Question Page
Have you got a question you’ve always wanted to ask, but for one reason or another felt you couldn’t? Sometimes we don’t ask questions for fear of seeming insensitive, or worse, racist, or because we fear to seem ignorant. Here at Heard And Not Seen we want to ask those questions and you to help us answer them together, let’s share that knowledge and dispel that ignorance.
We hope that a discussion grows. There is also an opportunity to come to the exhibition and ask questions in person. Some of these questions may be used both in the exhibition, which is ever-evolving, and/or in the discussions that are taking place throughout the exhibition.
Below are some of the questions we discovered during workshops and interviews.
What are the key questions that people of non-muslim background want to ask Muslim people? What questions do you think want to be asked? (to Muslim people) What questions/enquiries would you want to be asked?
There was a remarkable similarity. People are aware of what the key media topics. Examples include – ‘Tell me about the scarf? where and what are the rules? What does Sharia Law mean? What is ‘Jihad’? What will Islam look like in 20 and 100 years? How may it have changed in daily life?
We’ve learned through net based research, our own interviews and years of arts practise that: questions lead people in a direction; questions are sometimes disguised as comments and therefore are ‘closed’ questions. There are 20 explanations in the dictionary for ‘question’. Here, throughout the site, we invite open, honest questions, comments and stories. This may enable people to explore different perceptions some of which will inform their opinions, impact their own views. We are also conscious that some people gather information and stories to support their prejudices, this is different from appreciative enquiry and therefore we will edit accordingly and attempt to dialogue with people to obtain clarity. We look forward to hearing from you.
Please post your questions and answers below.
We’ve also had a lot of questions posed during the exhibition and we’d like to invite you to have a go at helping us find some answers. Just post your answer below, with the appropriate question number at the beginning of the post:
1. Will Britain ever have a Muslim Prime Minister?
2. Why do Arab men wear white and women black?
3. Is there a place for religion in a secular society?
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Why is there so much misunderstanding and distrust between Muslims from the Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities?
Islam is about peace, love, compassion and charity. It does not encourage racism nor does it advocate a separation between existing communities.
Thus, I am perplexed and deeply sadness to see Muslims engaged in hurting each other so senselessly. Why do they do this? Maybe all this negative feelings has got to do with some deep-rooted cultural / political aspects?
It will be interesting to read some answers to this troubling issue.
I think it’s a political issue, rather than a question of problems between Muslim communities. We might as well ask, why is there distrust and misunderstanding between English and French people, who are ostensibly Christian communities, which also are about peace, love, etc. Historically is suits our leaders to keep us apart from each other, we allow them to do this by not standing up and saying ’so and so is my brother/sister, not my enemy’. There can be many reasons for this, poverty, historical conflict between neighbours, differing interpretations of sacred texts, etc. What we should do is say enough! We are all different, all special and we should live in a world where we respect and love each other, despite these differences. Cosmically speaking, there’s so little difference between us that it’s irrelevant to focus on these differences, we should all work together on this adventure to make it what it could be, rather than accepting what it is.
I want to ask, “Do Muslims have a sense of humour?”.
I ask as the media portrays them in a negative way; extremism, fundamentalism etc etc. Where do Muslims go to relax and have fun as I understand they don’t drink either. I’m just curious…
Good question Erika
… I come from Iran- a predominantly Islamic country- and I can tell you… Muslims in Iran have a huge sense of humour- in fact humour is a big part of Iranian identity… I have lived in the UK since I was very young and been lucky enough to know people from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures… humour is universal- laughing is something we all share… the subject matter may be culturally specific… and sometimes we may not understand the intricate tones and delivery … never the less… we recognise laughter worldwide….. going back to the individual; religion has nothing to do with whether you have a sense of humour or not… For Muslim comedians check out the link below:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2007/apr/06/comedy.religion
… and there is plenty more where that came from….
… as you say… the media does portray Islam as predominatly fundamentalist- so we just need to look beyond the control of the media- find our own truths…
Re: where do Muslims go to relax… well anywhere you and I go to relax… may be not usually in bars and pubs and clubs- but plenty of other places we all go to- the absense of alcohol does not equate to absense of fun- as I am sure you also agree with…
Curiosity is great-
lets all be curious and ask questions- it is the only way we will get to know one another and shift beyond prescribed perceptions.
I would also like to ask a question… how would you define the following:
Religion?
Faith?
Spirituality?
[...] one of the questions asked on the site of a new programme being launched in Birmingham on November 7th. The full question on [...]
I was at an event last week where practitioners were asking how they can stop Moslem people becoming ‘radicalised’ and trying to probe how to spot the warning signs (I know; I wish I was being funny). One woman said that people who work on the front line (eg youth workers, social workers etc)should learn to spot when kids start becoming religious and wear ‘ethnic’clothes or suddenly grow a beard/wear headscarf etc if they’d been dressing ‘modern’ previously. She justified her reasoning by saying that Roman Catholics didn’t go around blowing people up and so her point of view was valid.
