There are a number of Latin phrases that have survived millennia, because they contain immortal pearls of wisdom. In a world that is increasingly using Twitter and short SMS text messages to communicate, these Latin phrases may experience a renaissance, because they are often concise and profound. One of my favorite Latin phrases is "barba non facit philosophum", which roughly translates to "a beard does not make a philosopher". It means that it takes much more than a beard to become a philosopher and thus highlights how important it is to distinguish between the outward appearance of a person and their actual knowledge, intellect or other abilities. This tweetable phrase is not just applicable to philosophers and beards, but can be broadly applied to people of all ages, backgrounds, professions, cultures and gender. It reminds us of how we often overemphasize the outward appearance and this adage rings just as true today as it did when it was first used. It also lends itself to be adapted to contemporary issues.
The adaptation that I like to use is "barba non facit muslimum", which is supposed to mean "a beard does not make a Muslim", even though I realize that "muslimum" is not a Latin word. Many Muslim scholars feel that the Islamic tradition encourages Muslim men to have beards. While the Quran itself does not directly link piety with having a beard, over time, many Muslim communities have developed a vague expectation that pious or devout Muslim men ought to have beards. I have also on occasion heard comments about Muslim politicians or public figures who are involved in corruption or fraudulent activities that they behaved dishonestly, "in spite of having a long beard". Even though these comments are said jokingly, they do underscore the implicit link between the character of a person and their outward appearance. When asked specifically about the importance of a beard relative to other aspects of the Muslim faith, most Muslims will likely answer that the compassion and charitable behavior of the individual are far more important than whether or not he has a beard. However, such "inward" characteristics are difficult to ascertain during passing encounters, while the presence or absence of a beard is much easier to determine.
The "barba non facit muslimum" phrase can also be interpreted in an expanded manner, and refer to the outward appearance of Muslims in general. The wearing of a head-scarf (hijab) by Muslim women is encouraged by a number of Muslim scholars. As with the beards of Muslim men, members of the Muslim community sometimes consciously or subconsciously perceive the presence of a head-scarf as a sign of piety of the individual. On the flip-side, there may be an implicit assumption that the absence of a hijab may indicate less piety. Most religions including Islam discourage humans from judging each other's piety. Piety is a diffuse and not definable concept and if there is any judgment to be passed, it is generally thought to fall in God's domain. However, we humans seem to indulge in passing judgments on each other. The outward appearance is much easier to evaluate than "inward" characteristics such as compassion or humility, which lie at the core of most faiths. Therefore, the combination of our desire to judge each other with our intellectual laziness may have resulted in an over-emphasis of the outward appearance.
The over-emphasis of the outward appearance in matters of faith comes at a certain cost, because it diverts time and resources from more pressing issues. One such example is the question of universal healthcare in the USA. Caring for the sick and elderly is a central tenet not only of Islam, but also of most faiths and humanist belief systems. As a strong supporter of universal healthcare and as a Muslim, I would have wished a much stronger involvement of American Muslims in the discussion about universal healthcare proposed by the Obama administration. I participated in two events organized by Muslim organizations in the Chicago area to discuss the issue of universal healthcare. Unfortunately, the interest in this topic was rather limited and the turnout quite low. On the other hand, lectures or discussions about "modest Islamic dress" are often packed with members of the community. Another example is the recent ban of face veils (niqab) in France. This enforcement of the ban by the French government has resulted in a barrage of Op-Eds, articles, talks and blogs by Muslims in America. Some see the ban in France as an infringement of civil rights, while others argue that the ban will help the integration of Muslims in France. All in all, it is surprising that this ban that affects perhaps only 2000 women in France has evoked such passionate responses here in the USA, while the activism for issues such as healthcare and education, which affect millions of Americans, has been comparatively muted.
Choosing an outward appearance that is compatible with one's faith is a personal decision. However, we have to constantly re-evaluate our priorities and make sure that the time, efforts and resources devoted to the outward appearance should be in some measure of proportion to its actual importance within the faith.
Follow Jalees Rehman, M.D. on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jalees_rehman
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It's what you do, not what you wear that counts.
wear a burka in france and don't be surprised if you are not accepted, or even more negative atitudes are encountered. the parameters of the social contract which underlies western "liberal democratic" socieity DOES include certain ranges of dress and conduct. Place yourself outside those, and don't be surprised at rejection or worse. As western europeans and americans discover repeatedly in their engagements on the home soil of middle eastern cultures.
I have often heard the weak argument that it us better to be pious and forego Islamic dress code than to observe Islamic dress an be corrupt. It's like saying that it is better for a student to pass all of their tests and not do their homework than to do the homework and fail their exams. Given that both are required to pass a class, both scenarios are wrong, as the student would have to both do their homework and the tests.
Likewise, in Islam, the believer who wants to go to Jannah needs to observe the inward and outward requirements.
All that said, most modern American Muslims that I know fervently believe that dress code should be based on individual choice. I choose not to have a full, long beard just as my wife chooses not to cover her hair, face or forearms. We both dress modestly and reasonably by Western standards and perhaps "scantily clad" by Saudi standards. That, however, is our choice.
Where culture and organized religious orthodoxies overlap, especially when there is then an interaction with different peoples of both or either, there can be confusions on the meanings of a lot of things: we usually hear about it when there are conflicting authorities, or between authorities and societies that emphasize freedom from coercion by such. (However there may be double standards in play.)
It's kind of interesting as a Pagan in America, to have watched how such things have developed over the decades, not to mention the impressions and expectations of others, (Like with with so many other religions, they identify us by the 'loudest' examples (Or who they *think* are noticeable examples: a lot of people expect just hippies and Goths, who may indeed not be Pagan at all, ...) and don't notice the 'hey, you look just like us,' types. :)
We have no real 'dress code,' but sometimes there are conventions and expressions that have religious/spiritual *meaning* that are common. Rules and "rules" interact differently.
I am reminded about what Jerry Falwell once said, "Good Christians, like slaves and soldiers, ask no questions." The same could be said of dictators. They do not want you to ask questions, just continue to send in the money.
I think one of the most under-rated and often-derided players in the Bible is Thomas. Often called "Doubting Thomas", as if that's a horrible attribute, he was an empiricist who wanted some observable evidence.
Note that in John 20:27, Jesus actually instructs Thomas to inspect the wounds rather than accept it blindly. After that moment, Thomas declared Jesus to be his Lord and God, with enthusiasm and joy.
All that said, I fail to see why mindless obedience is currently extolled as a virtue.
Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone.
How do you figure that God wants people to judge others, when the bible says otherwise?
So, there you have it...god said...
If those words are to be believed, God cares about what people wear.
"Thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts, as of woollen and linen together." -- Deuteronomy 22:11
Again...blends are bad too.
"Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering." -- 1 Corinthians 11:14-15
To all those short-haired women...yep.
"I will punish ... all such as are clothed with strange apparel." -- Zephaniah 1:8
I'd like to see the definition of "strange apparel but by standards then, anything today would be "strange." So, I think are all breaking this one...