Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a fairly liberal Muslim but have enough knowledge and understanding about Islam to be able to answer most questions. I know there is great mistrust about Muslims and the religion of Islam generally. Even if you've heard the most awful things about Islam and have awkward questions, I'm ready to answer them. I will ignore any posts that use profanity and seem to have no purpose other than to attack.

I once read that men who want to have casual sex sometimes get "married" temporarily to their partners, and the marriage is either annulled shortly after fornication or has a defined period of validity (say 72 hours). Did I read this incorrectly?

Not OP. But this happens in Shia Islam -- Nik?? al-Mut?ah -- a temporary marriage.

In Egypt, there is also something called orfi or urfi marriage. These are more and more common among Egyptian college youth. Basically so boyfriend and girlfriend can have sex. Rip up the piece of paper and they are no longer married.

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.

The modesty requiremen kicks in at puberty, so younger girls may wear fun, little girl clothing like swimsuits, short skirts, and not cover their hair (assuming they will even when they are older). Same with little boys and shorts. As a matter of practice, though, I believe it is easier to gradually accustom your children to modesty requirements rather than springing them at once; and girls will often wear headscarf to go to the mosque or Sunday School at a younger age, like 5-8. Toddler seems young, but recall that some women/girls *like* wearing the headscarf, think it's fashionable, and want to "be like mommy" -- the same way you might paint your toddler's fingernails for a fun treat.

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.

15:29 again. I don't like my assignment at work today, so I guess I'll keep responding, too.

There is judgment and racial discrimination in the Muslim community, as in any community, unfortunately. I personally try not to judge of course, but hate when I see people acting hypocritically. Just like people of other religions, Muslims are guilty of grasping some parts of their religion strongly (like focusing on modest dress or prayer five times a day) and ignoring those that are less convenient (like charity). I judge people who are too self-righteous while ignoring inconvenient requirements. Racial discrimination looks like it does everywhere else, unfortunately, and there are elements of "Arabs practice the religion wrong" or "South Asians practice wrong."

There is a concept of temporary marriage used by people who want to have sex without long-term commitment. It is not a widely accepted practice, and not considered legitimate by most scholars and Muslims. But, no, you are not making it up.

Yes, Friday prayers are like Sunday church services. They are the one prayer that are really encouraged to be done communally. There is a sermon, called Khutbah, and then the obligatory prayers and some fellowship depending on how quickly people have to head back to work. It's really nice. The encouragement is primarily placed on men, as it considered harder for women with family obligations to attend. It is not a "requirement" in the way that, say, Catholic Mass is.

Women who cover their face, but not their eyes, are generally wearing a Niqab, or a face veil, attached to their head covering. Women who wear it can access underneath of it to eat, use cell phone, etc. Niqab is not common in the U.S. at all. A burqa is one huge robe from the top of head to ankles with a screen over the eyes -- it does not allow access in the same way, keeps the arms more restricted, and is more conservative than a Niqab just in terms of physically what it must feel like. I have never seen a burqa in person myself.

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.

Anonymous wrote:I have a follow-up question. Are Friday prayers equivalent to Christian Sunday services...by that I mean, if you go to service only once a week, that's the one to go to?

I"m not sure if I've seen burquas per se but I"ve seen face-coverings where only the eyes show. Not often but sometimes.

To simplify, yes Friday would be the day to go, atleast in my community.

Burqas are cultural.

I have a follow-up question. Are Friday prayers equivalent to Christian Sunday services...by that I mean, if you go to service only once a week, that's the one to go to?

I"m not sure if I've seen burquas per se but I"ve seen face-coverings where only the eyes show. Not often but sometimes.

Thanks for the input 15:29

I'm Muslim as well (not OP). Never swim or go to the beach, but if I go swimming at someone's house, I wear shorts and a shirt.

We give money to charity every month.

Anonymous wrote:How do you feel about Muhammed marrying a 9 year old? Do you consider him a pedophile? If not, would you allow your 9yr old girl to marry a 50 something prophet (assuming that "the prophet" returned?

Does it bother you that Mary was 12 or 13 when she gave birth to Jesus?
You know even in the United States about 100 yrs ago it was normal for 12 and 13 yr olds to get married.

