I think all the mosques should be given a chance to accomadate women, talk to the leadership and try to negotiate with them if they are stubborn ignorant and rude then all you have to do is threaten to report them to the local media for being anti-women and for discriminating based on gender.

I guarantee you that if you threaten to expose their names to the local media for discrimination they would all cave in. Non of them would want their names in the papers due to the many fruads they are probably involved in!

give them a chance? lets say how about a thinking and dialouge period of about 3 years? hmmm

i mean its been so long another 3 years of exclusion wont hurt

Salam

Sorry, but this is the ONLY issue on which I disagree with MPAC. I think your hearts are in the right place but I do not like where your heading with this.

I think clarification is required- when MPAC demands the doors of masajids to be opened for women- what exactly do you mean??

do you want us to have to go to the masajid to pray? In which case I totally disagree- a woman does NOT have to go to a mosque to fulfill her obligation to pray 5x a day.

However, if you want women to have more services from the mosque, more tailored teaching for them, female ulemaa to consult when they have problems, mother & baby sessions, more community- building and social acitivities, then I COMPLETELY agree.

I respect MPAC for bringing this issue up. However, I'm not sure exactly what your standing for on this issue.

Salam

Its typical of Mpac to go looking for another line of attack on the muslim leaders, this is the only issue they have left, they don’t genuinely care about the success of the ummah otherwise they wont go smiting their fellow muslims in public and to the non-Muslims and on national TV there are plenty of mosques which accommodate women concentrate on the real problems people…like the new found Islamaphobic attack on the Veil

Peace

MPACK you say you want women to be more involved in mosques giving them places of worship within them as provided in the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him).

I would ask, have you not overlooked the fact sayyisuna Umar (may allah be pleased with him)is the one who stopped women from attending salaah in the mosque, furthermore there are numerous ahadith wich state it is better for women to pray at home that in the mosque.

As for women playing a more active role in the mosque i would agree in theory but i dont see how it is practical without us sacraficing some islamic principles such as segregation of the sexes and the women would have to be with mahrem in the decision making meetings therefore i dont really see it being practical ( or am i missing something?) though i havnt seen the documentry i cant think of any good that will come from it other than Muslims being labelled as sexist.

I really do hope you dont have an imam saying something sexist or anything wich would lead to islaam brought in to disrepute yet again.

Peace

In principle I agree that women should have access to mosques. However, these things take time. Purpose built mosques are relatively new phenomenon in UK and they are costly to build.

Remember even now mosques have limited spaces and budgets. There are times even now (in some mosques) where men cannot get into the mosque for Fridays for lack of space.

The last thing we need is for MPAC to use the non muslim press to air our "dirty laundry" in public. What is their agenda? are they trying to create division? Islam abhors this method of dispute resolution.

Sisters/MPAC should be more careful about how they go about attempting to redress the situation. Muslim unity must not be compromised by such disparate actions.

Finally, it is a well known fact that women praying at home do not loose out in devotional terms.

Assalamu alaykum.I write after watching the Channel 4 News interview with a MPAC sister. As a woman, I completely agree with you, that it is unacceptable that all mosques are not accessible to women. However, MPAC have done more damage than good. NonMuslims have now got more mythical nonsense to add to their delusion that Islam is sexist. I understand that you were saying it is certain cultural communities (Asian) that wrongly forbid women but this is not how it will be interpreted. Do you think NonMuslims will logically do some research to find that at the time of the Prophet (saw) women were allowed and in most Muslim countries today there is always space for them? No. The ummah needs to unite not divide. Shouting and speaking harshly is not going to get you anywhere, because it is against the sunnah. I await the Dispatches programme in dread.Perhaps you should all read Brother Asim Qureshi's article: 'Brother, Where art thou?' If he had gone for a harsh, rude approach, nothing would have been achieved.

I dont think going to the media is the right way of resolving these issues. Especially in this day and age where the media needs any excuse to show Islam as a backward/intollerant religion (people mixing up traditional values with Islamic ones).
One thing we do need in this day and age is patience. As more of the younger generation begins to understand Islam more then I think there will be an automatic shift in attitudes.

Since we are in the habit of quoting the Prophet (pbuh), he also said don't air your dirty laundry in front of non-Muslims. Let's hope this programme doesn't turn out to be like that.

The prophet (pbuh) also said that the best place to women to pray was their homes.

For Jumma at my local mosque there's no space for men - we spill out on the dirty side paths. Now if there had been space for women, some of the men would have to go without. And the Jumma prayer is fard for men.

I think women should have more access to mosques and a lot of women are discriminated. There are situations when the mosque isn't full, or when a women is travelling and has to make her prayer, I can't see why she shouldn't have access to a mosque.

Let me reiterate, I think if there's space I can't see why a women shouldn't be allowed in the mosque.

But sometimes i think the old men who run the mosques don't know how to make provisions...or worse still cannot be bothered? Can we blame them? Yes and No.

They are the ones giving up their time to volunteer; they are the ones who started the mosque from scratch. If we wish to have more input in the mosques, we should get more involved.

Admittedly there will be many in the mosques that see it as a power source and may not want other’s to have a more active role. But I think people often have delusions of grandeur and expect to be amongst the management from the off. I’m afraid it doesn’t work like that and people need to realise that they will have to start from the bottom. And yes and that may include cleaning, tidying, scrubbing the floor, cleaning the dirty towels – the old men do it!

During Ramadan I went to pray at small mosque near my workplace, I saw a convert brother trying to enter but it was closed. He complained about how it really shouldn't be closed during Ramadan. He'd been there before and thought they were rude people.

I pointed out to him that it was a rough area - and perhaps there weren’t enough old men to keep it open…..after all it’s their time they have got to give up! As for their uncouthness, maybe that's down to the fact that they do not know English. He accepted those scenarios and both of us went in search of another mosque.

Often people, who have no dealings with the mosque on an ongoing basis, expect others to make provisions.

If we want any say with the mosques we need to take a more active role in the day-to-day running – and yes that may include doing menial dirty jobs. If we can't even extend some time to do that, then we have no right to criticise how a mosque is run.

This issue is not as black and white as i fear this programme will make it out to be. we know the media are currently only too happy to beat muslims with any stick, let's just hope mpacuk hasn't been used to further that agenda.

Salaam

Although I agree with what you are doing in principal, I think this is being blown out of proportion. I am very interested to know where in the Koran or Sunnah does it state that women should run mosques! I think every woman should have the right to pray at a mosque (as does my Mum and Sis), however, if a mosque can not accommodate, then it should not be persecuted. As for the sunnah, lets not forget the prophet (SAW) said don’t turn your homes into graveyards.

