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. You can also look into Joshua Bartlett’s blog to get more information about men’s grooming and the products often used for it.
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.
MQ,
as far as I have *heared* , Quran was also compiled after the death of Prophet(SAW)? how then you had recieved Quran after 1500 years? Can you reveal that *source of transfer* to outer world? please dont say it was Iqbal
MQ… thanx for the poetic saying, sounds really good.
I know of Allamah Iqbal by name, but dont really know his shairi.
can u recommend any good links?
yahya…lol…I suppose ur remarks are due to ur lack to knowledge and understanding!
I shud get u a vistors visa…so u can live in the west and then judge for urself, how does that sound?!
Man if only u knew wot kinda life I live and wot I’ve studied.
u see I dont think u see the clear distinction between religion and culture, maybe u do but it aint clear is it?
I, as a matter of fact have only ever been to pakland once,
I am more or less ignorant of majority of the pakistani traditions and I aint too fussed about it either!
And dont think I’m some backwards girl/woman livin in a ‘too modern for me society’ cos who says u cant live a lavish life, up to date wiv latest tecnology, aswell as fashion and not practise Islaam???
Get over the stereotype that practising muslims cant speak english or are not educated. prime example of this wud be Sheikh Hamza Yusuf, hes western, but a traditional muslim.
If ppl wanna immitate the west, do it in style! dont leave ur Islaam for it, cos thats ‘meant’ to be ur religion ‘ur way of life’, leave ur culture!
and I soooooooooo didnt have any intention of askin for attention, cos I luv my society I luv my way of life, I aint that sad that I’d come on this site and try to be ‘somebody’.
Enuf sed!
Peace out
If you still cannot understand…thats ur problem, broaden your understanding of culture and Islaam. I know many pakistanis who have a good understanding, but u always get the odd few that dont..khyr :P
ws
I’m sorry if I sound petty, I hate that kinda stuff,thats why I prefer looking at the funny side when ppl try to diss the ‘practising brits and muslims’, but answers also need to be given!
[“If you’r living in paksitan, go study in a madressa for a yr or two, maybe you’ll gain some understanding of the very basics of Islaam.”]
My dear “British Pakistani”,
Thanks for the advice. But do you know what? I did have the opportunity to talk to both the teachers and students of madrassas in Pakistan at length. And what I found there is best echoed by Iqbal in these lines(I am sure you are familiar with the Shaair-e-Ummat):
Gala tau ghont diya ahle madrassa nay tera
KahaN say aaye sada la ilaha illallah!
A rough translation would be:
At the madrassas they hold you by the throat (and seal your lips). How can you then proclaim “there are no gods but only One”!
Cheers
MQ
Why do some British Pakistani’s sound more Jihadi/Mullah than many in Pakistan? Is it due to a complex to show that they are some body if they haven’t done well in UK society because they skipped school unlike Hindus & Sikhs? Or is it because of their imported local Mullah who can only do sermons in Urdu/Punjabi? Hard to find Muslims in UK who are not stuck in middle ages.