Some of my friends maintain that it is forbidden to wear a necktie, particularly in prayer. Is it true?
No, that is not true. I know that this sort of thing is frequently said, and that some people suggest that the original idea of wearing a necktie was that it should be in the form of a cross, and, as such, it becomes a symbol for Christians. I am very doubtful of what is said about the origins of necktie. However, the wearing of a symbol of a religion other than Islam is not permissible. Therefore, if we know for certain that the necktie is a symbol of Christianity and that it is meant as a cross, then we should not wear it. The fact is that today no one, whether a Christian or a follower of other religion, thinks of a cross when he wears his necktie. It is not only that the shape is not that of a cross, but the linkage does not occur to anyone. Hence, we can discount this suggestion without any hesitation.
Large areas of Muslim world today have adopted the Western style of dress, which include a suit, a shirt and a tie. In these areas, no one thinks of this type of men's-wear as an imitation of non-believers. Hence, it is permissible to wear it. Similarly, it is permissible to wear it in prayer.
How big was Prophet Noah's ark in order to accommodate samples of all species? How could it carry pairs of all types of creatures from all over the world?
The divine instruction to Prophet Noah was to carry on the ark a pair of every species. Certainly the Prophet Noah complied with this order and put those creatures on the ark. This must be understood as relating to the area in which he was and the practical possibility of implementing Allah's instruction. We are not told that Noah traversed the whole globe collecting those animals who were not available in his area. Nowhere are we told that couples of species from different climates and faraway geographical areas were guided to go to Prophet Noah's place in order to be on the ark. Indeed, there is no clear indication that the flood covered the whole earth. It certainly covered the area where the people of Noah lived, so as to exterminate all creatures other than those who believed in Allah and followed Prophet Noah. We cannot tell how big the ark was, but it certainly was big enough to accommodate those believers and a pair of each type of species. May I remind you that in the Qur'an we are told that Noah's followers were few.
• Non-Muslim expatriates and Islamic traditions
I arrived in Riyadh three months ago, where I am working as a nurse. As an American Christian, I would like to ask where do traditions take over and whether a foreigner is supposed to abide by them? I am a law-abiding citizen and I do not have any intention to break any law of the country in which I happen to be working. Is dress a matter of law or tradition? Where is a woman like me to stand in relation to it? May I also ask the same question in relation to dealing with men. How far is friendship between a boy and a girl accepted?
The first thing I would like to say to you is that, as you see, I have no hesitation to publish your letter that you have a genuine query and I will attempt to answer you. Your friends who said that we will never publish your letter might have detected something that could be easily misunderstood and taken as veiled criticism, but I realize that it is not meant so. Besides even if it was, every one is entitled to his or her own opinion. We do not impose on anyone our beliefs or values, because these must come through conviction.
It may be difficult for an American like yourself, or a citizen of any secular country for that matter, to appreciate that Saudi society is unique in that here the law and religion are intertwined. This is because the Islamic faith provides a complete code of living and we have adopted Islam as our constitution and the basis of our legal system.
Therefore, what Islam approves is lawful and what it censures is illegal. In matters of social norms, practice and traditions, we look to Islam and adopt what it approves. This does not need to be written down in any legal code. If it is well known, then it is part of our law and anyone will abide by it.
I acknowledge that this could represent considerable difficulty for aliens who happen to live among us. But then Islam is a tolerant religion and once it is established that there is no deliberate attempt to make a public breach of Islamic values and principles, a foreigner is taught that certain types of behavior are unacceptable and that he should be careful so that he does not inadvertently break the law of the land.
When you speak of Islamic dress, it is well known that Islam requires women to cover all their bodies and reveal nothing other than their faces and the lower part of their hands up to their wrists. This is a requirement of the Islamic faith, so it is part of the Saudi law. You cannot describe this as a religious habit only. It is much more than that. Hence, when the government issued a decree regulating this aspect, the decree required Saudi women to abide by the teachings of Islamic faith when they go out, and require foreigners living or visiting the country to respect Saudi values and traditions. Hence you cannot compare this requirement to wearing a sari when you visit India, or wearing a gallabiya when you are in Egypt. It is not as if women visitors to Europe or America are told to wear skirts and blouses. The case here is one which has the force of law, not habit or tradition.
Nevertheless, we tend to take a lenient view of foreigners who are loath to do what is required. In large cities, like Jeddah and Riyadh, the authorities are quite understanding in most cases. Occasionally, you could find some you think are over-enthusiastic, but this is quite normal. If you want to avoid the likelihood of running into one, then you should maintain proper appearance and be careful not to violate the law of the land in public.
In Islam the only acceptable relationship between men and women who are not related is that of marriage. We are talking here about relationships, rather than people getting to know each other in work or in the normal transactions that take place within any community or group of people. Your question is detailed to the extent you want me to suggest to you how close you may stand to a colleague you meet in a shopping mall. I am not the one to tell you at what distance you need to stand when you speak to a man.
These are easily recognizable standards of decorum and you should abide by them. Lack of knowledge in this area is not a particularly useful excuse, because these standards are based on common sense in societies which attach due importance to virtue and chastity, allowing nothing of the promiscuity that has become normal practice in the west.
If you truly do not wish to have any trouble with the law of the country, you only need to try to enlighten yourself about its values and social norms. When you do that, you will find that they have a very sound basis that respects human nature and promotes every good aspect in it.
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