question about muslim islamic women woman who follow Shariah Law ?
This is a follow up question from an earlier one: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ArKZME7AZy_cvigDDCJ7hIXty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20080915135302AA3Fwb1 SITUATION: 1. I am a New York State Department of Motor Vehicle's Certified Driving Instructor. a. I am forty-two b. have held this job at a driving school in Brooklyn for three years c. I have had my own license since 1982 and have a lot of experience driving d. I was an insurance investigator for seven years e. I was a police officer for seven years f. I was an executive chauffeuruffeur for three years 2. I am a native born American of Celtic ancestory who can trace his family back to Brooklyn and Tompkins County, NY for two hundred years. 3. I make my money giving driving lessons and only get paid by the lesson. I usually average thirty lessons a week but need to average fifty. 4. My students are please with my service. Regardless of gender or demographic I behave the same way. I only discuss the students driving during the lesson. No other concern at all is ever discussed. I never inititate physical contact ever. Even with men and even a handshake. I wait until it is offered. Most people request me after having one lesson. 5. Many Muslim women come to our school for lessons. Some will accept me as an instructor with no issues. In fact there is on student, a very observant muslim teenage girl who's uncle is a well known buisness man in the area who has no issue with me teaching his niece. However, some flat out refuse to have a male instructor. The women instructors at the school left. The owner is a female. She acquieces to instruct these women yet she would prefer not to. There is an arab owned school that has a female instructor. The rumor is she is not properly certified and regardless she can not handle to job so the muslim women dislike her. There is a male instructor who teaches with some woman as a chaperone but he has a bad reputation because he gets to emotional and can not handle to job. PROBLEM: I would like to teach these women to drive without them violating Shariah Law. In general, most religeons make allowances and exceptions for pretty much everything except blashphemy of the diety. Moreover, these women are not hard core (for lack of a better word) they wear head scarves but not the Burkha's with a slit for the eyes. And they are driving in the first place whereas in places like Saudi Arabia they can not. It seems as if the intent behind the islamic prohibition on unmarried men and women being alone together is to avoid one thing leading to another it turning into some type of sexual encounter. On a certain level I can understand that because in other situations when I was left alone with a female (not working this job) one thing leads to another...and in this job I have had women start touvhing me, flirting or even ask me out. MY PROPOSED SOLUTION: Having a chaperone is not a viable option since she would have to get paid and the student charged more. What if the school organized the lessons so that I would never be alone with one woman. They would set up a three hour group lesson with three women. It would build team spirit and cammraderie and all that and reinforce the lessons through observation. I would stagger the lessons so each student drove for twenty minutes then observed for forty minutes. Would such a situation be compliant with Shariah Law ? If you can please suppport your answer with any relevant sections of the Quaran. Further, in Brooklyn, name up to five major (by # of adherents) sects of islam and the name and address of the leader(s). SUMMARY: Driving is regulated by state dmv's and is separate from any religeon. However, driving schools are private buisnesses and private buisnesses have to take cultural and social considerations into play. Part of the culture of America is our ingenuity and inability to give up so I am going to figure out how to make the above work and approach the proper religeous authorities to write a letter on my behalf which will certify me to provide this service to islamic women. PLEASE COMMENT ON MY IDEA POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE AND IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER SOLTIONS PLEASE POST THEM. THANK YOU. Thank you and peace to all.
Religion & Spirituality - 11 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
How about just making them take off the beekeeper outfit and take the class like everyone else has to. This is the United States, not Saudi Arabia.
2 :
As admirable as your intentions are....they may be against the law. If you specify "Islamic Woman" as you did above, you're discriminating against "sex" & "religion"......(men & women in general and Islamic men specifically and certainly other religious affiliations).
3 :
It seems to me, though admittedly I'm not muslim and do not know the rules, that the student could bring a chaperone with them (a relative or whatever). That chaperone would then not have to be paid. They could just sit in the back seat. If they were already licensed to drive they could not be accused of getting free driving lessons either, as they'd not need them. Tiki...I don't think it would violate the law if anyone who felt uncomfortable alone (for whatever reason) was allowed an already licensed chaperone.
4 :
Well, of course it is ok. The ones who oppose this are backwards people that blow everything, religious or non-religious out of proprotion. Islam well permits things which are otherwise even HARAM to be done as necessary for survival. I don't see the harm in them taking driving lessons from a man,
5 :
Sorry dude, but user "walls of jericho" said it all in a nut shell. This is still America. Do you think that if you a non-muslim (American) lived in a muslim land like Saudi Arabia, would they allow your wife to drive. Nope!
6 :
maxf736's idea is great.... have them bring a family member along too. our driver's ed was exactly as you're stating, with 2 or 3 kids at once, observed for 1/3 of the time, and we were usually out for around 3 hours. but, it wasn't for religious reasons, it was becuase there was 30 kids in the class, and one instructor. that way he could be done with exams in less than two weeks. ;) good luck, and good for you for caring how these girls feel. ;) BB )O( STB
7 :
Your solution is viable though having them bring a family member along would work well too. This question is based on travel to and from the hajj pilgrimage but I think that hadeeths may be extended to your situation. http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?cid=1119503544964&pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaEAskTheScholar
8 :
Actually its based on the fact that .. a muslim woman shouldnt be alone with a non mehrum (out of family) man .. So the easiest solution is to ask them to bring someone along who can sit in the car with them .. u can put them on the backseat and blindfold them if u want :P but thats the only obvious solution. A group of women together .. i dont think it would make a difference :) Another thing u Could do is have a woman join u (as in be partners) .. u can instruct the male memebers .. and she can instruct the females :) Edit: I agree with Maxf736
9 :
A group lesson would be fine. A Muslim woman is not allowed to be left ALONE with a man who isn't a direct family member. A woman driving isn't haram , they aren't allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia for different reasons. The Burkha isn't a must, the head scarf is. PS: thanks for the 10 points
10 :
Hats off to you 4 being so considerate of people's feelings..........i really wish i cud give u the correct solution but cant......... since my knowledge of the matter is limited and ........Islam doesnt allow wishful additions or subtractions in the religion............i hope & pray that u find the perfect solution soon ...............may ppl like u increase in the world....and.....may u find guidance & rewards 4m Almighty........Ameen.
11 :
You know how Niqab came to Islam. One day Umer, the second Khalifah saw Prophet Mohammed's wives Shitting and Farting.He found the stench unbearable.He went and complained to Prophet Mohammed.The result---niqab.
