Comments on: A Case of Suspicion

By: Adnan

Adnan — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 09:21:53 +0000

This is art.

By: .

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:51:04 +0000

It’s not about silencing anyone. Say whatever you feel like saying, and question whatever you feel like questioning, but don’t make fun of them.
Making fun doesn’t equal discussion or posing questions. It only equals disrespect.

In Islam, we are asked to respect those who spend their lives teaching us our religion. This does not mean to not disagree with them or argue, respectfully. The rule regarding this has no chance of offering “various interpretations.”

By: Aaron

Aaron — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 03:45:55 +0000

I think it is necessary to separate religion from those who act “in the name of religion”.

I disagree that making fun of “religious” figures is the equivalent of making fun of religion. Such a strategy is about silencing dissent or discussion, by implying that anybody who questions others behaviour is morally (and in this case religiously) corrupt.

Not everybody who acts in the name of a religion, or any other doctrine or philosophy has the best of intentions. There is also the significant matter of varying interpretation of “the rules” of religion. We witness this in other parts of the world currently.

The ends do not justify the means, not ever.

By: .

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:20:03 +0000

You know, Mr. Al-Omran, I was wondering.. do you think such cartoon is appropriate, and the one you linked this post to as well?

Do you think making fun of “religious” figures is right? Isn’t it another form of ridiculing religion?

I am not Saudi, but I find it offensive that you approve such cartoons that are inappropriate by posting them on your blog as a means of publicizing them.

I guess you should already know that such actions -that are depicted in the cartoon- are not a part of our religion. Such a cartoon generalizes a false claim which is not accepted in no means even if it was true for a few people, who are not in any supposed to be considered representatives of our religion.

Thanks.. anyways!

By: Chiara

Chiara — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:37:01 +0000

Expat in Saudi–Thanks for your explanation, I for one was initially misled by the hemlines! but finally fully comprehended, the Muttawa reference. Funny either way, but more politically dangerous for the obvious to the Saudi-based Muttawa reference. The arm in arm in public I thought was acceptable for the legally married, hence the extra issues of suspicion and jealousy.

By: Abs Yasin

Abs Yasin — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 07:07:29 +0000

Salam,

i clearly understood the meaning & thanks!

like i said “why can’t they just mind their own freakin business?!” please correct me if i’m wrong here…

Cheers!!!

By: Expat in Saudi

Expat in Saudi — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 06:53:10 +0000

For those not understanding: The two men are dressed as Muttawaa (literally – righteous thinkers or men) and they are not happy at the man and woman walking arm in arm. This mirrors the belief that such close contact in public is haram (forbidden by the Quran). I laughed when I saw the cartoon because it does mirror what we see out at the malls here in Riyadh (though maybe not what others see in Dammam or Jeddah).

By: Excuse You? « Saudi Jeans

Excuse You? « Saudi Jeans — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 11:06:41 +0000

[...] In the Media ← A Case of Suspicion [...]

By: Abs Yasin

Abs Yasin — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 09:11:26 +0000

Yeah people get that a lot, why can’t they just mind their own freakin business?

By: Chiara

Chiara — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:08:48 +0000

Andrew–I would agree that in more closed societies suspicion is more frequent (eg. in Morocco more than in Canada); and men seem to be more competitive with each other (nature and nurture), and thus more likely to suspect the other in an effort to feel as competent or better (an outsider’s observation on the mail psyche! LOL).

I understood the cartoon more in that light, since the 3 men are of similar appearance and dress, and as far as I know having a beard, even a scraggly one, and wearing sandals, aren’t unique to the Hay’a (correct me if I am wrong). Or are the thobe hemlines a dead giveaway? LOL

Kalimaat–agreed, except that as above I think it is more a question of envy and as a result wondering how he got “the babe” and they didn’t: competition–>envy–>suspicion.