For the Love of Allah

Religion should be a positive influence on the lives of human beings. It should promote goodness in all of its forms, including very simple signs of affection and solidarity. A code of behavior that does not recognize these human traits is contrary to what religion is supposed to be, and ends up hurting believers and non-believers.

Iran's President has been severely criticized -- even condemned -- by his country's top clerics for having embraced Chávez's mother at his funeral, a very human gesture, if there ever was one. According to their interpretation of Islamic law, a man should not have any physical contact with a member of the opposite sex, unless she be part of the family. So, this man goes to the funeral and he is not allowed to even shake this woman's hand! Although it hasn't been reported who initiated contact, one can imagine that Chavez's mother, overcome with grief, may have done so, given the usual behavior of people from Latin America in these circumstances. If that was indeed the case, what was Ahmadinejad supposed to do? Jump back while telling her not to touch him?

Seriously, I find it hard to believe that Islam requires such an absurd behavior, given circumstances such as this one. I'm sure that there are exceptions for civilized behavior, especially in the contact with people of other cultures on special occasions.

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