I’m glad other people (who weren’t Muslims) challenged this stupidity, but for me it demonstrates how Muslims are starting to be viewed suspiciously and how such views are creeping into officialdom. I mean, would you view a newly practising Christian, Sikh or Jew in the same way? As a society, I worry about how we’re starting to view difference and if this is how Islamophobia is practised.
Dear Erika – thank you for this posting, its Sandra here who is one of the lead artists on ‘Heard and Not Seen’ – of which the website is fast becoming a very important part of the project…. I’d be interested in knowing in more detail what the kind of challenges to the ’spotting’ and ‘wearing of ethnic clothing’ took place in the debate? this is very interesting dialogue. And as you said this focussing on ‘assumptions’ is dangerous and there are no hard and fast answers as to why people chose to become radicalised… there is some good research out there though giving context to why some people have. I’m interested in how we listen to each other before we judge… or allow assumptions e.g. clothing or facial hair to influence our judgement. Also if there is a feeling of unity for younger people ‘joining groups’ or ‘being radicalised’ what and how is this an attractive option? is it a sense of family, a sense of a mission? What’s missing in community life so that they could feel like they ‘belong’ and importantly have a voice. Since I started this project I have learned so much as a non-muslim about both the practise of Islamic theology and the schisms in cultural, tradition, religious and spiritual values. And of course they differ for different people according to their life experiences. the most confident people I have met have been people that embrace their faith, research and investigate the theology and circles of knowledge within Islam or their chosen religion. They are clear about their religious and cultural identity.
One of the biggest myth busters during the project has been that people of Islamic faith have no sense of humour! this has been truly been challenged during the workshops. A favorite comment I heard was ‘Ramandan breath’ discussed with a group of women I met during an ‘Iftar’ breaking of fast together in the evening. They were saying that towards the end of the day whilst fasting, you get very conscious of your breath and not wanting to breathe on people – hence ‘Ramadan breath’. Equally there were great discussions about how each Ramadan has a different quality – also very eloquently described on camera for a piece during the exhibition – how fasting unites body, soul and spirit and encourages a greater depth of prayer. I have been very moved by these descriptions whilst being a committed agnostic. The more I listen, particularly to anecdotal conversation, the less opinions I seem to have.
Also we are having facilitated discussions throughout the exhibtion time at the Mailbox on Tuesdays and Thursdays – some groups are booking in to come and meet. this is also open to individuals or groups of people from either muslim or non muslim backgrounds… so please feel free to come, Erika.
I’ve just spent the day on the exhibiton with a group of artists getting the space ready for the opening on Friday. One of the exhibits you will actually be able to step in and put headphones on and listen to stories about ‘the scarf’. This is still one of the most charged symbols and area of discussion that comes up in both Muslim and non-Muslim conversations we’ve been having throughout the process. There is also some wonderful video of a young girl describing her journey to chosing to wear the scarf in the exhibition itself.
As the project progresses both at the Mailbox and beyond we will be inviting people to record some audio about their thoughts, queries, and philosophies on the scarf. So I’d be really interested to know when you might come to the exhibtion Erkia as I’d like to meet up with you and discuss this further. If you let me know when you might come I can see when I’m invigilating and we could meet at the exhibition space, have tea and conversation.
Just to say to all the people that have been submitting comments and stories – thank you. We are very excited about the project and feel that it will change as audiences come and interact with it – both this website and the exhibition itself. Its a vital time for honest dialogue and we hope a safe environment to really enquire and find out about each other.
We also met with people to day that have offered to invigilate at different times during the exhibition. All of them have a great variety of backgrounds and interests. We are not just expecting these invigilators to ‘mind the equipment’ but to engage if audience(s) want to – discussion, tea will be available in the space. We hope people will take time with the exhibition – we’re pleased that people have options to view, listen, touch and interact with the exhibition.
I look forward to meeting with some of you that have visited the site. I’ll be the one who looks tired (but enthused !) over 40 something female, long hair in a bun. Look forward to meeting you – Sandra.
Will be there!!!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7702895.stm
I really like this story when this Egyptian woman says ” I didn’t lose my ability to read the news.”
I wear the headscarf. I am confident and yet when others see me and my headscarf I feel their silent sympathy oozing. Do I need to prove to *them* that I am not oppressed, or do they need to prove to me that they are not prejudiced?
I see battered women from all walks of life, and yet I do not blame a race and religion for their oppression. I see them for who they are and embrace that individuality. I do not want to be a politically oppressed symbol, but a confident symbol of my proud religion.
I like the website and I am coming to the exhibition. It seems that some genuine work has been done. I hope a genuine conversation can take place.