Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Mothers are highly honoured in Islam and far from being excluded from the mosque, as
is sometimes believed by non-Muslims, they are exempted the duty to make it easier to
fulfil their function as carer of children. Most mosques have separate prayer halls where
women can worship without feeling uncomfortable because of the presence of men. Men
are never permitted to enter the women's prayer hall but in some of the Grand Mosques,
women are permitted, except during prayer times, to enter the men's prayer hall. In
Mecca, all Muslims, male and female, stand shoulder to shoulder in the sacred places and
pray together.
Although Islam permits a man to have four wives, each wife must be treated equally: 'if ye fear that ye
shall not be able to deal justly, then only one' (The Quran, sura 4:3). Modern Muslim interpretation em-
phasises the impossibility of loving two wives equally.
Dress
Islam prescribes modest dress in public places for both men and women, which involves
covering the legs, arms and head for men, and the hair and neck for women. It does not,
however, mention the use of a veil. The origin of the custom of covering the body is un-
clear; it certainly predates Islam and to a large degree makes excellent sense in the
ravaging heat of the Arabian Peninsula where exposure to the midday sun is dangerous to
health.
Diet
Muslims are forbidden to eat or drink anything containing pork or alcohol. Nor are they
permitted to consume the blood or the meat of any animal that has died of natural causes.
These strictures traditionally made good sense in the Arabian Peninsula where tapeworm
was a common problem with pork meat and where the effect of alcohol is exaggerated by
the extreme climate. These are still good guidelines today.
Meat must be halal (permitted). In other words, slaughtered in the prescribed manner, with minimal
cruelty and with consideration of the animal.