Anonymous wrote:I am a fairly liberal Muslim but have enough knowledge and understanding about Islam to be able to answer most questions. I know there is great mistrust about Muslims and the religion of Islam generally. Even if you've heard the most awful things about Islam and have awkward questions, I'm ready to answer them. I will ignore any posts that use profanity and seem to have no purpose other than to attack.

I once read that men who want to have casual sex sometimes get "married" temporarily to their partners, and the marriage is either annulled shortly after fornication or has a defined period of validity (say 72 hours). Did I read this incorrectly?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've heard accusations leveled against liberal Muslims for not speaking out more strongly against terrorism and oppression in the name of radical Islam. Do you think there is merit to this position, and if not, why not? Thanks.

I'm not OP, I'm 7:37. But conservative and liberal Muslims alike speak out against terrorism ALL THE TIME. The mainstream media just doesn't cover it. But if you go to websites of Islamic organizations and/or read foreign papers or watch foreign TV news programs, you'll see a lot of outcry about terrorism in particular.

I really recommend folks here watch Al Jazeera English News. It's a real eye-opener. In a lot of ways.

Watched Al Jazeera while in the Middle East and I agree with you, it was an eye opener. Also agree that Muslims in general speak out against terrorism.

What do you find yourself judging other Muslims over most often?

Is there racial discrimination in the Muslim community?

Wow, okay, I'm not the OP, but I'm Muslim. Here goes.

I'm from the U.S. I was not raised Muslim. I converted four years ago. I converted when I got engaged to my husband, who was raised here and was raised Muslim.

All of the Muslims my age in our social group do/did date, but the parents (immigrants) did not necessarily approve. Our friends all ultimately ended up marrying in the religion -- some because they dated Muslims and got "permission/blessing" from parents to marry the person they chose, others by agreeing to set-ups with family friends that eventually worked out. Only one person I know was forced or pressured into marriage with someone they didn't like, and that ... did not turn out well.

I don't have pictures of my kids in my wallet, but I have on my keychain. What kind of weird question is that?

Nation of Islam: Most Sunni/Shiite/mainstream Muslims consider the Nation of Islam to be a separate religion. My understanding is that it adopts the basic beliefs of Islam (the Five Pillars), but then adds a lot to that, including a strong racial pride component. Islam, on the other hand, is theologically color-blind; the Qur'an makes a big deal about this.

Must of the Muslims I know are democrats. I assume OP meant that she is liberal in her religion. I personally am Libertarian. I "ended up" this way partly from what my parents taught me and partly through thinking through my own beliefs. Same as anyone else.

Muslim organizations speak out all the time against terrorism. They are rarely listened to or quoted anymore because that is not newsworthy. Many Muslims, however, feel annoyed that they are asked to speak out against it -- it's not our fault there are lunatics out there, anymore than it is yours.

I go to the beach. When I'm with other Muslims, I wear surfing gear -- a rashguard and long swimming tights or board shorts. When just with my husband, I wear a conservative one-piece with swim shorts. I don't cover my head at the beach or elsewhere.

There is dispute as to when the Prophet consummated his marriage to Aisha, who was 9 when they married. I believe that he consummated the marriage once she was a teenager who was sexually mature and could accept and consent to marriage (which is required by the religion). Am I completely comfortable with this story? No, it makes me a little uncomfortable. But those were different times, and females were married younger then. Are you uncomfortable knowing that Mary, the Mother of Jesus, was married at age 13?

There is a large mosque near seven corners, and Friday prayers are held just past noon there. People of all ages, social groups, ethnic backgrounds, and occupations gather for communal prayer on Fridays, just like Christians do on Sundays. I doubt you see burqas there, though you undoubtedly see men and women in modest clothing. Do you know what a burqa is? You phrased your question pretty offensively. Namaste is a Hindu greeting, btw.

Anonymous wrote:not OP: but i go to the beach and wear a bathing suit 0 bikini versus tankini versus one-piece, depending on who we're with and the beach we're on.

my in laws are muslim and very republican. business people in the midwest. they want to keep their money. they are very anti-obama. they want no new taxes and don't believe in supporting social services too much.

Interesting. Because charity is very much a part of Muslim life. Is it because most tax money goes to non-Muslims?

My Muslim husband is a flaming socialist, FWIW.