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muqitah, Detroit - wrote on 3/18/2005 2:24:03 PM
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Comment:Personally speaking this issue has been with us for 4 decades; numerous discussions, debates and suggestions have resulted in many attempts at partial solutions. Alhamdulillah!, at present in our area we have several major masajid with completely compliant women's areas. The "curtain" that some families/communities require for women to be allowed/ welcomed to the mosque was often a hold-up to agreement on structuring the desiqnated space. Solutions have included rattan walls and room dividers, as well as loft or balcony constructions. Since many of these were done with great attention to beauty and the comfort of the attendees + children, it is clear that there was input by women. Finally our "hijab" is once again, our responsiblity and the 'curtain" of exclusion is lifted. Let's not slip backward- again!
faiza alvi, baltimore - wrote on 3/18/2005 12:12:31 PM
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Comment:Finally , a man spoke up. Men are the Qawwam of women. Qawwam comes from Qaama which means to stand and Qawwam is one who makes something/someone stand. Men are the ones responsible to make sure the women are given their place in society. By no means am I shying away from taking responsibility for fighting our own battle but my 10 years of experience has taught me that in the present condition what one man says is equal to what even a practicing woman says 100 times as far as effectiveness. Even though she may be quoting the same hadith and qur'an or even better.
I always say that the brothers who believe in this and do not say anything to correct the situation, will be asked by Allah on the day of Judgement why they left it to the women and why they did not speak up.
JazakaAllah khair brother, you are doing your job.
Naeem, Charlotte - wrote on 3/18/2005 8:23:57 AM
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Comment:Not so fast, I have been in the middle of a discussion on this topic with the same situation in my Masjid. Women were praying in the main hall, using last rows, with the curtain in between men and women. There is a seperate room designated for women to pray in too. One fine morning a Mufti was brought in from Pakistan, who is advisor to Pakistani government on Islamic Juresprudense, he started instigating the people to kick the women out of the main prayer hall. He even said that take the curtain off and the women will be out of here. So the Shura of the mosque removed the curtains and put the a notice that the women must pray in the separate room designated for women to pray in.A couple of Ulema and Imams of Mosques in the area say that Ulema's from Fiqa a Hanafia do not allow the women in the mosques. Now whom do I listen to? My study of Islam and my evaluation of material on this subject says that yes women are part and parcel of Mulslim Ummah and should be encouraged instead of being discouraged, but what about these cultural imprints on the Islam of majority of Ulemas and people of the Eastern background ? Irony is this that initialy the women were praying in the main hall and there was no curtain but some women put up those curtains themselves.
Is there any penacea for this too?
Karimah, Ohio - wrote on 3/18/2005 1:24:28 AM
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Comment:Thank you for your courageous stand. I think that if the fathers take a more consistent responsibility of leading the prayers at home with their children, the children will naturally have more respect for the prayers. Children learn by repetition and example.
A nursery for the smallest ones is an excellent idea. This would be a big encouragement to busy mothers to bring their older children to the prayers and take turns watching the little ones.
To the woman from Seattle who was enduring poor conditions, try praying at the Islamic School of Seattle. They allow community members and it is set up with men at front of the gymnasium, student rows in the middle, women at the back...not cramped at all.
Ahmad Shafiq, Los Angeles - wrote on 3/17/2005 7:38:37 PM
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Comment:Bismi'llah As Salaam Alaikum, I am on the Shurah
of Masjid Abu Bakr as Saddiq (r.a.) in Los Angeles. I was also worked everyday for a year converting the building we purchased into a Masjid. I insisted that we have comfortable accomadations for woman and I might add there was no opposition from any quatrer on this point the only thing brothers insisted on was that the accomadations for woman be such that sisters had a separate entrance,and a room where one of the sisters could be desiginated each jumah or other get together to watch small children so that they did not disturb the gathering,and finally that there be a dress code when sisters came to the masjid regardless how they choose to dress away from the masjid. Once these kind of concerns are addressed I think you will find that there no oppisition to sisters frequenting the masjid. If anyone outside of LosAngeles is interested I will send them pictures of our facility insha'llah.