I think MPAUK are beginning to reveal their true colours.Having watched the article on Channel 4, I am appalled at the lack of adaab displayed. It is disgusting. In a time when muslims need to show unity, here we are displaying to the the world how disunited we are. You could just imagine the the glee and laughter which the enemies of islam must be drowning in. You could actually see it on the face of the presenter at the end. This is the same MPAUK which only a few days ago was accusing certain other groups of being agents.
Any organisations/groups/individuals which appear in the media and display a disregard for islamic adaab (good manners and character) and which totally disregard the sunnah of ofour noble Prophet (saw), these people should be taken with a big pinch of salt. Let's face the truth, all these groups rely on a few rallying cries to rope people in, however, they have their own agendas. They lack sincerity. The true message of islam is being preached out their and this will never (or very rarely make it into the media.

I think the idea and principle behind this debate is well founded and productive. I support fully that ALL mosques should have space for Sisters. However, after watching the disgraceful behaviour of an MPAC member on channel 4 news today I was very disappointed. The journalist was delighted to have two Muslim women arguing amongst themselves. It is clear that the media is giving MPAC the platform to air this debate into the general public, not because it cares about the cause, but because to them it will just highlight another way that the Muslim community is ununited, disfunctional, and anti-women. At a time when the public image of Muslims is at its lowest, our mosques are being painted as exclusionary and intolerant, it just adds fuel to the fire.

Speak to the mosque leadership, and if they are not willing toaccomadate women, report them to the media, for discriminating based on gender.That will change a few mind's.

woman should be allowed providing woman do not mix with men, 2 years ago i went to a mosque on 27th night of ramadan in hounslow. after say 4am, all the night prayer, a young lady tried to talk to me but thank to allah i walked away. see how easy to make sins, may allah save us all so lets not all jump into it, proper plan must be made

i think its haram for women to pray behind men who are not blood relatives.

-i know women can't prey side by side with man-

know your religion before you guys try to change certain situations, otherwise you might get questioned on judgement day for distorting the religion

I hope the programme gets to the heart of the matter...the reliance on a fiqh and culture suited only for the Indian subcontinent....

Salam

Firstly id like to point out that im totally FOR women to be able to worship in the mosque, however I think the way in which MPAC approached the issue was totally wrong.

firstly knowing that the mosques that they approached are run by older generation people whom have believes that are stemmed from culture they still went to the doors of the mosques on a Friday (when there are more people attending then usual) with a camera knowing it was going to stir up an argument, couldn’t an appointment with the mosque leader be made, why didn’t the ladies just walk away from the situation instead of escalating it and why not aim at another mosque where people may be more approachable.

Also i think by televising the incident makes Muslims look worse in the public eye, I cant help but feel MPAC pin pointed certain mosques knowing they would respond in a certain way

The final point id like to make is that im from Blackburn and my local mosque has a separate section within the mosque that allows women to pray, quite close to where i live a new mosque is being built with an area that has been designed for women to pray, but i wonder if when watching the documentary if this is highlighted.

I look forward to watching the documentary which I know in Blackburn is going to stir up some emotions especially when Blackburn in the last years or so has been in the spot light in a negative way.

Assalamualykum,

Why attack our Masjids? Yes I agree that our Masjids need to accommodate for our sisters, mothers & daughters, but we have to appreciate that many of the mosques were made out of necessity and not purposely. Definitely the purpose built Masjid needs to accommodate, but this should be an issues for our community to deal with, and not make this another stone for our critics to throw at us with. What dose this campaign achieve? Do we think that by hanging out our dirty laundry in public, will make the non-Muslims come running to our rescue?

Absolutely, it is women's right to have access to mosques - its our divine right, but, there are some mosques, which are, culturally motivated, therefore, how we dialogue with them for this access, is extremely important. I have constantly voiced my voice in favour women in mosques, but only through dialogue with committee members. We must remember that mosques have been built by the 1st and 2nd generations, in majority of cases, from the Sub-continent, and with this came many cultural values - where women did not go to the mosques (which sometimes is a blessing, as we women can pray anywhere). I hope the MPAC will find ways to have dialogue with members of mosques committees.

Sad that MPAC is approaching the whole issue relating to the welfare of Muslims in such a dangerous manner. What a time to do it! Just when we need some peace and quiet.
It makes me wonder, whether they understand about Sincerity as taught by our great predesessors and rightly guided scholars. Sincerity has its conditions and requirements, without which, a course of action leads to disastrous results, and causes Fitna in the Ummah. Whoever causes Fitna in the Ummah, from the Muslims, they will be the misguided ones, and we can only see this from our actions. It is no use, pointing fingers, speaking ill of others, and back stabbing, as these sorts of vices are said to be worse than consuming alcohol, adultery..., and the major vices we commonly know of. The worse aspect is that the person spreading Fitna, is under the assumption that what he or she is doing is good(of hasana in Akhirah), this is the biggest deception by Shaytaan, one will see this at the time of death, when their ignorance opens up to them. Allah has the power to take away Imaan at that time, the ultimate disgrace. May Allah save us all. Ameen.

I have been wanting to support MPAC for a long time now but every time i think about funding them they always come up with attacks on muslim bodies and organisation using their best freinds the zionist and islamaphobe media.

A couple of weeks ago it was tablghi jammat and now its the masajids. Trying to break a nut with the zionist and islamaphobic hammer. MPAC are losing their way and need to concentrate on the real issues and find islamic ways of getting women into the masajids. sabr and reason not the BBC or CH4.

I think it is deplorable that Muslims are fighting on national tv, to the delight of the enemies of Islam. If these so-called intelligent and educated Muslim women who are doing the protesting think this is going to help Muslims in the Uk (particularly Muslim women) then they need their heads read. I think MPAC needs to wake up and realise the effects their scheming is having upon the Muslim community in Britain.

Unfortunately for MPAC, and this is a big bug bear for me, is that it allows itself to be used, to be a pawn in a bigger game where MPAC and the rest of the Muslim community do not have the same access to the powerful or the Media.

I just wish MPAC would sometimes rein in the hot heads who think they are moving issues forward, they simply are not. They are doing the groundwork for those that are anti Islam and anti Muslim, from both inside government and the news media.

Think before you Act. Being confrontational or shouting the loudest does not mean that you are necessarily in the right.

I support a woman's choice to go to a masjid, but MPAC are damaging Muslims further with this kind of staged show. It's not the first time I've seen this kind of behaviour, and it's beginning to look systematic.

