Page 5 The Islamic Bulletin Issue 19 Japanese women who marry men from Islamic countries often face ostracism from their families and friends; living by Islamic laws requires major changes in nearly every aspect of their lives. The Muslim’s daily ritual of prayer, for example, is a major hurdle for anyone who wants to hold a steady job. One young woman who works for a major electron-ics company in Tokyo prays in the company changing room. This transcriber, a MIT-Japan Program Intern at another company, Sharp, finds that prayer is no problem. The new Muslim must also make major changes in her diet. Muslims who strictly follow the Quran may not consume pork, alcoholic beverages, and animal products that have not been blessed. Juices and tsukemono may contain preservatives with low levels of alcohol; chocolate, ice cream, cakes and other processed desserts may contain animal fats, and gelatins may be made from animal bones. “At first it was hard to know what foods were permitted, so a group of us called the soy sauce, juice and pastry manufacturers to find out which products were alright. We made a checklist and that information had spread by word of mouth,” Aysha said. Another woman married to a Pakistani says, “It’s not a problem. There’s a store selling halal food in Saitama and we eat fish. As for cakes and juices, I usually make my own.” The most obvious symbol of the Muslim woman is the head scarf, hijab, that covers her head, and the long sleeves, and pants that cover her limbs. An energetic face framed within her black hijab Aysha says, “I wasn’t born a Muslim, so I’m strict (about Islam). Before I became a Muslim, I was the secretary to a company president so I drank alcohol, played, wore miniskirts, everything. After I became a Muslim, everything changed. I threw away or gave away five bags of clothing. To become a good Muslim takes time, though.” Although strict Islamic life may not be incongruous with lifestyles in Saudi Arabia or Iran, in Japan, Islam means accepting a life radically different from the ordinary Japanese. Perhaps, for some, herein lies the appeal. “Before I became a Muslim I didn’t know what I was put here on earth for. I though that the purpose of working was to make other people think highly of me. I believed that a person’s worth was based on what university he went to and how much money he made. Now I know that work is to nourish my body and I am here to live each day to praise Allah,” said a woman in her 20’s married to a Pakistani truck driver. Others, like Noureen, a 30-year-old teacher of nursing at a women’s university in Saitama, had tried other religions, including Christianity, before finding Islam. She met her husband, a 29-year-old Pakistani factory worker, at study sessions at the Islamic Center and officially became a Muslim before their marriage four years ago. She and her husband agree that Islam comes first and work comes second. When the nurse’s uniform and the hospital environment interfered with the practice of Islam, “My husband told me that I should change jobs if I couldn’t be a good Muslim at my own pace.” At present there are no Islamic schools in Japan. Noureen says, “the problem is not just food, it’s the concept: In Japan people think their body is their own, and that a child should stay up all night studying and only think about exams. “But we believe that one’s body belongs to God and should be treated with respect.” “See Through Scanner” to Be Introduced at U.S. Airports NEW YORK An X-ray scanner that can see through clothing will be introduced at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and five other major airports around the United States by June of next year. The Body Search device, using low doses of X-rays, is supposed to reveal items such as weapons and packages of illegal drugs. U.S. Customs says the machine does not show physical details, just the body’s outline. But some are raising concerns about privacy. Gregory T. Nojeim, legislative counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union, says the scanner can show private parts with clarity and that portions of the display could be enlarged by the viewer. Travelers would have the option of undergoing a physical patdown instead of being scanned. Athens to Build its First Mosque ATHENS (AFP) The powerful Greek Orthodox Church has given its agreement for the first mosque in Athens to be built in time for the 2004 Olympics in the city, a source close to the church said. Church officials have proposed constructing a mosque, an Orthodox church, and a synagogue near the Olympic village which will be built in Thrakomakenodes at the foot of Mount Parnis, some 30 kilometers (19 miles) north of Athens. The Greek Orthodox Church has enormous influence in the country and had always blocked any initiative to construct a mosque in Athens, angering Muslims who live in the capital. The staging of the Olympics in the city has brought about a new sense of compromise. “Women are attracted to Islam because they want freedom. Islam gives them independence because they do not have to be a slave of any man. Islam is against moral aggression against women. The chastity and honor of women are protected. No illicit relations are allowed. All these things attract women,” said Siddiqi.
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