Nevasta de la Mecca

Acum vreo cativa ani pe cand mergeam la BritTeen la un curs de ‘Contemporary Issues in World Politics‘ sau ceva in genul am citit primul articol de pe Christian Science Monitor pe tema globalizarii. Nu e nimic fanatic-religios in site-ul ala, desi numele indica asta si multi o sa zica ‘De ce sa citesc eu ceva care contine cuvantul „crestin” in el?‘. De atunci tot citesc articole de acolo si timp de trei ani gloriosi n-am gasit niciun articol care sa imi starneasca interesul foarte tare. Nu ca n-ar fi bine scrise sau n-ar aduce argumente pertinente (daca va framanta vreodata sa cititi despre Darfur, Chavez, ce razboaie mai duc Statele Unite etc.). Dar nimic iesit din comun.

Azi, in schimb: „Heard at Mecca: ‘Are you single?’”

Poftim? Am citit articolul doar ca sa descopar ca la Mecca, loc de pelerinaj al credinciosilor islamici, renumita destinatie pe care trebuie sa o vizitezi cel putin o data in viata, se practica matrimonialele! Si ce metoda ingenioasa. Nu stiu daca sa le zic matrimoniale pentru ca beneficiul pare sa incline in favoarea barbatilor cumva – femeile de la aceasta ‘agentie’ daca pot sa ii zic asa abordeaza tinere si le intreaba daca sunt singure, daca nu cumva cauta un sot, evident, si el credincios. Fetele par sa fie foarte entuziasmate si daca raspunsul e favorabil, le ofera descrieri ale potentialilor soti. Cum isi scot banii? Daca doi tineri se casatoresc, mamele le trimit acestor petitoare cadouri sau bani.

„”These days, practicing Muslim men are having a hard time finding practicing Muslim women,” explains Um Mohammad. She’s carrying a tiny blue notebook to jot down personal information about potential brides that she meets inside the Haram Mosque where Muslims circumambulate the holy cubed structure, the Kaaba. […] She is one of several matchmakers who can be seen approaching „pious” young Muslim women as they pray or perform rituals.

„Devoted Muslims come here, and so there is a better chance of finding a good match.”. She says she makes a minimum of 1,000 riyals ($268) plus gifts, such as perfume, from grateful mothers. Um Mohammad says she’s working for several mothers to find „chaste” wives for their sons in a place that’s annually visited by around 3 million people for hajj.”

Aayesh Masri, a 22-year-old Saudi woman who was approached by one of the matchmakers, isn’t troubled by the mixing of matchmaking and prayer. „Why not? It is done under sincere intentions and it is no different than when potential suitors come to your home to meet your family,” says Ms. Masri. „

La Mecca se mai practica si alte lucruri interesante de care habar n-aveam: mesaje pe telefonul mobil cu ocazia sosirii la Mecca, Pizza Hut e la doar cativa metri de Mecca (asa zice articolul, parca nu-mi vine a crede), autocolante cu Islam si sonerii pentru telefonul mobil.

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Non-Muslims are prohibited from entering Mecca, so the commerce still has a distinctive Islamic flair. Koranic verses can be heard playing in some restaurants. And every arriving pilgrim with a cellphone is sent a text message in English and Arabic from the Saudi government: „You are now in Mecca! The dearest place to Allah and his messenger – Peace be upon him – on earth.”

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M-am scarpinat cu mana stanga la urechea dreapta. Nu ca as putea ajunge vreodata acolo, dar mi se pare curioasa adaptarea si nu mai seamana cu Mecca pe care mi-o imaginam eu din carti si de la televizor in fiecare an. Mi-e tare greu sa imi imaginez Mecca asa cum e in ziua de azi, mai ales ca n-am vazut locul niciodata.

„The vendor’s older brother is not far behind, selling Islamic stickers and passing out leaflets for his father’s business – Koranic ring tones and customized prayers rugs.”