Some others have raised the same point. I think it's a shame that MPAC took part in this documentary. Maybe I'm wrong and it's all to do with scheduling and timing over which you have no control, but it seems that you're more concerned with making a name for yourselves than improving things for Muslims with this kind of stunt.

From my experience of these kind of documentaries, I know that staged events are set up in order to provoke confrontation and provide more interesting TV. This will be just another staged attack on Muslims at a time when we need to unite against rampant Islamophobia.

Maybe I'm wrong about the whole thing. I would like MPAC's response.

man i never knew there was so many bigots on the mpac website!

if all these so called "i agree with mpac but..." types listen to themselves they would realise what a bunch of hypocrites they sound like.

If they really agreed with women in the bloody mosques - why let mpac do all the hard work, while these fools come on this website and moan about it - do it your bloody selves!

instead they sit in their cosy houses like they do about everything and act all outraged at mpac

word of advice - shut up you bigots and let mpac get on with its great work

mpac - im with you!

Salaams
This kind of issue was bound to come up at some point in time and our community should have thought about it earlier .I live in Glasgow and not all that long ago our local mosque expanded .They spent a huge amout of money on expansion and built a ginormous car park .In all theis space there isn't a single space for a woman .Is it any surprise that it is a Tablighi jamaat centre .This is not due to a lack of space or money ,its a point of philosophy . Incidentally the area Pollokshields has its own inner city issues with young gangs etc. The management were really not interested in facilities for women.I think this debate was going to happen at some point and unfortunately when you make an omelette you have to break some eggs occasionally .These committees have no right to start crying at a bit of jostling when they have deliberately stuck their heads in the sand for years .

Some pretty stupid arguments here.

@sd aka tinkerbell

Surely the first step is to let women in to pray! Female ulema etc is something for later. If Mosque leaders will not allow muslim women in to pray, then what hope of providing more. please be realistic.

@faird

you wanted to support them for a long time? and then call them friends of zionists? heh, somehow i think you can keep your support where it belongs, in the trash along with the rest of your nonsense.

@Bilal Patel,

How do you know this was staged? Please substantiate your claim? You are the same as the Mosque leaders that this documentary exposes. FACE IT, this kind of crap is going on, and Muslim women are facing it. DEAL WITH IT, don't deny it.

i'm male and from a brit pakistani background and used to enjoy MPAC's ranting because ithought they would stir it up. but the more i looked at my own community in Bristol the more i realised they (mpac) were right. so why don't you 'I like mpac but'...clowns go join a happy clappy group where you feel good but don't work to make a change. and leave the real work to mpac and its supporterstbr />you people dont like mpac nor do you believe in womens rights, all you are are spineless apologists for the backward dall munching committees!he question for me isnt why has mpac taken on this cause it is why havent you?

As far as I am aware, only two or possibly three mosques in my town (out of around a dozen) do not accomodate women. Most have an upstairs and a downstairs, which allows 50%-50% on Fridays. But I think all Mosques should provide full access and proper representation for women. Looking forward to watching this programme, insha Allah.

Wasalaam

TMA

Many thank to MPAC for again making Muslims look strange to our non-Muslim citizens. There is a way to solve problems, and a way to speak to those in power. This is not it.

The very title "women only jihad" is misleading as there are many men seeking to find ways of accomodating sisters in the running of mosques, despite constraints on time, money, resource and space.

Please do not do something like this again.

the more i read and hear about mpac i feel they are a group set up by the security services,to cause miscief amongst the muslim ummah in uk.am i paranoid???

Salaam, everybody.

Am looking forward to watching the program, too early to judge it yet (I've only seen brief trailers).

I've been slowly developing a better understanding of Islam as I grow up, and I think it's important to ensure that our sisters have all their needs and requirements fulfilled. Growing up in a Pakistani family, it was all too often the case that (certainly in the older generation), the female members of the family were not encouraged to educate themselves, go to the mosque, etc, etc.

I actually think there's a wider issue at stake - our mosques should be open to all sections of community, muslim and non-muslim alike - I don't literally mean that anybody should be able to wander in, but mosques should be able to effectively promote the message of Islam, provide community functions (childcare, welfare advice, etc) and generate dialogue with other communities.

There seem to be a lot of people who are more worried about showing Muslim disunity to non-Muslims than they are about the issue at hand.
As a non-Muslim, my opinion on the issues concerned is of little or no value, but I do feel heartily reassured to hear that Muslims are openly debating aspects of the running of their mosques; it happens, after all, in other religions. Within a democratic setting, debate is not a sign of weakness, but rather one of great strength. To close ranks and profess unity where little truly exists would be to store up trouble. Open and honest discussion can only be good for Islam - and for its image among non-Muslims. For what it's worth, I'd say embrace it.

There are two sides to this issue. One being that some mosques don't permit women access or involvement in mosque matters, and the other that when women are called to volunteer, they don't come forward.

In the part of London I live, several mosques have been built by husband and wife teams (backed by local muslim community) in the recent years.

In each case muslim sisters have been asked again and again to be invoved, but only the first generation sisters seem to want to do something. Their old age limits what they can do, unfortunately.

Many of the younger generation sisters in our community seem reluctant to step forward and volunteer. They're more focused on their education / career / family commitments.

Faisal,

You ask me how I know this documentary was staged.

Firstly, I did not say that I know for sure it was staged. I invited MPAC's response if I am wrong. There has been no response so far. I would like MPAC to clarify how the documentary was made.

Secondly, I suspect that this is the case because I have been involved with a couple of TV documentaries myself, so I speak from experience. I would be very surprised if MPAC was to tell me otherwise. This is the media and they are out not only to report stories, but contrive to make stories.

I'm not going to donate any money to an organisation that jumps on the media bandwagon to trash Muslims in order to further it's own agenda, and would encourage others to donate elsewhere.

i have to agree with pro-mpac, shah and yakoub the other comments are so lame we agree with womens rights but mpac are doing this wrong way! at least they are doing something what have you lot ever done, none of you have even seen the doc and already mpac are denounced as having 'staged' it! im so ashamed of muslims who make excuses for sexism in the community well done mpac keep up good work!

Shah,

There are many ways to get what you want, not all of them are correct however.

No one is claiming that women have no rights however to play victim in front of an hostile media in an hostile political climate that reinforces stereotypes, id suggest is not the wisest of ways to achieve ones goals.

