Mr. Shenoy, has been honest and fair in assessing the issue of SANIA - Dress Code. The Moulvi who adressed this issue, never issued FATWAH (FATWAH is a decree or order where a Muslim declared non Muslim due to his/her action (s) or some religious guidelines are issued which all muslims have to follow), he just gave an opinion that the dress which SANIA is wearing during game is un-Islamic and he is absolutely right and no Muslim in any part of the world will deny this.
Since SANIA is in a sport of her choice where such dress is required and she feel that she should continue with game then it is her choice, I beleive here she can benefit from HALAT IZTARARI (exceptional conditions or situations) allowed in ISLAM. I also feel due to this reason most of ULEMAS from all school have decided to stay away from this issue and let it be between SANIA and her GOD.
In the modern scientific world, religion has no role other than some possible entertainment value. Its one of the different ways to help people unwind, just like alcohol, movies etc. Only a stupid person will take such things seriously and do un-professional things.
Its not Sania Mirza's religion that made what the Sania brand is. Its rather a mix of her sportswomanship and glamour that made her what she is.
I wonder why religion is allowed to control every aspect of human life, ranging from education and upbringing to dressing and politics. Religion is simply a moral conduct code, a guideline, a road map. When it becomes a rule book, it loses the spirituality it contains as it tries to define exacts, which in this universe, dont exist.
What Sania is comfortable with, or what the Iranian women are comfortable with, is not really that big of an issue. Comfort is just an effect of upbringing. Had they been brought up somewhere else, their comfort levels might be different. And feeling comfortable does not imply moral conduct. The Cannibal feels comfortable eating humans, and his religion probably allows him to eat anyone outside his clan.. so is that okay? Religion and comfort zones are limiting factors and every individual should be left alone to make his/her choice of everything in life.
Hinduism does not suggest people to be vegetarians, btw. The writer should have done his homework well.
I wonder why individualism is allowed to be over shadowed by religion, a massist phenomenon, much like communism.
Leave Sania and her clothes alone. Its her decision.
Hi Mr T V R Shenoy has tried to his maximum to be fair with his article on Sania. To play with miniskirts or to play with her body covered is Sania's resolve. Because in Q'ran it is said "There is no force in religion ".
And to maulavi's opinion, it is also 100% correct. He or who ever knows what is said in Islam is supposed to point it out her .Women in Islam have to cover her body before she appears in front of her close related men . I am not going into the details.
As the author pointed out correctly "Islam is not just a religion, but a way of life". But more basic is that you have believe in One God , Q'ran ,His messenger etc to become a Muslim.And in Q'ran it is clear how Muslim men and women should behave in different circumstances.
So its all up to Sania ,to decide to live and die as a Muslim ,or go astray .If she values her playing tennis more important let her continue as it . Or if she wants to be a Muslim let her , as she wills.
Before I end I will like to stress one most misunderstood point
"You will never become Muslim just because you are born to a Muslim father and mother or if you have a Muslim name. It is the belief in you, and your total submission to God ,is what makes you a Muslim"
I would personally consider her playing in miniskirt as like many other transgresses done in the name of Islam
RE:sania
by Harpreet on Sep 19, 2005 11:31 PM Permalink
Hafiz to quote you "You will never become Muslim just because you are born to a Muslim father and mother or if you have a Muslim name. It is the belief in you, and your total submission to God ,is what makes you a Muslim"
So if you beleive in God, submit to him and wear a skirt you are not a muslim ? and if you wear the hijab / burqa and are not a nice person and commit crimes you are a muslim ?
If that is what defines your religion pray tell me what is the dress code for males ? or can men even show their "stuff" and still be considered devout ? So is this not a rule more to keep women in home rather than devout ?
RE:sania
by Sreeji on Sep 20, 2005 01:58 AM Permalink
You are contradicting yourselves in your statement. You said there is no force in religion. But at the same time you are saying Sania is transgressing Islam. If there is no force or rule, how can someone transgress? In the south of India, about 10 years ago none of my Muslim friends wore a pardah. But today you drive on the highway and you see ads of pardahs all over. More and more Muslim women are wearing pardahs as well. I know that most of them are wearing them unwillingly. Isnt that a forceful practice in the name of Islam?
RE:sania
by SSG on Sep 17, 2005 12:50 AM Permalink
Dont try so hard my fanatic buddy, it is showing, try as hard as you may to hide it, the way you say it clearly indicates where your sympathies lie. If religion as you say is a way of life, then it has to change as our lives change in a changing world.
Now whether moulvi or shenoy or anybody, if one has to get publicity, one has to write/speak abt sania. she is the No.1 tennis superstar on the planet. WHY??????????? Not because of her tennis ability, but her 'assets'. Had she been like PT Usha, none would have noticed her. Sania has ovetaken Steffi, Martina, Sabatini, hingis, kournikova all in tennis due to her well endowed assets and for being Muslim and Indian and not because of her tennis.
Nothing surprising ??????????
Even I get a small coverage in this column due to only sania. Long live the superstar of this planet.
RE:sania mirza
by Soubhagya Dash on Sep 17, 2005 07:26 AM Permalink
Well, I wouldnt have commented, but this is screaming out lllloud "kick me on the face!!"...so will drop by.....
Given the engagement this person finds in tennis, no wonder he/she does not realize that sania is "NOT" the "#1 tennis player in the world"...
too much effort on this already., i will bail out...
coming to the subject of muslim or nonmuslim, i hate to say that we need musaraf miah in india to correct this self made molvis. they did not condem when a 70 year old arab got married to 2 poor muslim minor girls at a time and vanished the next morning. ms sania is doing a great/hardwork and all indians should be proud and encourage her. whenever i used to read newspaper for the last few years i was surprised that sania was not getting any major coverage but agasi or helen was getting full sports page coverup.
coming to the molavi, what about the so called muslim girls/boys working in cinema? will he pass fatwa against khans or the pakistani girls who are showing more than our bichari indian girls....
absolute bunkum, I belive in one religion that is humanity, the rest is bunkum, any religious dictat- be it from whichsoever religion - that goes against individual choice, shud be consigned to the dustbin.
It is a matter of regret that we are allowing religion to get into Sports .Time Fundamentalist or even religion for that matter to stop dictating youngsters what to wear where to grow hair what colour on the forhead .As we move further into 21st century we have to decide what is professionally good and convenient and donot allow give the smallest space to Zealots .More crimes have been committed in the name of religion than sports .Stop them in the name of GOD .Srinivasan
I personaly feel that the clerics of any Religion should not try to enter in the sports activities. In sports one can't expect the concerned player or participant to be in their traditional dress and play the games. If any religion feels that it is bound to affect their principles, then rather than making a big hue & cry, they should enforce a law stating that the particular religion personals can't play games.
That will be an appropriate measure, rather than discussing the matter & making it a national issue.
