Observations

I was at the cinema yesterday, watching The Kingdom, a film about the FBI going over to Saudi Arabia to investigate a terrorist attack on Americans there. There's a scene in the film when forensic specialist Janet Mayes, played by Jennifer Garner, examines the bodies of the killed terrorists. When she attempted to take their fingerprints, the Saudi authorities supervising her suddenly started yelling at her, telling her she can't touch a Muslim because she's a woman.

This reminded me of that rule in Islam where Muslim women are apparently not allowed to touch other men. We have that rule here in Malaysia, but to call it a rule seems too harsh. I'd say it's more like the norm, because that's the way Muslim women were raised. In religious school, this is what they learnt. But the odd thing is, not everyone applies this rule. I know this because I've worked with Muslim women before.

I have tried, in the past, to shake a Muslim girl's hand when I greet them. Some of them have no problem with it, some merely extend their fingers to me, while some others will not greet me back. I remember once trying to shake the hand of a colleague, for Aidilfitri (Eid to some of you), and I noticed the hesitation on her face. I remembered the rule at that moment, so I asked her if it was okay. She said, we had better not. So I said "OK, no problem."

I'm okay with this regulation, actually. I am capable of respecting other people's cultures. But I am still baffled by how it is inconsistently practised by the people. Just like some Muslim women wear a headscarf during their day-to-day activities, and some don't. Most people would say the ones who don't are more modern minded, but it doesn't make them any less of a believer in their religion. I believe so too. But like I said, I'm curious. It's a thought that returned to me yesterday, and it has made me more fascinated with the Muslim community. I think I have developed a certain amount of respect and admiration for them.

From my observation, they lead a simple life, despite having to follow certain customs that may seem odd to some. But I guess they're lucky to some extent, because other Muslim countries have even more rigid rules on their religion which we don't practise here. But the question is, are we any different from them? After all, we're all human, and we're all children of God.

Check out the new posters for the sequel to Hellboy, opening next year. Awesome stuff. And by the way, if anyone knows how to use the Slideshow widget to post your own pics in slideshow form on their blog's sidebar, please contact me. Thanks.