Our Masdjid in Worthing does allow women in - even for Friday. However there isn't enough space - about 30 ladies tops. I am VERY worried that MPAC, who I support mostly, is washing our dirty linin on public TV. This is very dangerous. It reinforces the prejudice that already exists. It might be true that we have bad brothers and sisters, who have little knowledge of our deen, but we don't need to publicise this. As for the sister who thinks its HARAM to prey behind a non relative - you see my point. This sister is making something Haram when it isn't - which is in itself Haram. Sisters need access to the Masdjid. They DON'T need to go on Friday Jummah, but guess what, there is Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday plus the 4 other prayer times on Friday. I guarantee there is space available for ladies on every prayer time except Friday Jummah. As for Eid, women and children MUST come to the Masdjid and we made extra space for them. Yes challenge the old men, yes stop the committee members selling alchohol etc, but lets do this in private, not on Channel 4.

The last few comments have been very mpac-esque. Please brothers and sisters, the reason we are here is for Islam and if we wish to debate an issue lets do it with a bit more Islamic adab! Throwing comments like 'bigoted', 'stupid' and calling people 'apologists' does not further the argument, since people will be oblivious to those that are supposedly speaking for Islam, but don't even seem to have knowledge of basic Islamic etiquettes.

Furthermore back you answer not with insults, supposition, conjecture or personal opinions but by looking at the Quran and the Sunnah.

I like many other readers agree to letting sisters pray in mosques under strict segregation and obviously being able to accomodate them, but bringing it into the media this way is just 'adding fuel to the fire'.

I think muslims need to address the fact that the majority of women and men in our communities do not even pray salaat in the first place.
Lets get everyone praying their obligatory salaats before we address this issue as we will be questioned about it firstly and foremostly by Allah swt and then worry about womens rights InshaAllah!!!

Salaam MPACUK, what are you folks upto now?

Please dont mess it up like a bunch of angry southwest asians. show a little grace inshAllah!

I hope ladies are given the room that is their right, and i hope everyone makes the most of their rights to nurture an enlightened and funky community.

About the 'dirty laundry in public ' issue:
I don' think its a big secret that muslim men have historically had more mosque based organisational potential than muslim women, and that south asian hanafi practice has not been as big on ladies praying together in the mosque as... the turks.

It is not a suprise that this matter would get stuck between stubborn established micropowers that run these prayer arenas and insit of very slow processes of progress. They are not used to female assertion in these matters. They are old nad perhaps theologically knotted by TJness. bless.

Faisal.
i think you are being ignorant to the effect of what MPAC are doing. You dont seem to understand the effect of division and headline nonsense that MPAC sometimes are engaging in.

Getting your face on TV seems to be the order of the day in MPAC and shouting everyone down who has a different view. ive seen asghar bukhari on islam channel and it was not a pretty sight.

i agree with alot of what MPAC do but there are some serious problems with their targetting. Tablighi jamaat for instance. congratulation to asghar for getting himself on TV but was it necessary.

anyway faisal, calm down and chill out. i made a thought out comment and you have responded with trash and you wonder why MPAC have funding difficulties. Thats what MPAC have been engaging in. If it works all good to MPAC but i feel that they will leave alot of muslim damaged by the road side.

salaams bro:

MPAC HAD AN AXE TO GRIND WITH THE BLACKBURN ULEMA.

THEY'VE USED THE MOSQUES ISSUE TO SCREW THEM BIG TIME.

MAYBE THE MANAGMENT OF MPAC SHOULD SPEND A LITTLE LESS TIME TRYING TO SCORE BROWNIE POINTS AND A LITTLE MORE TIME AT RECONCILIATION.

VERSES FROM THE QURAN SPRINGS TO MIND: "THE SAY WITH THEIR MOUTHS WHAT IS NOT IN THEIR HEARTS."

"iNDEED ALLAH WILL JUDGE BETWEEN THEM ON JUDGEMENT, WITH REGARDS TO THE ISSUES ON WHICH THEY DIFFERED."

MAYBE MPAC SHOULD DWELL ON "INDEED, THE BELIEVERS ARE BROTHERS, SO MAKE PEACE BETWEEN YOUR BROTHERS" (49:10) AND "O BELIEVERS! ONE SET OF BELIEVERS SHOULD NOT DERIDE THE OTHER SET. MAYBE THE OTHER SET IS BETTER THAN THE FIRST. (49:11).

I don’t want to prejudge before watching the program, however the advertisement for the program makes for some uneasy viewing. I strongly believe more should be more done to facilitate for women who wish to attend the mosque. However it’s also fair to say that things have been progressing over the years especially in East London.

I respect MPAC for bringing up key issues, however a TV documentary in this case is my going to cause more harm than good.


If MPAC believed that a TV documentary was really required then it may have been better to contact broadcasters such as Islam Channel and Itihad TV. The target audience is predominantly Muslim who of course have a better understanding of the issue .Remember this issue affects us British Muslims and not the wider British community; surely it would have been more effective to tackle the issue within our own community. By hiding someone’s bad deeds Allah will hides yours on the day of judgement (Hide but confront!). Judging by the advertisement I think the program is there to expose and shame, but who is the audience? And who benefits?

Was there really a need to broadcast to the world that we have an issue? We all know how the main stream media will portray it. We have a problem but let’s deal within and in accordance to our Islamic tradition

Our Prophet (SAW) teaches us to be patient and speak with hikma when advising fellow Muslims and of course non Muslims. By making a TV program although I’m sure with good intent, is a hasty decision. One must work within the boundaries Islamic ethics and manners, in my opinion MPAC may have exceeded these boundaries a little this time.

I sincerely hope my assumptions are proved wrong.

Wasalaam

...divide and conquer right....divide and conquer ...what does mpac wanna achieve out of this...embarassing the muslims? it is not fard on women to pray in masajid....it is infact better for us to pray at home. my local mosque is a semi-detached house for petes sake! i mean theyre alhamdulillah tryin to build a £6 million mosque now but before if they turned away women at jumah...coz of lack of space....wots the big deal...its fard on men to go for their salaat why are the so-called 'muslimah-feminists' comin out and speakin against the mosques...

deal with it within the ummah...not go out and publicise it amongst islamaphobes and xenophobes.

divide and bloody conquer you guys are just eating into the hands of the zionists and islamophobes...well done!

Bill Patel - I think you need your head checked if you think people like MPAC are doing it for recognition because it is widely known that to do something for our backward communities gets a lot of critisms so your opinon that it is staged and they're after recognition of some sorted is dumb founded and ridicolous.

And the rest with their "yes MPAC did a lot but..." need to shut up because now it is in the open and the part of "don't show your laundry to world" kind of comment is childish too because the Muslim community have been doing that for a very long time before MPAC came to exist.

And it is a good thing MPAC has now opened this up because they are doing what the lot of you have no guts to do but watch and let it go because you DON'T want to be criticised because either someone might think bad of you, or be shunned by the hypocrites of community leaders or that you go against some invisible pansy quo.

