, the answer is this. Muslims like any other 
>relgious group do not always think alike among themselves. There are the
>Jafrites on one hand and the more liberal minded on the other (with lots 
>of gray shades in the middle). I have already formed a pretty concrete 
>opinion on how the Jafrites think. 

I will only like to add here that through Quran and Sunnah we find
that a Muslim's "Iman" (state of submission) is not static. It 
increases and decreases in its intensity of "unquestionable
submission to Allah's commands". Some times it becomes doubtful at
others it may 
even become extremely committed. It is for that reason that I
have added the prayer to Allah to help me in "abiding" by
that definition of "submission". Hence, we Muslims are asked
to continuously reflect on HIS signs and remain close to
Quran and Sunnah.



>But for the more liberal minded. They
>puzzle me. I fully appreciate their views on freedom of thought/expression
>etc. but what I wish to know is: 
>
>Do they attribute their contemporary thoughts to a more objective study 
>of Islam alone or are they also willing to agree that their experiences 
>and more liberal upbringing play an important factor in their psyche.  
>I would like to know whether all muslims (who consider themselves as true
>muslims) will always try to justify their liberal thoughts in terms of the
>Quran alone. I want to know if this is out of fear of the fundamentalists
>or whether they really think that the Quran does justify all their 
>contemporary thoughts. I want to know if they will reject their experiences
>if they are unable to find justification for it within Islamic scriptures 
>and actually change their thought patterns (I find that quite impossible 
>to do unless new experiences dictate otherwise).  There are many more 
>quuestions but tthese many will do for now. 
>

A very interesting question. However, I could never have mustered
courage to personally ask it. However, here I would
simply like that the netters please contemplate the question
in their heart. Sincerely, and faithfully and take some
time on it. Better enough, do some research with open mind. It
took me at least 12 years to give the answer, I wrote above. I
would have hated myself had I committed myself earlyon on the journey
for the search of truth. I for one, would not like you to
commit early on as well.


Newsgroups: soc.culture.pakistan