Hail to the Queen

Sophia Rose Shafi

Posted Apr 27, 2010      •Permalink      • Printer-Friendly Version
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Hail to the Queen

By Sophia Rose Shafi

One of the advantages of living in the Rocky Mountain city I inhabit is that great people come through – Hooman Majd, Josh Rushing, Reza Aslan, Saad Ibrahim, Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi, and most recently, Queen Noor of Jordan.

I have been an admirer of Queen Noor for many years.  She is a positive role model of the Muslimah, as an educated, independent, and outspoken agent for change, as well as a loving wife and mother.  She also helps to challenge the essentialized image of the Muslim woman as a dark-skinned, “foreign,” sequestered, impoverished, and oppressed woman.  I am not suggesting that Queen Noor be the white, Anglicized new image of Islam – but do feel that she provides a much needed dose of reality about Muslim women, many of whom are educated, independent and financially emancipated – not locked away in purdah.

Even though I had some knowledge of Queen Noor’s work in Jordan and in the region in general, on educational, environmental and gender issues, I had no idea to what a degree she was involved with the campaigns to eradicate land mines and nuclear weapons, her commitment to microfinance, and her concerns about the presentation of Islam in the Western media.  As I listened to her speech, I was reminded once again of what is right with Islam, and what we all need to work on.  And because Queen Noor is so spiritually evolved and sincere in her belief in the goodness of humanity, she is an inspiration.

Rather than provide a recapitulation of her speech, what I have done instead is list the most inspiring and beautiful moments of the Queen’s speech, including some direct quotations from Her Royal Highness. 

1. We must promote dialogue and cross-cultural understanding.
2. Islamic values include consensus-building and peace.  We must focus on these and not get lost in the endless and unproductive discourse about Us and Them.
3. “The welfare of any one of our societies is intertwined with every other society.”
4. “What you find is hateful for you, do not do to another.  This is the whole Torah.”  - Hillel
5. Every human being needs to have their basic needs met. 
6. On the representation of Islam in the media, “I see the hijacker, but where is the father?”
7. We must re-think our cultural structures.
8. The Prophet, Peace Be Upon Him, tried to free his society from pre-Islamic attitudes.  This work must continue.
9. We need to develop greater empathy.
And finally,
10. “You can do what me generation could not. You have the power, God-willing, to unite.”

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