Good work MPAC. You've done great. Keep going because the rest won't do jack and their words maybe be opinions but that's all there is.

Dragons without fire. Just smoke.

Wassalaam

We have so many battels to fight and win. Certainly presence of women in mosque is NOT one of them. Please spare our energy to bring the young to mosque and stop so many to go to prison and turn to drug addiction.
Our Muslim women are doing fine. Don't join those who want to get them out of home even going to mosque is a great fitna. Aisha May Allah be pleased with her said " Had the prohet known what women have done after his death he would have prevented them form Mpsque".
Salaams

Seems like MPAC are following the Government agenda on this on - the Government are keen to portray mosques as backward centres of extremism, etc, etc. that are not suited to "integrating" Muslims. This ridiculous campaign by MPAC seems to fit nicely with the Government agenda. Coming on the back of the Niqab affair and the comments of Reid, Kelly, etc., it is the last thing our community needed. Very few Muslims would assert that Muslim women should not be involved in mosques - it seems that MPAC want to hijack this issue for an unknown political end. I was also interested that the head of MPAC praised John Reid for his visit to East London - very surprising and suggests that while the MCB may have been ditched by Ruth Kelly, MPAC may now be getting government attention. May be MPAC can explain whether they have had any meetings with politicians or civil servants in the Government?

@ Pro-mpac - 'bloody mosques' - I lurve the way you present your arguements..If you dont want comments why dont you ask the website to put..add your 'compliments'..out of so many comments the majority disagree! erm..Could that possible reflect the views of the majority?

Everybody is entitled to their opinion and if the website has a platform to voice them, then why not use it? It'll probably save mpac getting alot of post regarding this issue..

Ive actually brought this issue forward on a number of websites..Again the majority disagree with such actions..

I reckon defending the veil is a much bigger issue.. I reckon the fact that our muslim brothers and sisters in Palestine cannot pray their salah at Masjid Aqsa is a much BIGGER issue..yes we can talk all day about it, but what are we doing?

..We are blowing out of proportion an issue that should be dealt with internally and not in front of the eyes of people that have been led to believe that islam is a religion of 'terror' and oppression..

Most mosques even dont have a proper wudu place, and u guys are talkin about getting women inside the mosques lol

I am watchimg the programme on channel4 and am disgusted. Our own people fighting each other on TV. good viewing i'm sure channel4 ratings will get a boost. I'm sure theres other ways around this then getting our mothers and sisters outside the mosque. I am all for women at mosque and am activley involved int he mosques in my region. Its just another way for the media to get at us again. Please open your eyes and wake up.

Mpac - The brother from mpac on the
Channel 4 Despatches programme.

You really shouldnt have taken part, your mannerisms and the way you behave is an embarasment.

I hope not many people watched this,,

You need a guide brother, some one to teach you and guide you so that you may be an example and not a disgrace.

Our actions and behaviour are ment to mirror those of RasulAllah saw..(to the best of our ability)

but your aggressive nature leaves little to be desired.

Nabi (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) has mentioned, ‘It is best for a woman to perform Salaat in the inner most recess of her home.’

Who knows whats best for women? the prophet of Allah..

You should all leave it that.. no one can disagree or say anything bad to this..

besides salaat.. for women to go in to mosques.. is ok.. weekly programmes are organised for women to learn teach congregate with other women..

Asalamualaykum.

Just watched the programme. That was a joke!, OK women want to pray in the masjid and they want equal rights - fair enough. But this programme just helped in the media's propaganda against Islam. What kind of image will this give to non-Muslims about Islam? The part where brothers and sisters were bickering made me cringe. Where was the segregation? Why were the brothers and sisters raising their voice? Is this Islamic?

No thanks to MPAC for providing such good anti-Islam propaganda and playing right into the hands of the Islamophobic agenda.
If I was an Islamophobic editor I would have been jumping for joy watching you cause fitnah and fasaad in the Ummah.
How you side with the disbelievers against those Muslims who you look down on, is only a suggestion that you yourselves are wallowing in the same self righteous nonsense
I'm afraid this is what happens when there is plenty of ZEAL but no knowledge. How many there are who have been misguided despite their good intentions.
The Sahabah would say "learn, THEN when you have learnt, act." But I suppose the Asghar Bukhari brigade doesn't need to take lessons from the Sahabah their own understanding is sufficient for them.

I advise MPAC to fear Allaah and stop causing fitnah and fasaad, grow up and learn your religion then you might be able to deal with problems more maturely and without making Islaam and the Muslims a laughing stock infront of the kuffaar.

Shame on you.

Prophet (saws) said the signs of a munafiq are three. One of them is when he gets angry he gets abusive. Asghar Bukhari needs to look at himself very closely. MPAC are a joke. They done more damage to the ummah than good. What is the point of appealing to the kuffar media about our rights when they are the very ones attackng us. Women should be allowed to pray at mosques but they shouldnt demand it from mosques that have no capacity to facilitate them. Why couldnt they get the message when they said there was no space. If they deem that as a feeble excuse then why dont MPAC sisters gather all the other sisters and pray in one of their own houses. They should remember their role. Allah says the men are maintainers of women they are a degree above them. MPAC go read the quran and stop making decisions based on your own hawah(desires and opinions)

I'm writing this email whilst im watching the programme and I understand the need for the facility for women in masjids.

However, I would like to know what is the object of
1. this programme on national TV?
2. The objective of the sisters of MPAC?
3. what do they think they have ?achieved by this programme being aired.

Being a practising muslim for some years I understand the difference of opionion within the religion and I also understand the culture barriers of the masjid committes, I would have thought IMPAC would have understood this too.

I know in ilford there are masjids that accomadte women and 2 of them are very good masjids with english speaking imams

I believe the tack ticks of IMPAC have been insulting to muslims and the overall cause of Islam. I'm not saying the task they set out to do was wrong its just the way they went about it.

I feel that the makers of the programme have set out to do exactly that.

You have totally lost my support. All that the show did was embarrass muslims and and giving fuel to people who hate muslim.

You make me sick.

As a Christian who has done more than many to highlight human rights abuses against Muslims (I have been prominent in campaigns in relation to Guantanamo & Hiatts- the Birmingham company that supplies Gitmo shackles), I thought it was a good programme and will do a lot of good for Muslims to be shown having a healthy debate regarding this issue rather than the media showing some of the 'usual suspects' who do not represent anyone apart from their own lunatic views and certainly DON'T represent the vast majority of decent law-abiding Muslims I meet on a daily basis at work.Best wishesDr David Nicholl

i watched dispatches, and was disheartened to see muslim women intermingeling with non mehram men out-side mosques,which is totally forbiden in islam, and lower your gaze. To follow islam for women it is very easy,they pray their salahs at home and get the same reward as men, who have to attend the mosque 5 times a day in all weathers, why do you women want to make life difficult for yourselves.

