Shahrazad in Therapy
April 4, 2008 by pistolpete
I’ve come to read a great variety of people since I entered the blogosphere over a year ago. One unique young woman I’ve come to know takes the pen name of Shahrazad. She writes about her life as a Muslim woman with great sensitivity and respect for others. I was greatly pleased when she agreed to be interviewed.
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Pistol Pete: When did you start blogging and why?
Shahrazad: I can say since I found out the internet and its magic. But about English blogging, I started to blog since July 2007. I had many reasons to start it. The most important i wanted to improve my english writing and interact with people from other cultures, religions, and countries via my blog. As an Iranian woman I needed a shout box and blog was the best.
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PP: For those who don’t know, who is Shahrazad and why did you choose her as your pen name?
S: I just quote what Sir Richard F. Burton described of Shahrzad or Scheherazade in his translation of The Nights (I added it in my About page too) : “Shahrazad or Scheherazade, the Persian queen had perused the books, annals and legends of preceding Kings, and the stories, examples and instances of by gone men and things; indeed it was said that she had collected a thousand books of histories relating to antique races and departed rulers. She had perused the works of the poets and knew them by heart; she had studied philosophy and the sciences, arts and accomplishments; and she was pleasant and polite, wise and witty, well read and well bred.”
I also like her personality; how she tackled her husband Shahryar the King, not only she had entertained him but also wisely educated him in morality and kindness. Of course her personality and the fact that she was a feminine intelligent and wise woman really encouraged me to chose her. It’s what women should seek for. To be strong, educated and intelligent without losing their femininity and pureness. The path to harmony is to synchronise with the male companion and not to outsmart him or overtake his egoistic genetic role. A woman who remain spiritually and mentally attached with her man leaves him no choice but to keep coming back to where he belongs, his home, his kingdom; to unwind and ready himself for the hardships of the coming day.
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PP: As an Iranian, how much freedom do you have to criticize your government?
S: I dont agree there is a real definition for freedom though. But i can define it as: “Do what you want and tell what you want as long as you don’t disrespect others’ personal space.” Unfortunately there are not much countries which have this kind of freedom, including Iran.
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PP: How do you view the difference between how Muslims view Jesus and how Christians do?
S: In Islam, prophet Jesus is extremely respected and honored. He is one of the greatest prophets and there are many verses in Quran about him and his mother Mary. Even there is one Quranic Surah named after her; “Sourat Maryam” and another one about their tribe and family.
On the other hand, description of Allah/God in the Quran is only one God Who is eternal, unique, and has no blood relation to any human beings: “Say, He is Allah, the One. Allah, the Eternal. He begets not, nor was He begotten. And there is nothing at all comparable to Him.”
So in Islam, Jesus (peace be on Him and his mother) is believed just as a great prophet and not the son of God. That’s the main difference. (”Allah” refers to the same God worshipped by the Jews and the Christians: The name means He who there is no God but HE)
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PP: How does the Quran shape your faith?
S: “Our Lord is He who gave everything its creation, then guided it. He who created and fashioned in balanced proportion and He who measures and guides.” I like this quote of Quran. Everything is allowed to have its nature, including human being. I like there be a harmony among my physical and spiritual needs. Between my natural instincts and my innate being as a human.
That’s what Quran does for me. It can be a spiritual guide for me as long as making me in harmony with my instincts. I do balance my life and fulfill my humanistic needs easily based on Quran in its true way. At last i am happy, pleased and in harmony with self and others.
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PP: In one of your blog posts, you write that you “hate some women”. What kind of woman do you hate and why?
S: No exactly hating the persons but the acts. I dislike stupid, dishonest and hypocrite people very much. Women who allow themselves be used by the marketing machines and be sexually exploited to attract the men buyers.
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PP: If you could travel to any part of the world, where would it be and why?
S: I like countries with great history, like Palestine, Egypt, Italy, Greece and Spain. I also like Gulf countries. They are modern and quite cosmopolitan.
