A New Hire In My Work Place .....

[kambuli]

There is this new guy our company hired in one of the departments.. He is a very strict muslim... Good for him... Maansha Allaah... when he joined our company I showed him where to pray etc etc...

The problem is he does not want us to talk to any male... If I laugh with my co-workers he will give me the look.... ....

I know some of the forumers will jump to an insulting.... It does not matter, but honestly what is wrong with talking to your co-worker? When I talk to a male I know and I am confident that Allaah SWT sees my heart and He knows my intentions....I do not see it as a big deal if I talk to my co-workers which I spend 8 and more hours every day...

[Happy Desperado]

lol @

there is nothing wrong with talking to your co workers its team work. there are muslims like that, they are so into being muslims that they forget what islam is. i say go ahead, its your intentions that matter, as long as you dont cross the line.

he probably doesnt even approve of you working or walking in public

[The Arabman]

"When I talk to a male I know and I am confident that Allaah SWT sees my heart and He knows my intentions"

kambuli, bear in mind that you're a human being, apt to be seduced or become weak. For the sisters, if they have to talk to a male co-worker, let it be business talk; nothing more. Prolonged talk about non-business issues leads to something undesirable. I applaud the brother's concerns about you, and I hope you don't disappoint him. BTW, are you muhajibah?

[Advocator]

Where is that brotha so I can send him a Christmas card..........

[kambuli]

Arabman,

Quote " kambuli, bear in mind that you're a human being, apt to be seduced or become weak. For the sisters, if they have to talk to a male co-worker, let it be business talk; nothing more. Prolonged talk about non-business issues leads to something undesirable. I applaud the brother's concerns about you, and I hope you don't disappoint him. BTW, are you muhajibah?

Walaal I can't become weak...Haddii aan ibtilo ahay aamus iyo gafuur taag edeb ii yeeli maayaan.... What do you mean muhajibah?

Advo,

If you want to send him a card send him a Eid card..

[Xplosive]

muhajibah = Someone who wears Xijaab.

[The Arabman]

"Walaal I can't become weak..."

Abaayo, qof aan daciif noqon karin (ugu yaraan mar marka qaarkood) ma jiro. Anagu hadaan bani'aadam nahay, macsuum ma nihi.

"What do you mean muhajibah?"

Waxaan ula jeedaa, sida gabadhaan oo kale miyaad u labisataa (ama isu asturtaa)?

http://www.shabellenews.com/images_files/amino2.jpg

[Qaarxiye]

kambuli= somalilight

[michael_ital]

[quote="The Arabman"]

kambuli, bear in mind that you're a human being, apt to be seduced or become weak. For the sisters, if they have to talk to a male co-worker, let it be business talk; nothing more. Prolonged talk about non-business issues leads to something undesirable. I applaud the brother's concerns about you, and I hope you don't disappoint him. BTW, are you muhajibah?

[/quote]

And if it is "business talk", is she no longer permitted to laugh with them or socialize at lunch because the Office Waadaad frowns upon it ? Should she modify her whole office persona to appease him?

kam, like you say, you know whats in your heart, so consider the fact you need to spend 8 or more hours a day 5 days a week with these people. I'm sure they respect you and your religion. AND adhere to usual office policies. So I believe you're within your limits.

[Cadeey]

Kambuli there is nothing wrong with talking to your co-workers as long as it is strictly business and nothing more that excludes laughing with men. You must be laughing out loud with men to provoke the muslim man to look at you in a particular way. Or why else would he get angry?
I too argree with Arabman the brother has everyright to be concerned about you. I am not asking you to isolate yourself from them but keep things at professional level. Being professional does not necessarly mean
being rude and not freindly. You can be professional at same time your wrokers can preceive you as a freindly gal.(But remmeber what-ever you do to them is what a muslim does , you are to holding Islam in your hands)
Your a muslimah and frankly to be honest with you from what you have said, I dont think that kind of behaviour is what is expected from a muslimah. I happend to have a job just like you. I realise I am under scrutiny at all times simply because I wear the hijab. I therefore take extra care to be polite kind and not rude freindly, but I assure you I dont laugh out loud with men in the presence/or absence of a muslim man especially one you have mentinoed.
The muslims I work with unfortunately are the 'hip cool modern muslims' what-ever-that-means. From what I gather they dont pray fast wear the hijab. I have hard time explaining to my muslim workers that I have to go on my breaks at specific times to pray. Mind you the non-believers are more than happy I take my breaks to suit my needs.
Its amazing to witness we are living in an era whereindivduals born in Islam have problems with Islam than nies born outside Islam.

A pakistani man I work with told be Cadeey 'relax you prat too much you need to chill and party may I take you out'.(He is a doctor, married yet he still clubs and dates). Its a sad world!

[Hambalayo2]

[quote="michael_ital"][quote="The Arabman"]

kambuli, bear in mind that you're a human being, apt to be seduced or become weak. For the sisters, if they have to talk to a male co-worker, let it be business talk; nothing more. Prolonged talk about non-business issues leads to something undesirable. I applaud the brother's concerns about you, and I hope you don't disappoint him. BTW, are you muhajibah?

[/quote]

And if it is "business talk", is she no longer permitted to laugh with them or socialize at lunch because the Office Waadaad frowns upon it ? Should she modify her whole office persona to appease him?[/quote]

exactly right. what's so hard to understand about that concept? Hijab is not only a dress code, it's an attitude.

i don't see the big deal with small talk provided it is not in a discreet area but the line has to be somewhere. laughing out loud and talking about inappropriate things is not acceptable.

cadeey is right

[michael_ital]

I believe happy Des to be right. Of course talking about inappropriate things is unacceptable. In fact I believe it so for both Muslim women and non. Laughing out loud i'm not sure about. But i'll wait to see what Rebel's 2 cents are in regards to proper Islamic office protocol, as his opinions is one of the ones here I respect most. That is, if he decides to contribute.

[ciloow]

[quote="kambuli"]There is this new guy our company hired in one of the departments.. He is a very strict muslim... Good for him... Maansha Allaah... when he joined our company I showed him where to pray etc etc...

The problem is he does not want us to talk to any male... If I laugh with my co-workers he will give me the look.... ....

I know some of the forumers will jump to an insulting.... It does not matter, but honestly what is wrong with talking to your co-worker? When I talk to a male I know and I am confident that Allaah SWT sees my heart and He knows my intentions....I do not see it as a big deal if I talk to my co-workers which I spend 8 and more hours every day...[/quote]

do you ever heard "Better be alone than in bad company" it means be careful in the choice of the people you associate with. You got my point

[Basra-]

[The rebel]

[quote="michael_ital"]I believe happy Des to be right. Of course talking about inappropriate things is unacceptable. In fact I believe it so for both Muslim women and non. Laughing out loud i'm not sure about. But i'll wait to see what Rebel's 2 cents are in regards to proper Islamic office protocol, as his opinions is one of the ones here I respect most. That is, if he decides to contribute.[/quote]

Thanks Mike. loool@laughing out load.

As you know, I face this kind of difficulties in my office and I work with Muslims only. For sister Kambuli I'm sure she knows what is right but just to remind you the Muslim man isn't your brother too so he has to have his limit with you too. We also have to be careful, people can do only what you allow them to do. Just be professional. I really don't know what to chit chat in the office with opposite sex co-worker other than the business! After all I aint that friendly.

Some one said "Hijab isn't only a dress but an attitude". I agree with that.

By the way since you live where Muslims are minority. We have what we call ' fiqh minority' for Muslims who live in none Muslim countries and that can be really helpful and would help you alot about how to deal with none muslims societies.

I will try to get it an English version for you.