6. Body in Islam

Audio



Text of first Chapter of Quran:

“The Opening Chapter of the Holy Quran.
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds;
Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Master of the Day of Judgment
Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek
Show us the straight way,
The way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace, those who (portion) is no wrath, and not astray."

Sound-record of first Chapter of Quran: Al-Fātiḥah (The Opening).

The opening chapter of Quran, Al-Fātiḥah (The Opening), is the heart of the text and is repeated in daily prayers and on many other religious important occasions.

Record produced by http://quran.com
Text, Quran translated by http://quran.com
© Quran.com

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Image of Postures of Salat

Muslim prayer has a well-defined sequence of corporal attitudes. The prayer employs both body and mind.

Creative commons license http://eemaan.in/SALAH.html 22/09/2014

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Image of Muslim veil’s forms

There are many different Muslim veils, with different forms and different colours. The image shows the major Muslim veils and their names.

Taken from R. Pepicelli, Il Velo nell’Islam. Storia politica estetica, Carocci Editori, Rome, 2012 p. 22

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Photo of Razanne doll.

Few years ago, a toy company introduced Razanne, a modest Muslim version designed to compete with Barbie among Muslim children. Razanne comes in three ethnic variations (dark skin/black hair, olive skin/black hair, and pale skin/blonde hair) and with fashions appropriate for inside the home and outside of it. The company introduce itself on its website: “Noorart is dedicated to educating and inspiring our Muslim and Arab youth by producing and distributing quality Educational products.”

Photo of Razanne Doll, © Noorart ( http://www.noorart.com/shop_category/razanne_doll_toys 01/07/2014)

The veil is my body

It’s just a piece of cloth / It rocks the world / It shapes a civilization / A civilization misread / It’s trapping, says the untutored / It’s oppressing, echoes the unlearned / The veil is my body / The veil is also my mind / The veil defines my cultural identity / The veil is who I am / Your slurs and instructions / That I rip it off my head / Is a rape of my body / an invasion of my land / It’s just a piece of cloth / But after Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Maluku, Kosovo / this is all I have. “ By Nor Faridah Abdul Manaf (2007)

Text. Poetry “The veil is my body” by Nor Faridah Abdul Manaf (2007)

Poem dedicated to veil by a Muslim woman, Nor Faridah Abdul Manaf Professor in Islamic University of Malaysia. The veil is presented as a personal, cultural and politic choice. This opinion does not represent all the opinions between Muslim women, but is a interesting voice to read and discuss.

In R. Pepicelli, Il Velo nell’Islam. Storia politica estetica, Carocci Editori, Rome, 2012 p. 73