what is wrong with wearing arab khamiis? dont dir wear khamiises and western shirts and trousers
I don't think qamiis is the problem. Even Nigerian muslims wear that and added their own cultural flavour to it, even Indonesians and Malaysians, but wearing a white Qamiis with a typical gulf Kefiyyeh is where the problem lies. Jugjugwacwac explained it well.
Jugjugwacwac said:The rationale for wearing western clothing: It is no longer 'cultural' in the sense that it belongs to a specific people. It is now ubiquitous to the point of being universal. This is a result of the cultural hegemony of the West post-colonialism. For example, In a high level business meeting taking place in Tokyo between British and Japanese executives all of the men, both Jap and British, would wear designer suits. The fact that the Japs are wearing suits wouldn't strike the Brits as odd in anyway, nor would anyone think that the Japs are betraying their culture by not coming to the meeting in samurai clothing lol. The argument is even stronger for someone who actually lives in the west, because socially and professionally it would be impractical to wear anything else.
The rationale for wearing Somali clothes: This one is self-evident and one should try to wear our traditional clothes whenever they can, especially when they live back home.
The rationale for specifically Arab gulf attire: Proponents say it's Islamic. But there is no such thing as Islamic clothing. The only Islamic requirement is that people dress modestly, everything else is cultural. Also, Arab Christians and atheists all wear khamiis and cimaamads and have kunyahs (Abu this and Umm that). Also, Arab clothing is not ubiquitous or universal in any sense. It's still very much a marker for Arab identity. Lets use that same example again. A business meeting taking place in Malaysia between Malay and Saudi Business executives. Is anyone here telling me that that Saudis wouldn't find it extremely odd if the Malays wore a crisp white gulf khamiis, with the red checkered cimaamad and the black ciqaal as the crowning piece? The Saudis would find it strange, confusing and even feel embarrassed on behalf of the Malays for copying their traditional dress.
If Western clothes have become universal and also practical for professional reasons, and Somali clothes are our dhaqan, what rationale is there for Arab clothing if it cannot be deemed Islamic?
Also, for those of you who are saying what's the big deal, it's just a khamiis. Well, clothes are an important marker of identity, and like language, is one of the first things that are susceptible to change when confronted with a more dominant culture. Cultures aren't static things that change only when people decide they do. Cultures are in a constant state of flux and competition and most people are swept under the current of cultural change due to foreign influence without even being conscious that they're a casualty of the war being waged on their way of life.