|
Dear Sirs,
I work at a secondary school in south
wales and would like some clarificaton as to the reasoning behind why
some muslim girls say they can not participate in dance which is very
much part of the curriculum in school whilst others can take part in
these lessons without question.
What are the legal issues here and essentially what can
be done to ensure that there is a greater understanding between two
opposing ideas!
Teachers are confused as are the pupils. I hope you can clear this up for me.
Many thanks
Emma Keen
South Wales
Dear Emma
I hope this email reaches you in good health.
Mr. Miah, Editor of the Islamic Times forwarded your email to me and has
asked me to reply to you personally.
In your email you requested clarification as to why some Muslim girls
danced and why others had a problem with it and what Islam's perspective was on
this?
Well, I would like to start off
by thanking you for taking the time out and contacting the Islamic Times.
Islam is a religion of wisdom
which does not prevent people from having entertainment; however, it provides
the rules that regulate this entertainment. At the same time, Islam does not
tolerate any kind of entertainment that contains Haraam (unlawful) or
even leads to Haraam behaviour.
I am made to believe that the
girls in your school have segregated sessions for dancing, and, for this reason,
dancing is allowed
providing that there is no music
other than which is provided by the daff (a large-sized frame drum, without,
rings or small cymbals) and/or the human voice.
Dancing will not be allowed if it
involved revealing any of the girl’s `awrah – that is, the parts of the
body between the navel and the knees in front of other girls; if mandatory
obligations are not carried then dancing is not allowed.
To conclude, girl's dancing
should be a simple, natural rhythmic, swaying free from any form of obvious or
covert immoral vice / habit. (I'm sure that this is NOT the case
with school girls!)
I hope I have answered your question and queries regarding dancing!
In peace,
|