I just watched the program on channel 4 and was disgusted. You talk about preventing islamaphobia, well this program was promoting islamaphobia. I agree with women going to the mosque, but the manner of the protests were unacceptable, especially when you know there will be trouble. It takes times, an adaptation phase, not immedeiate demands. ThiS program gives energy to the negative media muslims face everyday. All it takes is dialogue, persistent, and time. NOT NEGATIVE MEDIA VIEWING OF MUSLIMS.

Prophet (saws) said the signs of a munafiq are three. One of them is when he gets angry he gets abusive. Asghar Bukhari needs to look at himself very closely. MPAC are a joke. They done more damage to the ummah than good. What is the point of appealing to the kuffar media about our rights when they are the very ones attackng us. Women should be allowed to pray at mosques but they shouldnt demand it from mosques that have no capacity to facilitate them. Why couldnt they get the message when they said there was no space. If they deem that as a feeble excuse then why dont MPAC sisters gather all the other sisters and pray in one of their own houses. They should remember their role. Allah says the men are maintainers of women they are a degree above them. MPAC go read the quran and stop making decisions based on your own hawah(desires and opinions)

All praise be to ALLAH.

There is no doubt that a woman’s prayer in her house is better for her than praying in the mosque, as is indicated by the Sunnah of the Prophet (Peace & Blessings of Allaah be upon Him). He said: "Do not prevent your women from going to the mosque, even though their houses are better for them." (Reported by Abu Dawud in al-Sunan, Baab maa jaa’a fee khurooj al-nisaa’ ilaa’l-masjid: Baab al-tashdeed fee dhaalik. See also Saheeh al-Jaami‘, no. 7458).

Whenever a woman prays in a place that is more private and more hidden, that is better for her, as the Prophet (Peace & Blessings of Allaah be upon Him) said: "A woman’s prayer in her house is better than her prayer in her courtyard, and her prayer in her bedroom is better than her prayer in her house." (Reported by Abu Dawud in al-Sunan, Baab maa jaa’a fee khurooj al-nisaa’ ilaa’l-masjid. See also Saheeh al-Jaami‘, no. 3833).

Umm Humayd, the wife of Abu Humayd al-Saa‘idi reported that she came to the Prophet (Peace & Blessings of Allaah be upon Him) and said: "O Messenger of Allaah, I love to pray with you." He said: "I know that you love to pray with me, but praying in your house is better for you than praying in your courtyard, and praying in your courtyard is better for you than praying in the mosque of your people, and praying in the mosque of your people is better for you than praying in my mosque." So she ordered that a prayer-place be built for her in the furthest and darkest part of her house, and she always prayed there until she met Allaah (i.e., until she died). (Reported by Imaam Ahmad; the men of its isnaad are thiqaat (trustworthy)).

But the fact that praying at home is preferable does not mean that that women are not permitted to go to the mosque, as is clear from the following hadeeth:
From ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar, who said: "I heard the Messenger of Allaah SAWS (peace be upon him) say: ‘Do not prevent your women from going to the mosque if they ask your permission.’" Bilaal ibn ‘Abdullah said, "By Allaah, we will prevent them." (Ibn ‘Umar) turned to him and told him off in an unprecedented fashion, saying: "I tell you what the Messenger of Allaah (Peace & Blessings of Allaah be upon Him) said, and you say ‘By Allaah, we will prevent them’!!" (reported by Muslim, 667).

But there are conditions attached to the permission for women to go to the mosque, as follows:
(1) She should wear complete hijaab.
(2) She should not go out wearing perfume.
(3) She should have the permission of her husband.

Her going out should not involve any other kind of prohibited acts, such as being alone in a car with a non-mahram driver. If a woman does something wrong like that, her husband or guardian has the right to stop her; in fact it is his duty to do so. And Allaah knows best

As answered by:
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid

MPAC that have their heads in the sand, once they grow up and see the fitnah that they have created they will surely regret the way they have gone about this pandering to the anti-Muslim climate in the UK. Instead of perusing a legitimate and noble cause of more facilities for women in a Islamic manner, they stoop to the level of the worst anti-Islamic hack with backbiting and insults. If anything, this program has done more harm to the cause of Muslim women in the UK. Believe me, after this program I will doubt if any other Islamic organisation with work with you ever again, you may not care about this fact, but you will soon realise how isolated you are from the rest of the Muslim community (or perhaps it will push you further into your denial).

I was heartily impressed by the committment that the Sisters tonight showed. I actively choose to pray in another Redbridge Masjid (not a million miles from Ilford) where Sisters and children are actively encouraged to come in and pray in a purpose built integrated facility. I bring my wife and daughter and this encourages both they and I to mingle with fellow Muslims. I truly feel part of a community which in the spirit of the Prophet (may peace be upon him) feels cohesive. Remember that the Sisters are the guardians of our children as well and that Sisters are a considerable repository of wisdom. Consider the situation of Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her) to whom great scholars used to turn to seek knowledge.
Being part of this community has given me a great deal of peace in my life. Respect Sisters and don't sully Islam with cultural misogyny.
MPAC's tactics may seem a little brash but we don't have time ...the Muslim Ummah in the UK is falling apart.
Wasalaam

i have lost all respect for MPAC. the programme was a disgrace. i support the right of women to go to the mosque, but the manner of protests was pure islamaphobia. the press will be loving this.

For what is worth(I'm an agnostic), my heart is with this brave bunch of girls fighting aloud for their right to pray in mosques. In my view all this no-women-in-mosque piffle is most un-Islamic. As for denying women an education, all I can say is that not only is also un-Islamic, is actually anti-Islamic! Didn't the Prophet say "go to China if necessary in search of knowledge". The reactionary forces within a (rather small, really) sector of Islam should not be allowed to carry the day or we all, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, mankind as a whole, will end up in big, big trouble.

Having just seen the programme, I applaud MPAC and these brave women for addressing this important issue.
Having seen this documentary it gives me hope that there are other women out there fighting for our basic rights to hold groups in mosques, educate ourselves on islam and pray.
Even if there is no room for women in jumma prayers, there is still a wealth of support and education that the mosques can and should be providing for all.
Please remember- these are the mothers and the first teachers of the children of our next generation!

