Certain local customs are causing too much separation between male and female family members, beyond the rules outlined under Islamic law, say experts. Dr. Uhud Al-Rehali, a physiologist, was quoted by Al-Riyadh Arabic daily as saying: “Our society has certain dominant traditions, which govern the thinking and behavior of individuals. Sometimes this overwhelms the obligations defined in the Shariah which organizes the relationship between the genders in society. Islam has made it mandatory for Muslims to maintain the bonds of kinship. This is best manifested in a Hadith (saying of Prophet Muhammad – peace be upon him) in Sahih Al-Bukhari which says: ‘Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him maintain the bonds of kinship'.” She said the conservative nature of Saudi society makes many men shy to maintain ties with their female relatives, like their cousins and aunts. She added that times are changing. Women today are more educated and independent. They run their own affairs, without any male involvement. Waleed Al-Misnad, a sociologist, said there were stronger ties in the past between male and female family members. “In the past men used to contact their cousins and aunts directly, with restrictions. They used to know them by name, even the date of their birth. But the situation has changed as advancements in society have distanced people.” Citing an example, he said a friend has a cousin who lives a few meters from his home, but he has never visited or enquired about her. He pointed out that this contradicts Islamic principles which make it mandatory for all Muslims to maintain bonds of kinship. Dr. Abdul Aziz Al-Gharib, a professor of sociology, said Saudi society has undergone several changes since the economic boom of the 1970s. This has had a negative impact on social relations and Islamic values. He said these social behaviors were not inherited from their ancestors. To return to true Islamic values, “which the material life has stripped us of”, there is a need for intensive awareness campaigns targeting the youth and general public.
