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HOUNDED, ABUSED and then physically ATTACKED. Brothers and sisters this is the reaction I was faced with when, as a sister in Islam, I voiced my wish to pray in a masjid.
Some sisters and I were giving out leaflets which quoted the hadith of the prophet (pbuh) allowing sisters to pray in the mosque - Ibn Umar reported: The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said:
‘DO NOT DEPRIVE WOMEN OF THEIR SHARE OF THE MOSQUES.’
[Sahih Muslim, book 4, number 891]
At first some brothers quietly took the leaflets, but the atmosphere soon turned nasty when a large group of men emerged from the mosque...
...These men picked on the two sisters who weren’t Asian – a Somali sister and a white revert – and said to them “You’re not even Muslims!”. (How many non-Muslims do you find wearing hijab and niqab???). We were made to feel demeaned by brothers who had just completed their jumah prayers, and called every name under the sun. Our call for sisters to be allowed to pray in the mosque - as it was in the time of the prophet (pbuh) - was met with sarcastic abuse. One young man in Islamic clothes said, “Yeah right and we’ll bring our mothers and sisters in bikinis and watch them do a catwalk in the masjid.”
It was worse for the two brothers who were also giving out the leaflets – they were pushed and shoved by men trying to snatch the leaflets, and one brother was pinned against a car and punched. We retreated to the other side of the street and one elderly man came to us and explained that he agreed with us but that we should go for our own safety. And all we would have wanted was to pray Zuhr prayers AFTER the men had used the mosque for jumah… before I hear anyone say that brothers are priority for jumah.
But the uproar from Blackburn’s goons didn’t end there. We were followed by a car and hounded as they drove up and down the main road taunting and throwing eggs at the sisters. Even more shockingly I was standing by a group of children at the time and talking to a little girl who had wanted to talk to me because she liked my headscarf. The first egg hit someone’s doorstep and the second egg hit us – and the poor girl was covered in egg as much as I was.
The funny thing is, I didn’t feel the least bit humiliated for what had happened, or even upset with them. It was the masjid leaders that I was deeply devastated by. Instead of teaching them Islamic etiquette, the Qur’an and Sunnah, they were enabling the goons outside the masjid and ignoring the hadiths presented to them when all we asked was to pray Zuhr.
The irony is that this mosque, Masjid-e-Hidayah, led by Ibrahim Masters, had issued an invitation to Condoleeza Rice to visit the mosque when she was in town to see Blackburn MP Jack Straw in March this year. So a female American politician with the blood of hundreds of thousands of Muslims on her hands is welcome – but Muslim sisters can get lost.
Is this what some of our Ummah has come to? Is this what has become of some of our masjid leaders?
Sisters have a right not only to pray but also to be educated in masjids.How are we supposed to educate our children? Our children are the future of this Ummah!
The sister of ‘Amrah bint ‘Abd al-Rahman reported:
‘I LEARNED QAF. WA’L-QUR’AN AL MASJID…’FROM THE PROPHET (PBUH) HIMSELF ON FRIDAYS, WHEN HE USED TO RECITE IT FROM THE MINBAR EVERY FRIDAY’
(Sahih Muslim, 6/160.Kitab al-jumu’ah,Bab khutbah al hajah)
We haven’t plucked this out of thin air, these are hadiths. No Muslim can plead ignorance when shown the statements and deeds of our beloved prophet (pbuh).
The masjid is a house of God. It doesn’t belong to a particular person, it belongs to ALLAH (SWT). Therefore unless it was stated by our Lord or by our holy prophet (pbuh) that sisters are not allowed in masjids I should be able to continue this struggle for us being able to pray in any masjid whenever we wish to.
As for the goons of Blackburn, Friday the 15th September 2006 might have been your day to keep us out, but the day for the sisters to gain their Islamic rights will arrive insh’Allah. When you have Allah (Swt) on your side no man or even Imam can stop us from worshipping our beloved Lord in his own house, the masjid.
Readers have left 47 comments.
abuyusuf:
Unfortunately some of our brothers still have the village mentality which they should have been left behind in India/Pakistan when they emigrated and definately not passed on to their children. Our downfall in this country will be due to our failure to live our lives according to the deen and not our inherited idol worshipping culture. We have moved away from our Creator and like other communities in the world (e.g. in Bosnia, Kosovo) we will have to pay the price.
Khadeja Khan:
Assalaamu alaikum.The brothers and sisters who were attacked at Blackburn Masjid-E Hidayah might be reassured, not only that their cause is right as the hadiths prove, but also, they might be encouraged by a little bit of locally grown culture, !!Are they aware that that 15th of September is "Battle of Britain" Day?"!The Battle of Britain had been going on over the summer, where "the few", incredibly brave UK airforce pilots, succeeded in holding off the Nazi/Fascist/racist German invasion forces against great odds. 15th of September is remembered as the day the tide turned, the day it became apparent that it was possible to win the war. Thus it is known as "Battle of Britain Day".This didn't mean that there were not extremely hard times ahead.The ignorant brothers at masjid al-Hidayah in Blackburn, may seem like "goons" but it is better not to fall to their level by calling them insulting nicknames. The Qur'an itself urges us not to call each other by insulting/offensive nicknames. The brothers who behaved so badly insult themselves before Allah and betray the Prophet Muhammad, sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam.One wonders what they would have called Condoleeza if she had turned up in hijab or niqab? I doubt they would have been bowing and scraping to her then!Think and plan carefully about what you do or don't do next, and pray to Allah t'Ala for guidance. Seek guidance from any Muslim scholar who is educated enough to know the justice of your cause. The brothers who exclude Muslims from the Masajid should remember that Allah is The Best of Planners and that we are ALL descended from Adam, A.SJazak Allah khair
Islamic Torch:
This quite clear of the idiots who attacked the sisters and brothers. The colour red is always red, if it tries to disguise itself as any other colour - you will still say its Red.
