Arabian Scarf

Recently, Al-Gassra Roqaya Bahrain participated in the Beijing Olympics wearing a scarf and a jersey full length. I was surprised that her running gear did not occasion more comment. But if you're wearing a modest track suit allows him to compete in a sport that would not otherwise feel comfortable competing, I think it's wonderful. I've seen posts from several Muslim women cheering her on account of solidarity, and I sympathize. But I still vaguely troubled, because in all the discussions on Muslim headscarves, I often see a gaping hole black.

And that is the question of whether headgear is necessary first. Although Muslims rightly celebrate al-Gassra demonstration that respect for religious dress is not an obstacle to Olympic dreams, they assume that al-Gassra of headgear is an Islamic requirement. What happiness, they say, the Islamic dress did not prevent Al-Gassra to be a world class runner!

But what is Islamic dress? And a head covering is required? Muslims and non-Muslims in recent years to assume that an edict is clear. Add to that Iran and the requirement imposed by the State of Saudi Arabia's headdress, and the question becomes a matter of personal faith to a political office.

When I grew up in Southern California, the mosque "I attended was just a group of families gathering in the garage of a person to teach their children some rudimentary aspects of religion. Gradually, as more families joined, we rented a community center. Finally, we bought our own building, with parking. Women who come to our mosque were almost all immigrants of various nationalities. But very few have covered their hair. Those who did not would have told you that Islam does not need and that hat was a personal choice.

I do not cover my hair, except - as all Muslim women do - when I pray. Even the custom is not as absolute as we are taught to think, some researchers cite evidence showing that early Islam, women, even prayed with head uncovered.

Recently, when I enrolled my children in classes at the local mosque, I was told that my daughter and I both had to cover our hair (in fact, that only our faces and hands and feet may show) just so that she could attend classes. When I objected that hat was not the unanimity required by Islam, and certainly not required for girls 8 years, I was told unequivocally that yes, it was, it is perfectly Well maintained, neither I nor my daughter could come to Sunday School without covering my hair. We did not last very long in this mosque.

What happened in between?

From the late 1970s, Saudi-style Islam - Salafi or Wahhabi called - started deliberately Muslim influence in the world through the funding of Wahhabi mosques with imams and allowances granted to those who promoted their brand of Islam. Wahhabism, founded in the 18th century, has always been regarded as extreme in its theology, and was rejected by leading Muslim scholars over the years. He has never qualified as a school of Islamic thought that mutually recognize each other as valid.

The Saudis, while fewer than 2 percent of Muslims worldwide, have disproportionately influenced Muslim practice (and the perception non-Muslims in Islam) for several reasons: they have more wealth than any other Muslim country, they control the Muslim holy cities of Mecca and Medina, and they have Western allies. The type of Saudi Islam - if it looks like the true form of Islam - is very involved in conservative, patriarchal Arab culture. Religious authorities in Saudi Arabia to interpret Islam in such a way that women are not allowed to drive, vote, show their hair, or being alone with male strangers to them. But this philosophy.