Canadian Muslims or ISIS? Spot the Difference

A manifesto for women published by the Islamic State (IS) group has criticized Western attitudes to women, saying that this so-called “Western model” has failed, that a woman’s place is in the home, and that Western women’s fashions, like earrings, are the work of the devil.

The manifesto, titled Women of the Islamic State, was shared on the Internet on January 23 by the IS group’s all-women unit, the Al-Khanssa Brigade.

When my blogger-husband Arnie read that the other day, it sounded vaguely familiar.

He dug through his massive “crazy Canadian Muslims” file and, sure enough, he found this fashion advice on the website of Toronto’s Masjid al-Furqaan & Islaamic Centre;

[Q.2] Is it permissible for women to wear high-heeled shoes?

[A.2] This is not permissible. It involves resembling the disbelieving women, or the wicked women. It has its origins amongst the Jewish women before Islaam. When one of them wanted to attend a gathering where her lover was present, she would wear a pair of high shoes for him to see her, being taller. Then after a time, those became high-heeled shoes. Further, that type of shoe changes a woman’s way of walking, causing her to tilt from left to right, and therefore, the wicked and unbelievers choose this type of shoe. Therefore, a Muslim woman following the Sharee’ah(Islaamic Law) should not wear high-heeled shoes; especially since many times it causes her to fall!

And while ShariahProgram.ca is fine with earrings, and even nose rings, that’s about it.

(Oh, and non-Muslim Canadians are referred to as “vile kuffars”):

QUESTION: I wish to ask, if we are allowed to pierce our belly button, eyebrows, or any part of our face… Is this allowed in Islam?

ANSWER: In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful

The scholars agree that it is permissible for a woman to have her ears pierced to wear an earring since that was customary in the time of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace), and also because it is considered to be an adornment for women. Similarly they have even permitted the piercing of the nose as women in some communities do, for it is also considered a form of adornment in many Muslim communities.

However, it would not be permissible to pierce the lip, belly button and other body parts since that is not considered the adornment for any decent women. Also, this is a fashion and trait of the vilest from the non-Muslims (kuffar), such as the celebrities and pop-icons, etc, thus it would be considered imitation of the non-believers, hence impermissible.

So… they’re moderate, then.

Good to know!