Religious Extremists

Sometimes Islamic laws are taken to the extreme. That gives Islam a bad name. Take for example the keeping of beard. The prophet encourages it. But it does not matter if you don't like it. But if you do, you get a bonus for it, sort of credit points in the eyes of God. The length of the beard is specified. It must not exceed the width of your clenched fist when you hold the beard. But the Taliban in Afghanistan makes the sporting of beard mandatory. If you are clean shaven, you risk the possibility of being arrested

Once a group of visitors from Maldives (all bearded) visited our school. I took them to the library and I noticed how they avoided looking at the girls working there. After that I took them for tea in the domestic science room. There were girls inside and the visitors hesitated entering the room. It was only after some persuation that they entered. The law says do not look at a woman with lust in your mind. If you can keep away that lust, its OK.

In the PAS run state of Kelantan women are reminded not to put on revealing clothes or wear make up. The reason: women should not tempt men! I am sad that we have this kind of thing in Malaysia. Instead of penalizing women, step should be taken to educate men so that they would not think of sex every time they see a woman