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The Leonard Lopate Show / November 02, 2007 / Please Explain: Shari'a (Islamic Law)

Please Explain: Shari'a (Islamic Law)

Friday, November 02, 2007

Shari'a can touch every aspect of an observant Muslim's life, but most non-Muslims' familiarity with Islamic law begins and ends with news items about veiling or jihad. We will find out what Shari'a is, what its context is within Islam, how it works in contemporary practice, and much more with Professor Frank Griffel from the Department of Religious Studies at Yale University, and Professor Bernard Haykel from the Department of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University.

Call us at 212-433-WNYC or post your questions and comments here.


Comments

  • [1] SS November 02, 2007 - 01:18PM

    Can you reconcile interpretations of Islamic law on removing unwanted hair? I've seen conflicting explanations.

    See, for example (this seems to suggest that eyebrow hair on women should be trimmed lest people confuse a woman for a man): http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=1&ID=4427&CATE=90

    This, on the other hand, seems to say that women should not remove hair from their eyebrows:

    http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?cid=1119503543976&pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar%2FFatwaE%2FFatwaEAskTheScholar

    And then there is this, which seems to forbid pubic hair waxing:

    http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1126012472670

    I'm confused!

    Thanks . . .
  • [2] Andrea from NYC November 02, 2007 - 01:35PM

    Your guest said it all when describing what this law covers: it covers, among other things, how you treat your wife or wives. This law, like most religious law is a system to keep men firmly in control.Just as the Roman Catholic Church cannot claim that it is against pedophilia while protecting the pedophile priests; Islam cannot claim that the Koran, and other sources treat women well or equal to men. The truth is in the practice.
  • [3] Bedreeya from New Jersey November 02, 2007 - 01:36PM

    Thank you for covering this topic. It is important to fill the educational gaps in the west as far as Islam is concerned. Thank you for having a Muslim on the panel as well. I'm sure both are qualified to speak on the subject, but a Muslim will for the most part handle certain parts more sensitively.

    There is no country where Sharia is practiced as it should be. Saudia Arabia is very oppressive of women and practice more of "HIslam" then Islam. Indonesia does use some Sharia law, but again, the slant is to benefit men in the cases of divorce.
  • [4] Bedreeya from New Jersey November 02, 2007 - 01:42PM

    One thing I want to clarify is that Islam is a total way of life, referred to as a "dean" in Arabic. As such there are laws, rules, guidance, etc, in the Quran that show Muslims how to live. The Hadith is the how to implement those rules. Sharia is the interpretation of codification of those rules & laws. since the codification was done by people, of course it may have flaws.

    Awrah is not shame but private parts, and it applies to men & women. There is equity in Islma between the genders, but these equities are not always practiced. I come from a family and community where they are practiced.
  • [5] Dennis Vogel from Somerset, NJ November 02, 2007 - 01:44PM

    I find your discussion of Shari'a very interesting. I'm curious if there are similar conversations going on in the Islamic world about Christianity?
  • [6] Eric from B'klyn November 02, 2007 - 01:48PM

    Historically, a number of Islamic countries were very tolerant, Spain, Egypt in the 1000s; was there a single event that created a shift?
  • [7] Richard from Brooklyn November 02, 2007 - 01:49PM

    How's this for irony...

    I was in Qatar in April and there was a conference on osteoporosis, especially how it pertains to womens' health. Well, exposure to some sunlight is recommended as it important to maintain Vitamin D in the metabolism; important for strong bones. The real Qatari women are unlikely to be exposing any skin to sunlight any time soon.
  • [8] Tom from manhattan November 02, 2007 - 01:56PM

    Is the issuer if a fatewah subject to arrest as a co-conspirator in a murder if the killing is carried out under western law?

This thread is closed.


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