Day 4

Day 4: Hawwa

Age: 21

Major: Biochemistry

Hometown: Houston

Connection to me: None

Me: Can you only marry a Muslim man?

Hawwa: A woman can only marry a Muslim man, but a man can marry a Muslim, Jew or Christian because those religions are considered people of the book. 

Me: Do you speak Arabic?

Hawwa: I can read it and understand a bit.

Me: Have you been to the Middle East?

Hawwa: Not yet.

Me: Do people treat you differently here in America?

Hawwa: Not really, most people nowadays know about Islam, but often people have their own opinions about it, especially because of the media. 

Me: What do you think about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict?

Hawwa: I don't know, I know more Palestinians than Israelis. I know that the Palestinians were there first but the Israelis won the war and took all the land they wanted.

Me: Which war was that? What was it called?

Hawwa: There were several wars between Israel and Palestine but I don't know the names. Both sides haven't done what they are supposed to do. But the Palestinians definitely did what they are supposed to do.

Me: Doesn't it say in the Bible that G-d gave Israel to the Jews?

Hawwa: Muslims and Jews really value Jerusalem but the Israelis keep overstepping their boundaries. 

Me: It sounds complicated.

Hawwa: It is very complicated. A lot of the history is hidden, Jews are digging in the City of David now to prove that it is their land. They are encroaching on Palestinian territory.

Me: What about the suicide bombers?

Hawwa: They are out of their minds. I don't agree with anything that involves killing yourself or anybody else. G-d gave you life to live it.