Article 6 A Faith of Their Own - Examining the role of females in Syria's Islamic revival.

http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/featured_articles/20060830wednesday.html

Members- MATTHEW GOODWIN, Mike and Jon

Location- Damascus, Syria. Geographically this is located between Lebanon and Turkey. this situation can arouse conflict. Syrian has a population of nineteen million. There are many culture clashes within this area.

Quotes- "It’s true that they don’t understand what they are memorizing at this age, but we believe that the understanding comes when the Koran becomes part of you,”-Explains the women's situation.

"People mistake tradition for religion. Men are always saying, 'Women can't do that because of religion,' when in fact it is only tradition. It's important for us to study each so that we know the difference."

Facts and Information

*Women indentify each other by the way their head scarves are tied as they gather for exclusive meetings.

*At Qubaisaites women are tutored farther in Islam and are taguth how to influence some of their well-connected fathers and husbands to accept a greater prescence of Islam in the public life.

*Syria is becoming increasingly religious and its national identity is weakening.

*Women begin learning the Koran as early as five and then they recite rhythm and candences thru life.

*Scarf colors change as the Islam women progress in their religion and gain status within their group. New members wear white ones, usually with long khaki colored coats, she said. Later they graduate to wearing navy blue scarves with a navy coat. At the final stage the Sheikha may grant them permission to cover themselves completely in black.

*Women of the newer generation ask more questions as opposed to the older generations.

Anecdote

Enas al-Kaldi attends a secret Islamic school known as the Qubaisaite. Here she exceeds as a great student. This is different from her normal existence because generally women are looked down upon. This was a rare opportunity for women of this religion and community.

Vocabulary

Mosque- Muslim location of worship and prayer.

Qubaisaite- secret women society to discuss Islam

Hezbollah-a radical Shi'ite Muslim organization in Lebanon engaged in guerrilla warfare against Israel

Alawites-1.4 million live in Syria. They have their own prayer book called "kitab al Majmu". They see themselves as Muslims.

Madrassas-an Islamic religious school

Sheikha-a woman who heads a large family and is revered, esp. as a guardian of religious ways

__Related Site__

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