Bridge necessary between religions
Cole Bockenfeld, Staff Writer
Issue date: 4/25/06 Section: News
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As for women's rights in Muslim society, "women must be respected and have a great responsibility to raise the society," he said "Islam teaches its followers to love and respect your mother the most, not your father."
"The best among you are the ones who are good to your wife and your family," Al-Farra quoted from the prophet Muhammad.
Al-Farra said Islamic obligations to society teach Muslims to "fear God before you fear the system," so there are much fewer cases of single mothers, gambling or alcoholism in primarily-Islamic countries than in Western societies.
To stress the idea that Islam does not force conversion, Farra said he recently married a American woman that was a Southern Baptist. She decided to convert to Islam by her own decision two years before they married, he said.
After he took his wife to meet his family in Saudi Arabia, he said she didn't want to leave because she enjoyed the lifestyle there.
Al-Farra said the Islamic headscarf and other coverings are meant to "keep a woman's beauty for those who deserve it - her family." The scarf is no more extreme than the clothing of a nun, he said.
Al-Farra said people of different religions "have the right to love, respect and understand each other."
MSA President Omar A. Alnuaimi said anyone wanting to know more about Islam is welcome anytime at the Islamic Center of Northwest Arkansas on Razorback Road, or can contact the group at muslim@uark.edu.
"The best among you are the ones who are good to your wife and your family," Al-Farra quoted from the prophet Muhammad.
Al-Farra said Islamic obligations to society teach Muslims to "fear God before you fear the system," so there are much fewer cases of single mothers, gambling or alcoholism in primarily-Islamic countries than in Western societies.
To stress the idea that Islam does not force conversion, Farra said he recently married a American woman that was a Southern Baptist. She decided to convert to Islam by her own decision two years before they married, he said.
After he took his wife to meet his family in Saudi Arabia, he said she didn't want to leave because she enjoyed the lifestyle there.
Al-Farra said the Islamic headscarf and other coverings are meant to "keep a woman's beauty for those who deserve it - her family." The scarf is no more extreme than the clothing of a nun, he said.
Al-Farra said people of different religions "have the right to love, respect and understand each other."
MSA President Omar A. Alnuaimi said anyone wanting to know more about Islam is welcome anytime at the Islamic Center of Northwest Arkansas on Razorback Road, or can contact the group at muslim@uark.edu.
