Peace Be On You

Today, I want to go here:

From here via Pinterest

Take a look at the colors of the tiles - blue, green and amber- and then take a look out your window. As I see it right now, this is exactly the colors of this early fall day: green trees and grasses, bold blue sky and the first hint of gold in the turning leaves. I've never been to the Middle East, but I'd love to go. Islamic architecture, with it's geometric patterns and structures, is amazing (i.e. see the Taj Mahal).

So finding the image above on Pinterest was exciting on its own. Then I clicked over to the source and discovered the website http://www.islamispeace.org.uk/. The site is a campaign by British Muslims to clear up misconceptions about their religion that have formed as a result of terrorist attacks, fundamentalist fatwas and political tension. It's a neat site for anyone who is curious about some of the basic ideas of Islam (and especially a good resource for people who have noticed that little tinge of prejudice within themselves.)

Especially interesting, to me at least, is the section on women in Islam (here). The teaching of the Koran does not endorse the subjugation of women - in fact, the Prophet Muhammad was firmly in favor of women's independence and his first wife, Kadhijah, was a successful business woman. The site says, "If women in the Muslim World today don't have their rights and if a particular society oppresses women, it does so in spite of Islam, not because of it." I think that's pretty true of most religions, don't you?

And to anyone who thinks the hijab (women's headscarf) is a sign of opression, take a look at the chicness below.

From Hijab-Fashion via Pinterest