Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2000 00:51:37 -0600
From: FAROOQM@trxinc.com (Mohammad Farooq)
Subject: Muslim women, how about start riding your bike!

Dear Shetubondhon friends,

Salam and greetings.

In the context of the contemporary conditions related to the majority population, culture and value-system of Bangladesh and broader Muslim world, last year (1999) I wrote a concept paper "Fundamental Challenges Facing the Muslims" in which I identifed ten broad challenge areas (http://www.globalfront.com/farooqm/writings/islamic/challenges.html ). It might be worth reading by Muslims as well as non-Muslims, Bangladeshis and non-Bangladeshis. One of those challenge areas is "Coercion vs. choice", in which I wrote: "The entire edifice of Islam is based on free choice, not coercion. If Islam is to be relevant again to our time, we have to understand and embrace Islam on the foundation of free choice. Coercion can elicit outward compliance, but can never win the hearts of people, who under coercion, will disavow their loyalty at the first opportunity they have."

Tonight (2/16/00)I came across a piece of news as part of an unfolding drama and trend that prompted me to write these few words here. Under the caption "Swinging election rally signals change sought by Iran's young" (http://www.cnn.com/2000/WORLD/meast/02/15/iran.elections.ap/index.html ), a news item reported the conditions of contemporary Iran, where some significant changes are shaping up. The same news quoted a Muslim woman of Iran, Hashemi, whose comments tempts me to offer my respect to her by saying: My toupi (hat) off to you! After all, the revolution in Iran, which has gone through a period of post-revolutionary, excesseive zeal/romanticism (quite natural to any revolution) and now through reawakening and realization, was brought about by as much or more sacrifice of women as men. Thus, the role of women is more than just touchy issue there.

Iran is having its latest parliamentary election on this Friday (2/18/00) in which President Khatami-favored candidates are supposed to do well and better than before. The context of this election has to do with what I have stated in the beginning as the issue of "Coercion vs. choice". A remarkable revolution based on the participation of the mass - men and women - became entrapped in the narrow sectarian exclusivism, nationalism, and got short-curcuited to a socially-coercive mode of life, much of which is contrary to the value-system and vision of Islam. However, one must understand and appreciate complexity of social dynamism, where there could be pace of desired change that is either excessively slow or fast. As long as the dynamics is present, there is good deal of hope for the better.

One must not forget this USA is not just today's USA. Slavery did not get formally abolished here until 1863, women did not get their right to vote until THIS century in 1920, and even half-a-century ago, blacks had to struggle for here basic human right and dignity through desegregation. Thus, ideals are one thing, and the social dynamics to help the society to modulate toward such ideals takes time, commitment, creativity and sacrifice. As women did their part in pre-revolutionary period to topple one of the worst dictators of modern times, in the news that I read I see reasons to be hopeful that women would continue there to do their part to modulate the dynamic reality toward the desired ideals - however slow and agonizing that process is.

In that news what drew my attention most was the bold and visionary comment of Hashemi Rafsanzani, a Muslim woman. She reportedly said that Islamic hijab should not be obligatory, that is, coercively enforced. WITH recognition of the fact that Islam DOES have "guidance" for dress and social interaction, she made the remark: "I personally like the hijab, but I don't see the logic in obliging people to wear the hijab. Women should decide whether or not to wear it," she said. [Lest my position on this is misunderstood by my fellow Muslims, my 13 year old daughter last year attended and won the Iowa state spelling championship, and she participated there with head covered.]

In her these few short words there is very fundamental common sense (unfortunately, common sense is just so uncommon!): goodness in human nature needs to be nurtured in an environment of choice and volition, not coercion. Does not that echo: "Let there be no compulsion/coercion in Deen (way of life): Truth stands out clear from error ..." [al-Qur'an/2/al-Baqara/256] or "...what is the mission of apostles but to DELIVER the clear message?" [al-Qur'an/36/Ya sin/17] or "... We have not sent you (O Muhammad!) to be a disposer/manager (wakeel) of their affairs for them" [al-Qur'an/17/Bani Israil/54]?

Oops, I forgot, what does all this have to do with riding bike? Well, right now apart from many other social restrictions in Iran, women can't ride bikes in public. Speaking to reporters after the rally, Hashemi said women "have to BREAK this taboo and start riding bicycles in public." Some secularists might graciously say WOW! (Is it alright, if I say Allahu Akbar!)

Did I mention whether this woman is not just any woman by the name Hashemi? I guess I did not. Well, she is not an ordinary woman. She is the daughter of Iran's former president Hashemi Rafsanzani, one of the close trustees of the late Imam Khomeini.

Soon bike production in Iran might needs to be doubled. Iran might have difficulty producing so many bikes so soon. Bangladesh might seize an excellent export opportunity. Grameen Bank can probably put together another project of "Grammen Bike" specially with the labor of Hashemi's sisters - that is women - in Bangladesh and export a good many bikes to that country of Hafiz, Sadi, Rumi and Omar Khayyam, and not to forget this woman, Hashemi Rafsanzani. For Bangladeshi women, it might be a good idea to start with bike manufacturing, seeing which we can mentally prepare ourselves for them to ride too in future.

One confession. I said that hearing Hashemi Rafsanzani's statement I felt like taking my toupi (hat) off. I would not be truthful without this confession: I don't really HAVE a toupi to take off.

Farooq

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Dr. Mohammad Omar Farooq
Upper Iowa University 
Personal homepage: http://www.globalfront.com/farooqm
Nazrul site: http://www.globalfront.com/nazrul