Adil Najam
Given all the discussion about cricket and Islam (here), sooner or later we will come to beards and cricket and whether beards of a certain length or style are ‘religiously intimidating’ for some (related story here).
I thought I would pre-empt the discussion by sharing some images of a few ‘great beards’ of cricket. Readers are, of course, welcome to add to the list.
For that it seems to me that the obvious choice is one of Pakistan’s most graceful batsmen ever (and that is saying something!) Saeed Anwar. He is also generally considered a mentor to many of the more religiously inclined players in the current Pakistan team.
His, however, is not the only set of religiously motivated set of facial hair to adorn cricketing fields. One of my all-time favorite cricketers and all-time favorite famous persons is former Indian Captain Bishen Singh Bedi. His fine-looking facial hair and head-dress - and of many others - were also clearly religiously-motivated and a constant expression of his faith.
By way of disclosure I should add that I occasionally sprout facial hair of my own but am mostly clean-shaven. But as a deep and committed adherent of people’s right of expression (how can a blogger not be that!) I stand committed to defend people’s right to facial hair, whether they are grown for stylistic elegance or religious expression.
Zainab,
Are you suggesting that Islam does not allow freedom of religion, thought and expression? Oh the horror. Well that is not my Islam. Also…who gave you, Inzi or other Mullahs the right to exclusively interpret Islam.
My sincere advice to you: Take a chill pill.
[quote comment="6048"]An easier example - when one enrols in a college/uni/job once ur application is accepted you have to abide by the rulings and policy isnt it? [/quote]
When school administration keeps fighting over what are the rules then what are students to do?
Zainab,
Ya ukhti,
You say, [quote]” when one enrols in a college/univ./job once ur application is accepted you have to abide by the rules and policy. Same way with entering Islaam, or any other religion for that matter.”[/quote]
You are right, you have to follow the policies and rules of the school or the institution you enrol in. But if you don’t like the school or its rules you are free to quit that school. Are you allowed to quit Islam? Alive, that is.
Please do reply.
Shukran.
Ma-assalamah
MQ
YLH!!
Akhi, u mention ‘La ikra fid deen’
i think you should do ur research on the tafseer of this ayah.
Having studied certain surahs, including this certain one,I can tell u ur using it incorrectly.
This ayah only refers to those ppl who are non muslim, one cannot force a non muslim to accept islaam, however once u have entered Islaam it is obligatory upon u to carry out the commandments the shariah has ordained upon us eg praying, fasting etc.
An easier example - when one enrols in a college/uni/job once ur application is accepted you have to abide by the rulings and policy isnt it? sameway with entering Islaam, or any other religion for that matter.
[if u think my word isnt enuf, reseach in tafseer Jilalain]
So if one is concerned about his fellow muslim brothers fate, and he encourages them to carry out what has already been obligatory upon them, what is wrong with that??
u consider them thugs?!
I call them ppl with hearts who care
I leave you to contemplate
ws
Ukhtik
To despise someone just because they have a particular type or length of beard would be as absurd and deplorable and to despise someone just becasue they do not have a particular type or length of beard. People who do either are equally intolerant, one in the name of moderness other in name of religion.
@YLH: I would consider you and your statments credible if you make statments having some weights. Statments like
-Pakistani team muslim members force non-muslim members to become muslim.
- A captain takes a God’s name or practise a religion therefore non-muslims except Islam
SUch silly statments don’t make you credible on a forum like this where most of people are above 20.
no person can force any other person to accept islam/christianity/etc etc. Yousuf was never peressured as some loonies propagated and I believe on this more while I have “LISTENED” yousuf himself in audio/video tapes that how he accepted Islam. If islam was accepted by force then liberals like you and others here could have become “mullah/muslims” long time back or even in last two weeks but see you are still following your own religion. Kindly do think twice before propagating such silliness on public forums. You re not earning points rather loosing credibility in the eyes of outsiders[non-Pakistani visitors].
[quote post="377"]I’d like to see Sarwan preaching Hinduism… (though the analogous situation would be Brian Lara preaching the gospel)…[/quote]
That’s called preaching if you are unable to comprehend. the way he was discussing dewali was actually telling the “positives” of dewali, a festivals. You should realize that tableegh is not dependant on temples,churches or masjids. If i ask some forum member to offer namaz then it’s also tableegh.
Anyway WINDIES dont possess pakistani liberal hence there would be no hypocrisy over there.
[quote post="377"]South African Team was pretty religiously christian during the late 1990s… but they never forced Kallis for example to conform to their religiousity.[/quote]
Comeup with proof, dont make immature statments. Indian’s Harbajan singh even attended a tableeghi session but he didnt become muslim, same goes with Kineria. Yousuf was captain when he was not a muslim but people like would comeup that they gave captaincy as “bribe” to Yusuf sot ht he accept islam. I can expect any statment from you guys.
[quote post="377"]Pakistan a tolerant and plural country[/quote]
you would have read my quote about hypocrisy. Please you dont look good to preach about tolerence. Pls! First bring tolerance in yourself then preach to others.
Bilal,
You raised a question in your comment:
[quote ]
“What do women think of men with beards? Any commentators on it from the female side?”
[/quote]
I called four friends who happen to be women of Pakistan origin and asked them the same question. Here are the responses along with a little bit about them:
1. A banker in New York in her 30s, not religious. She recalled an actor who she said looked good with beard in a movie. Other than that she said they don’t look good.
2. A physician in Pennsylvania in her late 30s, semi religious. She said “beard is not in”.
3. A housewife in New York in her 50s, religious. She said except the goatee or what is also called “French beard” all the rest look “unimpressive”.
4. A businesswoman in Michigan in her 30s and “paband-e-somo-salat”, originally from Lahore, said, “mujhay zehr lagtay hain.”
Make of it what you will.
Bilal, the three people in the pictures are the ones mentioned in the post: W.G. Grace, Saeed Anwar, and Bishen Singh Bedi. All three great cricketers.