INTERVIEW with RUKHSAN KHAN

(Q1) INTERVIEWER: So, do all women pray together? Does everyone in the household pray or do they do it separately.

(A1a) RUKHSAN KHAN: It's not necessary that everyone prays together-prayer is sometimes done together but we do it separately.

(A1b) LAILA KHAN: The Islamic community prays together and sometimes women pray together as a community.

(Q2) INTERVIEWER: We're researcher so we go outside and can see prayer at the Jama Masjid. But we can't see inside other people's homes, because we're men. So, please tell us what Islam is like for women.

(A2a) RUKHSAN KHAN: For women in Islam there is pardah (the veil, seclusion) . We live inside pardah and I do not talk to anyone in a loud voice. And fasting and prayer, all the things God set down for women, we do-the things that are praised in the Holy Quran

(Q3) INTERVIEWER: American students rally don't know that much about pardah. Please tell us something about it.

(A3a) RUKHSAN KHAN: You mean, what's pardah?

(Q4) INTERVIEWER: Yes-what's pardah and why it exists.

(A4a) RUKHSAN KHAN: Pardah is a very good aspect of Islam and it has come down from God. He has ordered that women veil themselves and refrain from going outside the home. Men are generally considered to be those outside the household-only the father, paternal uncle, maternal uncle, husband and brother are members of the household. Women are permitted to be with them and to talk to them. They do not have to observe pardah in front of them. But tfor all the rest, it's not allowed to come near them. God has not given permission for that. All these things are made clear in the Quran. So we observe them without question-because we observe them, we're Muslims. Every Muslim has the duty to fast and pray and to respect pardah.

(Q5) INTERVIEWER: So, do all women observe pardah?

(A5a) RUKHSAN KHAN: Not everyone.

(A5b) LAILA KHAN: Most do but there are some who do not observe their religion. They're quickly forgetting it. Just as the times are changing., so too are people forgetting. They don't understand their religion very well and they're forgetting it. If we set foot outside they house, we do so in pardah. For example, when a woman is going along the street, she doesn't look up and there's also a pardah for men. For example, you shouldn't look at a woman who's walking along the road and for women there is this pardah that even when they're wearing a burqa, they should not look up.

(A5c) IMRAN KHAN: Women practice pardah but they don't understand it. They don't have the education so they don't know.

(A5a) RUKHSAN KHAN: There's been "advance" but the ones who don't accept the Quran don't do it. Which is to say, they read but aren't able to understand it.

(Q6) INTERVIEWER: Do you both read the Quran?

(A6a) RUKHSAN KHAN: Yes we do.

(Q7) INTERVIEWER: In Arabic or Urdu?

(A7a) RUKHSAN KHAN: In Arabic.

(Q8) INTERVIEWER: That's very difficult isn't it? I know that for myself Urdu is difficult but Arabic is another matter. So where did you learn it?

(A8a) RUKHSAN KHAN: There's an Urdu translation of the Arabic Quran. There are a lot of editions of the Quran with a translation-i..e the meaning of the Arabic is written below and we read that and from that we know what's written in the Quran. There's a translation from the Arabic in Urdu.

(Q9) INTERVIEWER: So are children taught something about Islam in the home?

(A9a) RUKHSAN KHAN: The first school for children is the home itself. We're their parents and so we teach our own children. All Muslim women teach their children at least a little bit about Islam. We read the Quran to them. Not all kids go to school-some study at home.

(Q10) INTERVIEWER: Who teaches the children how to pray?

(A10a) RUKHSAN KHAN: We teach them. And we make the children remember all the things that compose prayer-we teach them how to stand, stand straight and bow.

(Q11) INTERVIEWER: Is there a different way for women?

(A12a) RUKHSAN KHAN: There is a difference. Women and men do not pray together. For women praying it is required that they bring their hands up to their shoulders-for men, up to their ears.

(Q13) INTERVIEWER: So, on a typical day, what do you do from morning until night?

(A13a) RUKHSAN KHAN: We get up, go to the bathroom, and wash our mouths.

(A13b) LAILA KHAN: After performing ablutions, we pray.

(A13a) RUKHSAN KHAN: After that, we prepare breakfast and after feeding our families we get to work-we clean the house, etc.

(A13b) LAILA KHAN: After Jouhar namaaz we read a little of the Quran and then we have teac. After that comes the Asan namaaz, then in the evening the eating and drinking routine starts again.

(Q14) INTERVIEWER: Do you sometimes go out?

(A14a) RUKHSAN KHAN: Yes-sometimes to see the doctor. For traveling, there's our car-I sit in the car with my husband and brother and we go and come back. For example, if there are a lot of guests, or some one new, we'll take them out, in purdah of course.

(Q15) INTERVIEWER: Have you studied?

(A15a) RUKHSAN KHAN: Yes, I've studied at school and at college as well.

(A15b) LAILA KHAN: I've also studied at college.

(Q16) INTERVIEWER: So, is there some general story you could tell us about India?

(A16a) RUKHSAN KHAN: As far as history goes, they're a lot of things. For example, there's the Taj Mahal-these things history books tell us-you can read about them.

(A16b) LAILA KHAN: There's Pir Shershah-his tomb is in India. He was a king-there's a lot taught about his tomb, it's in Sasaram.

(A16a) RUKHSAN KHAN: In India, you'll find every kind of person, of every religion.

(A16b) LAILA KHAN: In India, there are not enough facilities-there is electricity, but there's a water shortage in the cities. There's a shortage of everything in India. That's why we're not advancing-some people are, however, when they get out.

(Q17) INTERVIEWER: Could you please tell American students something about Islam?

(A17a) RUKHSAN KHAN: Islam is a very good religion that tells us God is one, He keeps the entire world going and everyone should obey him and should fulfill completely his commandments-pray and fast.