Moslem women find unity in their faith as Sisters

Moslem women find unity in their faith as Sisters

By Natasha Sky

JAKARTA (JP): Amid myriad faces and accents, a group of women
has learned to put superficial differences aside. Intelligent,
faithful and devoted, they are united in one belief -- Islam.

Welcome to Sisters, a melting pot of color, language, culture
and understanding formed under the unifying element of religion.
Twice a month a group of about 20 women gathers at a house in
Kuningan, South Jakarta, to discuss what it means to be a Moslem
woman, and particularly what it means to a foreigner and live as
a Moslem woman in Jakarta.

The group was the brainchild of Briton Angela Alhamid. In a
chance meeting at a cross-cultural group, Angela and Australian
Martina Zainal discovered women needed a platform to discuss what
it meant to be Moslem. Their own experiences as Moslem women
married to Indonesians influenced their decision.

Angela professed her faith to Islam 20 years ago, describing
it as "taking one more step, as if I was transferring my
beliefs".

Although her mother initially had reservations about her
decision, Angela said this was largely due to the West's
misconceptions about the religion. In the West, for example,
Islam is often associated with terrorism and the subordination of
women. But like the Sisters group itself, the process of learning
opened up a whole new perspective for Angela.

"While most people, unfortunately, have a negative perception
(about Islam), Sisters is a group which helps answer women's
questions about the religion.

"These questions are not always cultural but also relate to
the Islamic way of thinking, concentrating on issues relevant to
our own," she said.

The first meeting in April attracted nine women from different
countries. It has since expanded to 20 members, and interest
continues to grow.

"It's enlightening how many people in this group are from the
international community," Angela said. "By meeting people in the
same situation, we are reinforcing that we all share something
special -- that we are all Moslem."

The group, which welcomes non-Moslem women as participants,
also serves to educate women on the rights and responsibilities
of Moslem women in the workplace, at home and in their personal
lives. The meetings are held in English to make it easier for
Western women to understand the complexities of the religion.

Courage

A series of guest speakers, open discussions and lessons on
prayer all help to give the women the courage and confidence to
delve deeper into the religion themselves. As Sisters, they are
free to discuss difficulties in reading the Koran or problems
they may face in relating their religion to their personal lives.

For Martina, the group is a chance to share many of her
experiences as a Moslem woman and come to a deeper spiritual
awareness. "In my outlook, I'm more understanding to how other
people react to things and I can easily incorporate Islam into my
daily life."

Martina professed her faith to Islam in 1981, two years after
marrying in Australia. In January 1986, she decided to adopt the
Moslem headdress, or jilbab, which she considers "a very visible
sign of my religion". It was also her way of setting an example
to her children that should they later decide to adopt the
jilbab, the person on the inside remained the same.

German Agnes Tadjoedin moved to Indonesia with her husband in
1979. Incorporating Islam into her life was one way of bringing
the family together, Agnes recalled.

"If I didn't want to know or become involved in this important
part of my family, I would have certainly been distancing myself
from them. But now I feel I am on the path to God."

Agnes said that in the beginning she found few differences,
but after a while she had many questions about Islam and there
were aspects she did not understand. She was frightened by the
contradictions, such as some people professing their faith but at
the same time lying and cheating. S

She was also aware her decision was not immediately understood
by other foreigners, and on several occasions she was asked by
her German friends what her decision meant for a women's position
in society.

"It wasn't until I read a lot that I realized how liberated
and tolerant the religion is. Every religion is misused by man,"
she said.

The Sisters group has offered Agnes a chance to learn more
about her religion and come to a greater understanding.

"Sisters offers a very neutral, international environment in
which we are free to ask any question. We are free to exchange
ideas with other foreigners who are looking for the same
answers."

As the morning draws to a close, the women gather for a light
snack and conversation. It is here that Sisters have learned the
strengths of each other and stand united in their religious
conviction.

"Sisters aims to bring together all women interested in
Islam," Angela said. "If people have the strength to talk with
others, learn more about people's rights, the relationship with
the family becomes more harmonious and women's roles become more
clear."

Ultimately, the group is about sharing a common experience.
"People want to find someone who understands their own experience
because this reconfirms their faith as Islamic sisters," Angela
said.

Sisters meets twice a month on Saturdays. For more
information, contact Angela at 766-1724/5.