Job Discussion Forums

[Bob Gorn]

Under the abaya ...sounds like a good name for a novel! As I mentioned before, women wear normal teaching clothes under the abaya. The restricitions are as follows:

nothing too tight
nothing see-through
nothing too low cut
no visible bellies
skirts and pants should reach the knees at least

Ideal for women: big shirts and baggy pants, jackets and flowing skirts. This is where the "bag lady" image comes in.

My wife tells me that Saudi girls are quite fashionable underneath all that black covering, and that she felt the need to dress nicely in order to have their respect. Take this with a grain of salt. My wife always feels the need to have new clothes.

[trapezius]

[sheikh radlinrol]

Thobes and fair-skinned men are incongruous and look as daft as a Korean in a kilt. Almost as comical are the young Saudis and Kuwaitis at the airport dressed in what they imagine to be the latest fashion in London or Paris.
The senior Gulf gents, when travelling, look elegant in their expensive suits and silk ties although they do suddenly age 10 years. The ghutra is great for concealing a baldy head and the thobe doesn't draw attention to the typical Gulf paunch in the way that trousers and belt do.
The snappiest dressers are the Kuwaitis in winter, with dark dishdasha, overcoat, patent leather shoes and white socks.

[brasscat]

Welcome to the mysterious order of UMOs.

Yes, you can get noodles also in KSA.
brasscat

[umzakaria]

Male Muslim converts/reverts wear clothes that emulate the dress of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him),it is called following the sunnah.Each muslim country has it's own variation of this but it essentially means loose fitting clothes that don't describe the shape of the body.A muslim woman is ordered by Allah to cover herself,it is a mark of piety to be modest and not something to be mocked at.Whether somebody is sartorially challenged is not the issue.Forgive me if I have caused offence,it was not my intention.

[brasscat]

The traditional clothes and customs of a practicing Islamic are respected because it has significance to both the person and their religion.

Given the climate; hot, dry, and dusty, traditional thobes and associated clothing are very highly adapted to protect the wearer.

I think every poster clearly recognizes that a guest in another's home or country should be respectful and not offend others.

I have personally witnessed behaviors on the part of the Muktawa that are extreme and questionable. Yes, a person should be dressed conservatively and behave in a professional matter.

I see nothing offensive about a woman wearing a head scarf and dressed in casual clothes with shoes on.

You want an example of a native Saudi being offensive in dress? Try a student sitting your classroom with their shoes off, feet pointing at the teacher. I have had it happen several times.

Where is insulting a teacher in the Koran?
brasscat

[sheikh radlinrol]

[brasscat]

UMO = Unidientified Moving Object, aka women in abyas on shopping day.

Muktawa = Islamic Religious Police
They go around looking for violations of religious laws and
morals.

Look for the fellows with long dark beards and a grim look on their face.

brasscat

[trapezius]

That would be Mutawwa.

And I have never heard UMO before. Me and friends we always say Ninjas, especially when they have a slit for thr eyes.

[Latteegirl1974]

Susan I PM'ed you, did you get it?
Ok I have to put my two cents in on this topic. I will bevery honest, but please I don't mean to be disrespectful!
As a female revert/convert to Islam this is how things work. There are 4 schools of scholars in Islam that relay the proper rules of the religion:Shafi, Humbalee,Hanafee and Malaki. These scholars say that a woman [b]must[/b] cover her hair and body, only showing her face and hands. In Saudi Arabia they have Wahabiism which is another school of thought that says she must be fully covered. Many people do not subscribe to this belief, myself included! It is just another 'Magic Kingdom' realization! It really is a man's world over there. Many Muslim schools have strict rules about what to wear, if I were you I would buy an abaya and scarf now over the internet. Oh and don't forget the pins. Stay away from silk scarves they are hot and they slip off. I would always error on the side of caution when traveling to Saudi Arabia.
When females are together they may show their hair and clothes.The woman's "ora" must be covered. A woman may not show her ora to other women. The ora is from above her belly button to below her knee. So plan on wearing along skirt and shirt with a short sleeve shirt under the abaya. I know this info because 1. I'm a Muslim and 2. I use to go to the spa with my Saudi friends.
IF ANY OF THE GUYS WANT TO KNOW ABOUT A MAN'S ORA ask Trapezius or 007. Trapezius seems to know his religion well.
Watch out for te religious police Muttawa, one of my Saudi friends from Ryiadh was hit in the face with a baton for not being dressed in 'uniform'. Yes Susan, you will be in uniform! It will be worse than the nuns at a Catholic school. I have catholic school exp. but that's for another forum.
[size=18][/size]I worry about you Susan! Please pm me for any information.

[Latteegirl1974]

Brasscat,
Teachers are suppose to be well respected people in Islam. I am on a [u]mission[/u] to look up a hadith ( religious story) or a aya (verse) in Quran for you to use next time. Make your students call you Ustaz (teacher but it is a higher status) Ustaza for a woman.

[brasscat]

The Hail/UOH area is very conservative Whabbi. The dress was very strict
as were the 5 times a day prayer observances.

The Muk-force was everywhere. I had one pound on the door of my car and yell, "If not now, when?"

My asnwer: "Soon as I get paid!"
brasscat

[trapezius]

[brasscat]

This Mutawwa spoke perfect Queen's English in a baratone voice.

If now now, when? = If you haven't submitted to the will of Allah, when are you going to do it?

brasscat

[Susan WW]