Today's article concerns two different matters.

Matter Number 1.

In an article entitled "Women in Islam & the Hajib," at KingsCalendar the most recent contribution from Muslim Convert Bilal Racheha is presented. The following are some interesting excerpts from that article.

The Question of Hijab These Days: by Bilal Racheha

According to Shaykh Hamza, as per the advice of Shaykh Abdallah bin Bayyah, if a woman is certain or feels a high probability of danger when outside of her home, particularly in some areas of this country, then the best place for her at this time is in her home.

The essential reason for the ruling of hijab is to protect women. Since wearing the hijab may not serve that purpose these days in some areas and may in fact put a woman in danger, then the ruling changes under such circumstances.

In the circumstances mentioned above, Shaykh Hamza suggests as an alternative that Muslim women consider wearing hats, etc. The point is that a woman does not have to go out looking obviously like a Muslim these days if she feels she would be the object of harm and harassment.

Shaykh Hamza recommends that, at this time in particular, we redouble our efforts to reach out to others and to educate them about Islam. He notes that, generally, the response has been positive; many of our fellow Americans are sensitive to the present situation and are troubled by bigotry and hate crimes.

Q:How should women wear the hijab?

Shaykh Abdullah Bin Bayyah gave a fatwa, and it was a very good, sound fatwa. His point was that if Muslim women were in danger of being harmed or accosted, they should not go out, and if they have to go out, he said that they are not obliged to wear the hijab.

The laws are there to serve human beings; we are not there to serve the law. We are there to serve Allah, and that is why whenever the law does not serve you, you are permitted to abandon it, and that is actually following the law.

I would recommend having a PR campaign. Show pictures of Mary Magdalene or the Virgin Mary since they are basically wearing the hijab, and explain that this is a sign of purity as it always has been, so people should not desecrate it. Do this to remind them that it is from their own tradition.

From your brother in islam Bilal Racheha  Sydney Australia

Matter Number 2.

In an article entitled: Muslims, the New Jews battling Anti-Semitism, I presented an article sent to me by a Muslim convert. Today I just want to present an email I received in response to that article. The email was forwarded on, and a reply was later forthcoming.

Dear Mr. Racheha:

I too found the article intriguing and perhaps there might be hope between us, the Children of Abraham, but, I am afraid, it will not be in our lifetime.

Let me mention a couple of thing. You live in Australia AND NOT IN A MOSLEM COUNTRY. As such, you are able to say things that would be otherwise unacceptable. Your life and that of your family would be at risk. I cannot nor will I judge every Moslem of being an antisemite, but the virulent and obscene hatred that is being displayed by Moslems against Jews rivals and often exceeds the Nazis�.

R20;Mainstream Islam may dislike the extremists as much as the west does�, but their silence is deafening. You speak of the West, of the Christian world, but you say little of the relationship of Islam towards Jews and Judaism. You cannot compare the discrimination against Moslems, with what the Jews have to and continue to bear. They are threatened with extinction, with being �wiped off the face of the map�, not just in words, but in deed. And the Koran is not free of hate towards the �Jewish infidel�.

Let me conclude with the following. I am glad that you speak against extremism. I would be more hopeful if there were more than just a handful of Moslems, from within their own countries, who were just as brave. .. .. Sincerely Joseph

Mr.Racheha's reply:

Salam God bless you joesph,by the way let me tell you something as a muslim sunni,we love the jews and the christains,moses (p.b.u.h) is mentioned more than any other prophet in the holy quran,we as muslim do not teach hatred to the jews or christains,anyway i am more than happy to meet up with you. by the way i have named my son moses,for my love of the prophet moses,and named my other son jacob who is known as (isreal). plz fell free to too contact me anytime u wish. by the way i feel really sorry for what happen to the jews in histroy. we are all the children of Abraham (p.b.u.h) plz call me mobile 0424242114 God bless you Bilal Racheha

Joseph's Response to BenDedek

Joseph sent me an email suggesting that the Article Author and the Email Sender were two different people.

Maybe, maybe not! As for Mr. Racheha's reply comments regarding Jews and Christians, and their place in Islam, I am well aware that this is in fact the 'normal and rational' Muslim belief and teaching.

R.P.Bendedek
Email: rpbendedek@hotmail.com

R.P.BenDedek is the Author of 'The King's Calendar: The Secret of Qumran' and a guest columnist at Magic City Morning Star News.

"The King's Calendar" [ on sale - while the economic recession is on], is a chronological study of the historical books of the Bible (Kings and Chronicles), Josephus, Seder Olam Rabbah, and the (Essene) Damascus Document of The Dead Sea Scrolls. See Chapter Precis page.

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