Adriano,Reina

PH103BB
124428

TWICEOTHER:ONMUSLIMANDBEINGAWOMAN
Oct.12,2015|4:306:00pm
PanelDiscussion
Jamia Ramziz "Jara" Amin
Sarah Mae Ismael
Ameera Julia Tungupon
The panel discussion talked about how Muslim culture is misunderstood
as Islamic religion and how people usually do not see the difference between
them. Three students related their experiences on what it takes to be a
Muslim, and even more, a Muslim woman. Ameera described her life growing
up as a Muslim girl, Jara Amin talked about how it was possible to live within
a non-Muslim society, while Sara Ismael shared her stories about how she, as
a Muslim woman, received prejudices and discriminations. All of them were
able to impart their opinions on how practice differs even among indigenous
groups. Such example is the way Muslims see no image of God and are
prohibited of concrete image of God because it's idolatry. At the same time,
the dress code for them is more of a recommendation of the modest way of
dressing. As Amin stated that there were already cultural traditions and
practices even before Islam came and thus non-Muslim people cannot
generally conclude that one activity is an Islamic practice, it can be
concluded that there is a thin line between culture and religion.
One thing I have learned from the talk is gearing towards me, that I
myself admit that I cannot see the difference of the practices between
Muslim culture and Islamic faith. Perhaps this is why everything Im about to
say is, first and foremost, an opinion, because I was not given the chance to
come any closer to acknowledging the truth behind which is Muslim and
which is Islamic in nature and that any judgment I give would be in relation to
the fact that I have also kept distance deliberately from most Muslims partly
because I do not know how to deal with them. Many of the people who had
given prejudices or discrimination towards Muslim (and to some extent,
Muslim women) were not initially evil people trying to downplay the Muslim
race in order to elevate the Christian community. Just like me, perhaps they
may have been misled in wanting safety but seeing danger in the midst of
anyone wearing a burqa or a hijab. But its quite interesting how ones faith in
a particular religion can either strengthen or disrupt anothers since we lack
the courage to ask the reason and background behind practices of other
cultures and religions for fear of making it seem disrespectful. When our

Christian charity means giving to other people in need does not translate to
that of the Muslims polygamous relationship as another practice of charity,
and of legalizing it, this calls for the times when we need to be
knowledgeable, at least, in the basic sense of what is considered to be
ritualistic that is different from our own. As Ismael said, "Muslims are not
better, not lesser, just different.