Fact checking DNM

Submitted by Prashant, Jun 13, 2018 at 00:21

Dear Dr Pipes, Our own DNM occasionally educates us about some bizarre facts about Islam. When he does so, I usually check his facts. DNM recently mentioned a Shia Hadith that prohibits wearing black shoes because 1) his causes Penis to shrivel 2) it causes men to be come depressed. So how do the facts stand?

I think DNM is right. I could find several Islamic sources on the Internet confirming that indeed there is a Hadith that discourages wearing black shoes because a) it causes mind to get depressed b) causes decrease in sexual powers (though no source that I found was as graphic as DNM) c) causes eye-sight to weaken and d) black generally indicates sadness and applies not just for shoes but to all clothing.

So, overall, DNM is correct on this is but is more graphic than necessary.

And, what is the lesson for humanity here? I think the lesson is that we should not follow a code that was written 1500 years ago.

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