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know about the much-publ icized
veil and of the
chador.
the head–
to-toe black garment worn by
women in l ran.
What Moslems wish Westerners
would also realize is that the tradi–
tions or customs in one Middle
Eastern country are not necessarily
rcpresentative of al l Moslem
women or necessarily a part of
Islam.
As Islam spread from its birth–
place in the Arabian Península, the
customs of conquered or converted
peoples often became entwined
with the practices laid
down in the Koran. T he
chador, for cxample, is a
traditional
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ranian dress,
not specifically required
by the Koran. The Koran
specifies on ly modesty,
which can be interpre.ted
in many ways. Many
l ranian women actuall y
prefer to wear the chador.
The veil, too, is not spe–
cifically required by the
Koran. l t was int roduced
during the period of Otto–
man Turkish domination
of the M iddle East,
beginning in the 15th
century A.D.- more than
800 years after Moham–
med.
Moslems have more than one wife,
despite the fact that the Koran
allows four- ij the husband can
afford them and treat them without
partiality.
Moslems Look at the
Judeo-Chrlstlan World
lt
is important, too, to understand
how Moslems sec Christiani ty and
Judaism. Moslems have many mis–
conceptions about these two fait hs.
In one respect, however, it is not
the Mos lem s who are to be
blamed.
ship of "the triple God." This is a
reference to the ..Trinity," which
Moslems view as bordering on
polythe ism and sacri lege. The
Cathol ic veneration of Mary is
also conceived as idolatry by Mos–
lems.
Here Moslems make the same
mistake that Westerners do when
they,
for example, view the vei l as a
Koranic requirement. Having gen–
erally never read the New Testa–
ment for themselves, Moslems fail
to realize that the T ri nity doctrine
was
never
taught by Christ or the
apostles, that it is no–
where to be found in the
Bible, that it actually has
its roots in ancient pagan–
ism, which was later
absorbed into professing
Christianity! ( R equest
"The God Family and the
Holy Spirit" for a clear
understanding of the Bi–
ble teaching.)
Moslems. for the most
part, have .never encoun–
tered the t rue Christian–
ity of the Bible!
l ncreasing numbers of
young women throughout
the Middle East are don–
PILGRIMS CIRCLE THE KAABA
at the center of the Great
Mosque. The Kaaba (cube) -holiest shrine in ls/am-is
the goal of the
hajj,
or pilgrimage.
In general, however,
the Moslem attitude
toward Christianity and
Judaism is not inherently
hostile. Mohammed
called Christians and
Jews "the People of the
Book ," a nd accorded
them a special protected
status and treatment. Is–
ning the veil and covering
themselves up with traditional
floor-length robcs-to the dismay
of many of their progressive moth–
ers who fought for freedom to wear
short skirts. To many of these
young women it represents a rejec–
tion of Western concepts of femi–
ninity and is not based on religion
at all.
Mohammed actually advanced
the status of women significantly,
affording them greater honor than
most societies of his time. "O men,
respect women who have borne
you," the Koran admonishes. Mos–
lcm women were given civil and
property rights- a revolutionary
step in the Arab world. Men, how–
ever, are still considered "a degree
above" women.
Finally, the practice of polygamy
has not been as general as is com–
monly thought by the West. Few
June
1983
Moslems, for example, sec the
virtual "acceptance" by Western
nations of porno movies, alcohol,
drugs, illicit sex, acid rock, growing
crime and so on. Yet these are sup–
posedly Christian societies!
Toa Moslem, who views religion
as a
way of lije.
this is indeed a
paradox. How are these rampant
evils, he asks, to be reconciled with
the teachings of Christ?
The simple answer, of course, is
that they
cannot be reconciled,
for
they represent out-and-out
rejec–
tion
of Christ's teachings! Many
Moslems simply do not realize that
mos t Western "Christians" only
profess
that faith, not
practice
it.
Other Moslems regard Wes terners
as a species of "pagan."
W he n it comes to doctrinal
questions, Moslems are especially
dismayed over the Christian wor-
lam also permits marriage with
Christians and Jews.
What the Blble Saya
Sorne readers will recognize that
the Moslem attitude toward reli–
gion as a
way of lije
is actually
much closer ·to thc attitude Jesus
Christ and the apostles intended for
true Christians to have toward the
Holy Bible. The Bible often refers
to true Christianity as "the way"
(Acts 18:25, 26; 19:9, 23; 22:4;
etc.).
Doctr inal ly, of course, Islam
diverges from Chr istianity in
aspects too numerous to detail
within the scope of this article.
First and foremost is lslam's rejec–
tion of Jesus as the incarnate Son
of God, of his crucifixion and res–
urrection, and of forgiveness and
salvation through him. To Chris-
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