Race, Religion, Ethnicity or Culture: Isac Guerrero
As I continue to travel through the various cities of Morocco, what strikes me most isn’t just the call to prayer echoing or the spices in the food—it’s the respectful behavior on gender roles that are lived out in public spaces. There’s a natural connection to the way men and women interact that feels intentional and closely tied to Islam . One of the first times I noticed the emphasis was during the visit to the Hassan II Mosque. Though I practice, I observed the prominence of men entering through one door and women through another. The prayer areas are completely separated—divided by levels and different carpet. And prior, I understood that this separation isn’t about inequality but equity. Although, Morocco added to this wisdom and it being about modesty, focus and respect. Prayer is deeply personal connection with Allah, especially in sujud, and the separation is meant to protect that connection from distraction. From many scholars of Islam, this sense of protective se...