Dear Ali: Is it OK to reapply lipstick in public or is it too provocative? LB, Dubai
Dear LB: I think that it’s totally fine. A woman needs to do what she needs to do, and it’s her right to do. Of course, make sure that what you’re doing is applying lipstick. Sometimes, applying lipstick can be a flirtatious gesture, which is fine if it’s at a bar or nightclub. But if it’s in a public place, flirtation is not always appreciated by people in that situation.
I know because of our hot weather, women (and men, for that matter) need to refresh more often. I think that’s why our religion gives us five breaks during the day, which include splashing cold water on our faces. All in the name of prayer, but still very merciful.
In any case, my advice to women who are applying their lipstick in public is this: look around. Is there anybody who might misconstrue what you are doing? If yes, is there somewhere else that wouldn’t be a nuisance to you (a bathroom, a hallway, the car) where you could apply the lipstick? If so, then go there and freshen up. If not, try to be modest in beautifying yourself. I know this sounds like a contradiction, but I hope you get my point.
Dear Ali: Most religions have their own music, but it occurs to me that the only singing that I hear related to Islam is the call to prayer. Do Muslims have spiritual music? TH, Abu Dhabi
Dear TH: I would argue that the call to prayer is the most beautiful spiritual sound in the world, but since we hear it every day we might forget how lovely it is.
But to answer your question, yes, we do have other spiritual music. The nasheed is an Islamic-orientated song, traditionally sung a cappella or accompanied only by a drummer, known as a daffa or tabilor.
Nasheed music is thought of as more spiritual and pure because of its simplicity and focus on recitation rather than instrumentation, which some Islamic scholars view as haram.
One of the most famous nasheed singers is Yusuf Islam, who many will know as Cat Stevens.
One of the top Islamic international singers in the Arab world is the UAE’s own Ahmed Bukhatir from Sharjah, who has also recorded songs in English, French and Arabic. His CDs can be found at almost all international stores.
Another munshid – which is equivalent to saying singer, but since it relates to Islamic nasheed then we refer to them as a munshid – that we have and one the latest famous stars is the Lebanese-born Swedish artist Maher Zain. And there is also Sami Yousuf, who is an Iranian-British munshid and known as one of the most famous singers and spiritual musicians.
And if you want a very famous UAE and Gulf Islamic spiritual musician that would be the one and only Al Wasmi, who has a huge base of fans in the Gulf region.
Ali Al Saloom is a cultural adviser and public speaker from the UAE. Follow @AskAli on Twitter, and visit www.ask-ali.com to ask him a question and to find his guidebooks to the UAE, priced at Dh50.