Nahid, Cary - wrote on 3/17/2005 3:01:25 PM
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Comment:The article gives great suggestion as to how to make our mosques welcoming and friendly for women. Mosques are not only places for prayers but also for religious education. If not more, than it is equally important for women to take part in these meetings. They are the ones who are raising the next generation of Muslims.
The shabby looking back door saying "Sisters Entrance" may also not be very welcoming for most women. I am aware that during the Prophet’s (Pbuh) time, during prayer, the women had separate entrance and filled the mosque from behind while the men had separate entrances and filled the mosque from the front. All I am saying is that women should have separate but equal facilities.
Mohamed Afzal Ebrahim, Gilbert, Arizona - wrote on 3/17/2005 1:13:54 PM
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Comment:Assalalaikum!
Your article on women's spaces in mosques was refreshing and excellent, and has highlighted an often ignored issue. As an architect who has designed several mosques, I am very much aware of the need of proper women's spaces in a mosque. While I try to integrate the issues of women's space in a mosque in my designs, I often run into opinions with the board members some of who relegate the womens' areas as not a very important space. At times when I have more control of circulation spaces in my design, women's spaces are treated with as much importance as in men's. In one of the mosque I designed (under construction now), the entrances (through a landscaped courtyard) and circulation spaces are given equal treatment and aesthetics; the spatial women's prayer area is located at an upper balcony served with an elevator, toilets, with the imam in full view by the whole congregation (men & women). While we do often hear various opinions of women spaces as well as other circulation aspects in a mosque, a solution that addresses and integrates most of the reasonable opinions, while quite a challenge, is not impossible. Education through a proper forum, such as your article is much needed. When minds will evolve positively, so will design of women's space and roles.
Batul, Orange Park - wrote on 3/17/2005 10:12:07 AM
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Comment:As Salam alikum,This was a very important issue spoken about.Both the men and women are accountable for the organisation of womens' space in the Masajids.Both have to work towards it.The women during the days of our beloved Prophet sallalahu alahi wasallam & the during the days of Caliphs were very modestly dresssed when in a public place weather a masjid or elsewhere.
Ofcourse there should be a place for women in the Masajids but there should also be a dress code for both men & women for the Masjid.THere dhould be either two entrances/exits or follow rules like left side for men right side for women.This will also help the movement easily & there wont be any rushing & pushing.Also even if a small place is alloted for women it should have enough light ,air & sound(mike) facilities.Otherwise there is no point in having a womens' area alloted.FOr this women have to work hard & maintain their part of the Masjid by keeping it not only clean but pleasant too.As for the kids running about little children & girls can be with women & boys with men.This will allow the women to learn & work more & the children (boys)will learn from what the see.Jazakallah khair
judy kamalodeen, trinidad west indies - wrote on 3/16/2005 8:34:24 PM
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Comment:assalamu alaikum
May Allah subhan wat'ala bless your courage. it is about time we address some of these issues. I agree totally that women need to lead the struggle. The big question should always be: what was the sunnat of rasoolullaah ( sas). Did he prevent women from attending the masjid? No. Did he prevent women from attending jummuah? No. Did his masjid have curtains/barriers/tv etc? my simple knowledge is that he used a system of men at the front, children in the middle, women at the back. Who put up steel/wod/cement walls in our masajid? Why do we continue to allow women and muslims in general to have the shabbiest of conditions/facilities. We should be the best. Our masajid and jammats should be the most admired. Let us make this a collective responsibility. May Allah bless us all and guide us onto Al haqq. Ameen
Malik K Rahman, Charlotte, NC - wrote on 1/16/2005 3:33:11 PM
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Comment:Thank you for presenting a balanced perspective on this topic.
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