I am disgusted with MPAC for allowing channel 4 to air this programme. These women went about the wrong way, turning up on a friday and trying to enter a mosque, these women are silly because the majority of mosques can not facilitate or make space for them. You can not have women and men using the same entrances and praying next to each other. I think in this climate of islamophobia MPAC was wrong to use the media because people who do not understand islam will continue to think islam permits violence and oppresses women. At the end of the programme when one woman was asked can you have a woman president she replied why not? Islam gives equal rights to women but their are certain things a woman can not do and certain things a man can not do. In america a woman recently became a imam. Is this right. Offcourse not these women on the programme have been sucked in by western values of anything a man can do a woman can do. If these women wanted to get into the mosques they should have deen dressed properly for a start. One woman said when she goes to the mosque they tell her to bring her son or husband, she said don't we have our own mouths. Offcourse you do but doesn't she know she is not suppose to see another man unless he is her mahram. You can't have women going to the mosque and talking directly with the imam without a male with her. Why do these women want to pray in the mosque when they get more reward paying at home. Their is nothing wrong with them praying in the mosque as long as there is segregation however not every mosque can do this. If these women want to pray in every mosque in britain then they should pay for extensions and seperate entrances to enter the mosque for every mosque in britain. There are mosques out their that can not accomodate the men and these silly women want to add to this problem.

AS SALAAMU ALAIKUM,

MAY PEACE AND BLESSING BE UPON YOU ALL.

SORRY MPAC, BUT ME TINKS U SCORED A SPECTACULAR OWN GOAL AFTER VIEWING DISPATCHES.

U ARE GONNA LOSE A LOT OF SUPPORT AFTA TODAY.

IM JUST BEING HONEST.

AFTA READIN UR ARTICLE ABOUT WHAT HAPENED AT BALFOUR ROAD I HAD SOME SYMPATHY FOR THE SISTERS, BUT TODAY I REALISED, WHOEVER WROTE THAT ARTICLE MUST HAVE BEEN TRAINED BY THE GUTTER BRITISH MEDIA. U MITE AS WELL WRITE FOR THE SUN, U PORTRAYED IT TO BE AN ATTACK ON THE SISTERS, WHEN IT WAS ALL YOU FAULT. I AM NOT CONDONING WHAT THE BOTHERS DID THAT DAY, BUT U ASKED FOR IT.

I AM A YOUTH WORKER IN NEWHAM, AND I AM PUSHING FOR MORE FACILITIES FOR YOUTH, BUT I DONT GO AROUND ALL THE MASJIDS, CAUSING FITNAH, U HAVE TO DO IT IN A MANNER OF PEACE AND HARMONY, NOT THROUGH PROVOCATION. THE ISLAMIC WAY IS NOT TO BARGE IN AND CAUSE FITNAH IN THE COMMUNITY, ITS ABOUT DOING IT THOROUGH DIALOGUE AND WISDOM.

THE APPROACH U USED WAS SIMILAR TO THE SHOCK AND AWE TACTICS OF THE KUFFAR AGAINST OUR MUSLIM BROTHERS AND SISTERS AROUND THE WORLD.

STOP PROMOTING THINGS WHICH DISUNITE THE UMMAH, SEEK TO UNITE THE UMMAH BY WISDOM, MPAC CERTAINLY SEEMS TO BE LACKING THIS!!! SEEK GUIDANCE FROM LEARNED SCHOLARS, AND STOP MAKING UP YOUR OWN INTERPRETATIONS OF ISLAM THROUGH YOUR LIMITED KNOWLEDGE, WE LAY PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO INTERPRET THE QURAN AND SUNNAH AND HADITH.

THE TRUTH OF ISLAM, WHEREBY THE MASAJID ARE THE CENTRE OF THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY, FOR WOMEN, CHILDREN AND MEN, IS A LONG WAY AWAY, BUT WE ARE ALL STRIVING FOR IT, AND ONLY THROUGH THE CORRECT GUIDANCE OF LEARNED SCHOLARS WILL WE BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD!!!!!

AND BY THE WAY, MCB HAVE NO POWER, WHAT SORT OF NONSENSE STATEMENT WAS THAT BY THE SISTERS!

PLEASE GET A GRIP!! FOR THE SAKE OF THE UMMAH!

I DO NOT CONDONE THE NARROW MINDEDNESS OF THE MASJID COMMITTEE'S. BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE WORKING TOWARDS CHANGING THINGS THROUGH PEACEFUL MEANS SO STOP UNDOING OUR GOOD WORK.

WASSALAAM,

FORGIVE ME FOR ANY OFFENCE CAUSED.

YOUR BROTHER IN ISLAM.

BROTHER MOHAMMED

asalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah.
i think the documentary was absolutely ridiculous. the sisters approach was so disgusting. they need to learn some manners from a real muslimah. astaghfirullah they should atleast cover up properly be4 they represent a muslim women. may Allah giude them to the straight path, ameen. say ameen. shame on you.

Salaam
Just watched the programme "Women only Jihad" and there were some good and bad points to it. It was really good to see some muslims women explaining that mosques are meant to be community centres. But the main MPAC chap, Mr. Bukhari I believe, was incredibly rude to I beleive the Educational and Development muslim sister. Adaab is essential. If you want to convince someone of change, it needs to be done with tact. No one likes to admit that their own way is wrong and so is naturally opposed to change, it's an ego thing, simple psychology/common sense.

When someone shouts at them and behaves in an agressive manner, and here I mean the MPAC chap was aggressive to the Educatinal Development sister, this is simply not the way forward. This is equally true of how the MPAC members were maltreated by the congregation. Just as bad as each other. And to make things worse, it appears it was during Ramadhan too!

Now, not to blow my own trumpet, but I personally have been involved with grass roots projects within mosques to do with specifically providing free maths education for school kids. Grass roots projects organised and run by the new younger demograph is what is needed to bring about change. Moaning and giving petitions to the old school gang is not going to bring about change, and this is what MPAC (and by no means are they alone, other groups are guilty or this too) seem to be all about.

Instead of actually organising themselves to be the actual runners of grass roots projects and bring about real change, they seem to concentrate on voicing their opinions and expecting others to accomodate their wishes. If you want something doing right, do it yourself. Don't expect that by simply crying to the old folks or trying to blackmail them by putting their names in the press that you will get long lasting beneficial change. Stop moaning and start physically acting and engaging, there is a difference between confrontation and co-operation. Don't expect, suggest. Provide the resources to the masjids in order for change. Provide the man power to the masjids for change. And after all this , if a masjid in questions refuses to take your offer go to one that will take your offer, you will find them happy to take new things on board as long as it's not a headache for the committee to organise, monitor and maintain.