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PP: What did you play (sports, activities, etc..) growing up in Iran?
S: Volleyball, ping pong and Chess. I used to play them since childhood. I also was in Basketball team during high school and university. I like music too and if activity mean playing musical instruments, i practiced Piano and Flute and newly i started Setar. Not to forget reading which I enjoy best.
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PP: Can you name a time when people treated you badly because you were a Muslim?
S: Yes many times and still they do. Most of them have the same nationality as mine. I mean they are Iranians who don’t believe in Islam or any religion. Usually less people note me as a practicing muslim because I like to interact with and have friends from different countries and different cultures. Many practicing Iranian muslims who usually make hermetic groups and don’t usually open up with people of different ideas. But when they notice that i perform my daily prayer they get astonished because they had it in their mind that I am an outcast. Since I started english blogging, the attackers are getting more and more. And I don’t know what it is that I say that makes them troublesome and abusive to me!
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PP: Do you find value in modest dress? Would you recommend it for American women or do you think Iranian women should be free to dress as they choose?
S: Yes I encourage much that a woman has to be careful as to the way she present herself to the outside world. Man in nature is a hunter, visual, and easily distracted by the appearance of the opposite sex. because of this women should present content and values in her interactive journey outside her home. man should be forced to deal with the person and the mind and not the body of the woman. Sexuality has to be contained to where it belongs; marriage life. I do not understand how the west dared to open so much fire against the muslim woman dress code forcing her to take off her head cover or whatever she choses to wear while their embassies in the Muslim countries force laws to relax the right of western women to go almost naked in the streets and beaches of such conservative islamic societies !! I believe that those who respect freedom should not bother about what and how women dress up, it is personal choice, on the other hand I believe women of the world should debate the issue of modesty and announce their feelings about the sexual abuse of women.
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PP: Thank you, Shahrazad, for spending some time with us in Therapy. May the Lord bless and keep you always.
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other friends in therapy…
Thanks, Pistol and Shahrazad for an enlightening interview!
Isn’t it amazing how small the world has become that we can build friendships across national, continental, religous, cultural, and gender borders?
Oh, neglected to mention race borders…
[...] Interview With Queen Shahrzad April 4, 2008 — Shahrzad I’ve been interviewed Here at Necessary Therapy. I liked the interview so much. I think it helps others to learn about muslim [...]
Good morning, just wanted to say that I find Shahrazad’s outlook concerning modesty to be a very graceful observation and approach. Her explanation of why modesty, or at least a reason for modest dress is practiced in her culture should serve as an eye opener to differing cultures, causing us to pause before being so quick to criticize.
We all need to take a cue from Shahrazad; to be mindful and respectful of others, regardless of differences, and to consider not only our brothers and sisters, but also the things that we do that might be a stumbling block to them.
Thank you both, a very graceful post.
Grace and peace be with you all.
The Pistol fires back: And also with you.
Very good way of answering the question poised, not hurting anyone but stating your point of view openly and frankly.
G O O D. Way to go Shahrzad.
Thank you so much, Pistol Pete… :)
Thank you all for your comments. :)
Lovely interview. Thank you both!
Nice interview Pete, and intelligent answers Shahrzad!
My mother’s family was from Iran. My aunt and her children are Muslims. My mother raised my 6 brothers and sisters as Christians. As a boy I always noticed the difference in attitude between my sisters and my female cousins. My Muslim cousins were always demure, strong, and securely female.
I’ve never understood how they managed that mystical combination of personality traits.
Bloggers tend to congregate in like-minded groups, and that’s half the fun, but the other half is opening yourself to people you’d never otherwise know. Thank you for this interview with Shahrazad. Thank you for being receptive to people who do not belong to your like-minded group.
Could I go so far as to suggest that blogging in this manner could form the basis of a new world order, in which we celebrate our common humanity, minister to our common needs, and seek to understand rather than to judge and beat up on our differences?