I'm a Muslim. Ask me anything!

[Anonymous]

Have you gone on Hajj? If not, when are you going to go? Is there some sort of "penalty" if you die before you have gone to Mecca?

[Anonymous]

Also, do you really have to cut off your hair as part of the Hajj?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, do you really have to cut off your hair as part of the Hajj?

? Never heard that before.

[Anonymous]

why do you light skinned muslims think that dark skinned people are not humans?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For religious muslim women who cover their hair, at what age are girls expected to start wearing a head scarf? I saw a toddler on the train with a head scarf, and was of the (perhaps mistaken) view that most girls did not cover their hair until they got older.

I started at 9. My parents didn't push it (my mom does not wear one), I wanted to. I do see at the mosque and religious events where younger girls do cover their hair, and it's not unusual. I wore one for 10 years, then stopped.

To follow up with another perspective, in Egypt most (middle class) women don't cover until college or even later with marriage.

Not familiar with Egyptian customs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:why do you light skinned muslims think that dark skinned people are not humans?

Can't speak for all. The Mosque I attend is very diverse with Indians, Pakistanis, Middle-Easterners and Europeans. I myself am not light skinned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you gone on Hajj? If not, when are you going to go? Is there some sort of "penalty" if you die before you have gone to Mecca?

At this time, I cannot financially go to Hajj ( I am one of the lower income DCUM posters ) I don't believe there is a penalty if you die before going, or other extenuating circumstances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, do you really have to cut off your hair as part of the Hajj?

? Never heard that before.

I read it on the web, maybe on Wikipedia? That's why I asked, it didn't sound right...

[Anonymous]

Do you wear a head cover? Are you required to wear one to sleep? If you were forced to be in a room with others, eg a large room with cots because of an emergency evacuations, would you be allowed to go to sleep because there are men who are not in your family in the same room?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, do you really have to cut off your hair as part of the Hajj?

? Never heard that before.

I read it on the web, maybe on Wikipedia? That's why I asked, it didn't sound right...

No. My MIL goes every year. She still has all her hair. 8)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you wear a head cover? Are you required to wear one to sleep? If you were forced to be in a room with others, eg a large room with cots because of an emergency evacuations, would you be allowed to go to sleep because there are men who are not in your family in the same room?

Not OP... But no I don't wear a head cover and you're not required to wear one to sleep. In case of emergency evacuation- chances are you would be with your family and as long as you have a Mehram male with you it would satisfy most conservative muslims. For the less conservative muslims- my guess is they would say an emergency is an emergency!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you wear a head cover? Are you required to wear one to sleep? If you were forced to be in a room with others, eg a large room with cots because of an emergency evacuations, would you be allowed to go to sleep because there are men who are not in your family in the same room?

Not OP... But no I don't wear a head cover and you're not required to wear one to sleep. In case of emergency evacuation- chances are you would be with your family and as long as you have a Mehram male with you it would satisfy most conservative muslims. For the less conservative muslims- my guess is they would say an emergency is an emergency!

Just wanted to clarify that Mehram male- are males who are considered to be non-marrigeable because of blood ties (like fathers, sons, uncles, grandfathers and so forth)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, do you really have to cut off your hair as part of the Hajj?

? Never heard that before.

It is highly recommended for men to shave all of their hair and for women to cut about 1/2 an inch. It is not compulsory for men to shave but they should cut about 1/2 inch off.
I think the 1/2 inch is arbitrary- but that's what i have heard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For religious muslim women who cover their hair, at what age are girls expected to start wearing a head scarf? I saw a toddler on the train with a head scarf, and was of the (perhaps mistaken) view that most girls did not cover their hair until they got older.

I started at 9. My parents didn't push it (my mom does not wear one), I wanted to. I do see at the mosque and religious events where younger girls do cover their hair, and it's not unusual. I wore one for 10 years, then stopped.

To follow up with another perspective, in Egypt most (middle class) women don't cover until college or even later with marriage.

Not familiar with Egyptian customs.

I know. I'm just offering a different perspective for readers. Islam is not monolithic and its practice is heavily influenced by culture. Hope you don't mind my jumping in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:why do you light skinned muslims think that dark skinned people are not humans?

racism set in because of colonialism and the aspiration that the whiter you are the "better" you must somehow be... nothing but racism because Islam does not encourage separation based on color or culture...