Please forgive me if I've offended anyone, but it is now our time, the relatively young :) to give a bit of time to trying to bring about some change.

Salams,I watched the programme, and i was shocked at the anger and tension that has been generated through the style of this campaign. Don't get me wrong, I myself a muslim woman fully appreciate the need for women to attend the mosque whether it be for prayer or other activities. However is it really necassary to shout at one another, to be so dismissive in your approach? As an ummah we are being attacked from every direction by the west. Why then are we foolish enough to start attacking one another? those people who threw eggs at the sisters are foolish and should be spoken to, but why is the adhab taught to us by our Prophet (saw) thrown out of the window? We are meant to show mercy and firmness. Not shout at one another. Two wrongs do not make a right. Show them this behaviour is wrong, demand an apology. Educate them on the correct way to treat another muslim, esp. sisters....Your point is a valid one, but will fail if the community is divided. Our strength lies in our unity and adherence to the laws given to us by Allah(swt). Meetings should be held with the mosque commities with "calmer" bros who won't loose their rag, and sisters to put the suggestions forward explaining why as a community this is needed. Not once did I hear (perhaps edited??), the hadith of how the the Prophet forbade the men from forbidding the women from attending the mosque! These hadith and others that are similer are not hard to come by. To sum up, your cause is just, but the approach is all wrong. It's causing division and more hatred in a community that is already being attcked from every direction. Why would you seek to hurt it from within?It easy to look at others and pick at all there faults, but we should also look to ourselves to keep our behaviour in check.Ras(saw) said, "A muslim is a mirror of another believer."

salam
I think that the programme was an absolute and utter disgrace to the name of Islam and muslim women. Why an earth would muslim want to go to the mosque to fulfill her 5 daily salat when she can do the same in the sanctity and peace of her home, furthermore Islam does not encourage the intermingling of sexes. Do you seriously think that if women were to go and pray where men pray then there will be no fitnah? please wake up to reality.
It was a shame to see muslim women standing outside the masjid after JUMAH salat, laughing and giggling in front of so many men where is the Sharam and Haya in this? The documentary has made a mockery out of Islam and Women and now the non-believers out there watching it willl think that men oppress women in Islam and we all know that isn't true.
One of the issues raised was that women want to go out and learn knowledge about the quran and hadith.. well where I live they hold seperate classes for women who want to learn, and I know most defintley that they also do this in Blackburn, I cannot understand what more these women could possibly want!
At times when we need to be united, we are causing rifts between Muslims and conflicts. I thought that we all had one goal to achieve and all followed the same religion!.
The group that is meant to be making things better for Islam has indeed made things worse!. I am ashamed to think that there are muslim brothers and sisters out there who could cause so much damage to Islam.
MPACUK has undoubtedly made this documentary without thoughts to the effects and consequences it will have on the rest of the Islamic population. In trying to pursue their own ideas and rights they have selfishilly ignored the rights of other muslims.
May Allah give us the taufeeq to act upon the correct ways of Islam. Ameen

Make your mind up MPAC... either you want the place of worship or u want the power? cuz after watching the documentary its quite obvious that all you were after was power! you just wanted that control over men... you bunch of feminists! Be Normal AND!....

DO NOT SPEAK FOR US MUSLIM SISTERS IN THE UK WHO DONT AGREE WITH YOU! YOU ABSOLUTELY HUMILIATED AND EMBARRASED US WITH YOUR AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOUR-WHICH IS WHY THE GUY SAID 'HAVE A SUBTLE APPROACH'

Oh and just how u like to use ahadeeth and the qur'an as evidence to support this 'idiotic' behaviour (oooh im loving this) Aysha Radhillahu anha ALWAYS and i mean ALWAYYSS used a subtle approach. the same advice the Muslim Council of Britain gave you, so dont scorn at what he said. maybe u would have got somewhere if u were 'SUBTLE' enough. be decent and be a role model for us, so we can say we agree with u.
AND WHATS THE BIT WHERE I SEE YOU WOMEN GETTING SIGNATURES FOR THE PETITION FROM NON - MUSLIMS? ITS LIKE HAVING MUSLIMS VOTING FOR SOME CHURCH OR SOMETHING!
ALso, you lied about the millham mosque attacking you with eggs! WHy did you lie?

I've already made a comment could you pleasu put it up.

salam, what ever happened to modesty?
the sisters were very immature in their approach. please learn the rulings on hijab, you want to allowed in the mosques but you don't want to observe the proper hijab! islam isnt something you pick and choose. i think the sisters were an absolute disgrace, they should be ashamed of themselves.

Asghar Bukhari & his minions, for one full hour on television, behaved and argued in the most unsophisticated and uncharismatic way that one possibly could.

Was this really the best time for this isuue, of all damn issues, to be highlighted. As a general statement women should be allowed into mosques - and even those men who are reluctant would agree that the uneducated MPAC crew need to go somewhere to at least try to dissolve all that ignorance.

But then i heard them ask why a woman cannot be President of a Mosque. There is no hope! Allah's Messenger permitted women to attend mosques; and from the same sources we know that he forbade them to be leaders (may Allah bless him and give him peace).

May Allah save us from the abhorrent ways of some muslims

salaams,i just saw your trailer & I think the way you handled it is very very very sad there are other peaceful means to do it.Muslims should be uniting not dividing and you just did that! today muslim women dont even cover themselfs properly and they want to pray in the masjid WHAT WILL BE THE OUTCOME OF THAT!. if we love Allah
then follow the QURAN AND SUNNAT!

Its clear what the biggest issue is with regards to the mpac fight for 'women's justice'. Islamic etiquette is being sacrificed to fight a cause that is just. Take some comments in the program for example: "if your gonna close the door, close it properly, love " and the use of the word "damn". Yes, we as muslims must strive to ensure all rights are given to all people, but we must never adopt a behaviour outside that which is allowed by islam in doing so. There are many who question those who question mpacs method in this issue, asking them why they themselves dont do something instead of leaving mpac to do the leg work. But what makes anyone so sure that mpac is alone in the fight to ensure justice? Is it because other organisations dont adopt an agressive and condemning approach, openly blasting many muslim communities in the name of peace, harmony and justice? Hmm, hypocrisy seems like a more relevant problem here. What mpac fails to realise is that they would have the backing of the majority of the muslim community with most of the issues they raise. But it is through their methods and their approach that they make enemies of everyone who would otherwise have helped or contributed. Take mcb for example, they showed a willingness to help, but stressed modesty and a non-agressive approach, and