I've heard that in the muslim world gender segregation is the norm, even among brothers and sisters. Is that true? Is it taboo in the muslim world for brothers and sisters to be close friends?
2006-09-10 19:57:09 · 21 answers · asked by livinglife 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
For example I've heard that brothers and sisters can't be in a room alone together
2006-09-10 20:05:32 · update #1
nothing of such sort. i have only a younger sibling, and he is the only one in this whole wide world who knows every little secret of my life. and so is with ur 1st three generations of cousins. u can be freinds and hang out with them. but after 3 generations (i mean after the 3rd cousin), the 2 families are too far apart, so some distance should be maintained until the 2 failies know each other well..
remember, women always prefer to talk to and share with women and men prefer talking and sharing their problems with men and their partners only. so in this case, naturally u will find only men or only women forming groups and conversing.
hey, both my parents worked and i and my younger sibling used to be alone at home and i used to take care of him until my mom returned from her office. so we had the whole house to ourselves.
2006-09-10 20:03:36 · answer #1 · answered by marissa 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Forget about that question. You are going too far. Just consider this: in a muslim family, sons do not know how their mother look like because even inside their house the face of their mother is covered. It's taboo to see the face of their mother. So, can you expect Muslim blood brothers and sisters to be close friends? Hell, not. It's also true that men and women, even if they belong in the same family, are segregated even in their living room! There is separate living room for women and a separate living room for men. What more? Muslim women will not ride the elevator if there are men riding in it!
2006-09-11 03:43:53 · answer #2 · answered by morning7 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I understand what you're trying to ask about. You are right that Muslims generally believe that men and women should retain a certain standard of modesty with one another.
However, this only applies to non-mehram relatives. For example, if you are a woman, your mehram would be your father, son, brother (blood or half), grandfather, grandson, uncle (mother or father's brother), nephew, husband, father-in-law, and son-in-law. These people are mehram because you can't marry them--if you marry them, it is considered incest (except of spouses, of course).
With mehram relatives, you can:
-Show your hair (if you're a woman)
-Be alone in a room together
-Spend time talking and having a close relationship
-Live in a house with them
-Have an appropriate degree of physical contact based on that relationship
-Can travel together
...and pretty much anything else close family members do in all societies in the world!
For anyone who is not your mehram, you need to retain more distance, i.e. not have physical contact, not be in a closed room together, not stare at the person, not get too close emotionally, etc. This doesn't mean you can't communicate! You can conduct business, spend time with extended family in group gatherings, and generally engage in real world transactions, just do it modestly.
So to answer your question, blood brothers and sisters are mehram, and therefore they can be very close friends. In fact, Islam encourages being close with your family. It is a very important part of our faith. Whatever you have heard is incorrect.
Allahu Alam (God Knows Best). May God forgive me for any mistakes.
Peace be upon you (Assalamu alaykum).
P.S. Don't listen to what some of these weirdos are saying. They are neither Muslim nor do they know anything about Muslims. They are just making stuff up.
2006-09-11 03:16:04 · answer #3 · answered by HQC 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Some are that way in some countries. Not all muslims follow the same rules. Close relatives are allowed to be in contact with each other. Strangers arent supposed to be in contact with each other. In some places women arent allowed to have men doctors and are supposed to take a male relative with her when she goes somewhere. I have been told by many muslims that it isnt the case in all areas. In some mosques women are required to sit at the back while men are at the front. (I laughed at the muslim that told me this lol) In Pakistan in one town a woman was raped and told by her family that she must kill herself to rid herself of shame. She went against her family and turned him in. He was found guilty and prosecuted. She won a large sum of money and used it to open up a school for women and girls who were not allowed to go. This story went into the newspapers. Some muslims believe that men are superior to women, but not all. Some don't allow eye contact and make the people look down at their feet when walking. Some dont believe in eating pork. so yes segregation in the muslim world is the norm but not all muslims do it.
2006-09-11 03:17:12 · answer #4 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are u kiddin' me? where have u heard that? No way, its Totally Not true. Brothers and Sisters can be close like any other normal brother/sister relationship around the world. Peace to All.
2006-09-11 03:10:00 · answer #5 · answered by Valentino 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, in fact, the unity of the brothers and sisters is very important, however, they cannot marry each-other.They are raised together until the age of 10, afterwards they must have separate sleeping rooms.They can be close friends, visit each-other, and is not necessary for the sister to uncover her veil when in company of brothers, because this is necessary when in company of somebody who can marry her.So, they can be close friends,but not too far from the meaning of "close"
2006-09-11 03:11:57 · answer #6 · answered by anonyckname 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It may not be a true statement, using the word allowed, but then why would a brother want to get to know his sister very closely if it becomes his duty to protect the family's honor and assassinate his sister?
2006-09-11 03:11:28 · answer #7 · answered by Lord Cif 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
NO dont't hear!!! research and you will know.
or better yet travel to the Muslim world and see for yourself.
i dont know but it's not something we are told by the scripture to do,
but if the parents put rules such as that you mentioned then it's their business not yours or mine period.
http://www.missionislam.com/
2006-09-11 02:59:19 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
in islam, the relation of brothers and sisters is more stong then friends. see, they are your own blood. but as we see in the west that they are incest , we do not allowed such dirty acts. and i think that you can have sexual relation with only your wife. else AIDS may attaks your health. so be healthy.
2006-09-11 03:02:13 · answer #9 · answered by OrangeApple 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
NO!! What is this rubbish?!!
I am very close to my brothers, we are not suppose to befirend ppl who r not a close blood relation to us.
Brothers, father, sons, husband, grandfathers, uncles are ok but not cousins.
2006-09-11 03:00:38 · answer #10 · answered by Gal in red 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