The smae applies to these unbalanced men - they apply the same mentality and attitude at home to their mothers, sisters, wives and daughters.
If that was not the case, there is no way on Allah's earth would they show such stupidity towards the sisters and brothers.
I sense they have been bought up in an environment where their fathers abused their mothers and they think its the norm to do the same.
Especially the comments - the bikini fancier - if that individual is reading this - then the message to him is - when you go home will you tell your mother or sister, today I disgraced you by making these comments..
All I can say if these individuals were rabid dogs - it is permissable to terminate them but Allah (swt) has put them amongst us in the form of men....
This is a lesson for all the readers - don't be like them and furthermore - shame on those who stood by and let this happen.
Muslim brother:
I think there is no point in trying to pray at that masjid. Even if you do manage to get space for sisters there, they will still be angry.If there is another masjid nearby or a bit further, then it will be better to go there. At least let the brothers know what that masjid is like and then everyone will avoid it.This is the type of behaviour that makes people to be ashamed to be part of the masjid. If brothers can boycott that masjid, then maybe they will have a change of heart. Besides, they wanted Condoleeza Rice, who wanted bombed Muslim lands to kill thousands of innocent lives, to visit their masjid and yet do not want Muslim women to visit.
Ming:
very sad indeed.
i just anticipate polite user comments to further advise our sisters on "how they should have done certain things islamicly"
there really is no other way
and i also anticipate users to not give a figs dung about the abuse encountered to these sisters.
i hope you toke a camera this time, report these ignorants to the police
abuyusuf:
Sisters, If you're ever in Leicester and need somewhere to pray, visit the Central Mosque (near the train station). It has a ladies gallery where sisters can congregrate for prayers and during events at the mosque.
Zara:
Hypocrisy knows no bounds!Those who ally with Western thugs cannot be trusted at the best of times!
Go sisters!Viva la femme revelucion!
saif:
These Crazy Cave Men need a beating!
A Muslima:
Sis
I admire your patience..I would have been hopping mad if this happened to me.
Please continue to distro leaflets outside the Mosque and publicise your right to pray in the Mosque.
I was once refused entry in a Mosque...I was really angry and upset about it as it was Juma'a and there was no where else to go and pray so I missed my prayer because of men.
More Sisters and bros should speak out against this backward mentality..sometimes I think the younger ones are more backward than the parents who actually came from the villages.
More Power To You!
AbdulRahmen:
Well I had loads of respect for you guys (MPAC) but I think you are now losing support from many Muslims.....well if the sisters wanted to pray namaz then why did they came all the way from there communities when there's plenty of mosque where they live.....MPAC I think you are losing the touch.......you might be thinking you are right but have you consulted any scholars about what you are doing?....any way I am not happy with the way you are going about your business dissing people (Muslims) you should be getting people involved not segrating them....
traveller:
The point is 'muslim brother' that this is the precise mosque who INVITED condoleeza rice! Y did she not have any egg thrown at, Y did she not been abused and was called a 'non-muslim' in a derogatory manner... they can shake hands with the woman who has killed their own people yet they cannot let muslim women pray at the mosque for the men at the mosque see themselves of some higher being!!!????or perhaps that's why condi was invited-as far as i am concerned people who run the al-hadiyah mosque are no differt to the mafia! to throw eggs at a muslim woman - they should be charged for islamophobic attacks- shame its our own people who are doing it!
navid:
ignorance within our own people is the problem?? i mean what type of fools go to a mosque pray and then push around there brothers and sisters who are but asking to pray??? it is due to these fools that our religon is not one... ignorance befalls them they but pray out of habit and understand nothing..
may allah show them the light..
as for your cause and its outcome allah see's all and inshaallah he will grant you your place...and punish the ignorant...
ammaad:
I agree... I think the sisters should report those men to the local babylon.
SS:
These losers make mockery of the religion, they need a kick-in (I am not encourging violent behaviour of course - I mean it figuratively).
toblix:
Hearing stories like this always hurt. There is absolutly no benefit (faa-i-dah) in such confrontations. Lets say, for arguments sake, that the persons in question have probative dalaail for their cause.
The question is, where's the evidance in islamic 'legalex' (my term! for the collective of the branches of deeni ilm) to even suggest that the practise of handing out 'evidances' on leaflets outside a masjid should be employed as means in pursuit of establishing a legal position, valid or otherwise?
A sincere warning. Half-baked evidances delivered from persons with no permission to transmit OR make opinion on, with regards to islamic legal judgements will bring one seldom closer to Allah 'Azza wa jall. And if that is not the aim of any petition then that itself is vain, wasteful and the path of the devil.
It may be that opinion followed in this masjid is the one adopted by the majority of the Ahnaf which delacres that its more benifical for our womenfolk to pray at home. Anyone who says that men the likes of Mufti Lujpuri (fatawaa-rahemeeya) might be unaware of the mentioned texts or their true understanding when coming to this conclusion is a pure jaahil.
Thats not to say that ugly behaviour towards our mothers and sisters should be condoned.
geezer:
Forgive me but this story seems rather far fetched, the egg throwing bit especially. So these guys just finish praying Jummah go to a shop buy some eggs get it their cars and chase the helpless sister up and down the road?
Wow! Sounds like a cheesy action sequence from a Bollywood movie if you ask me.
Reminds me of a friend I knew back in college, always had the most amazing stories to tell of his daily adventures.
On a serious note I think some exaggeration has occurred. It also conveniently lends itself perfectly to MPAC's 'burn the mosque leaders' campaign.
Demanding change and reform from mosque committees sounds good but so does America's mission to 'spread democracy'.
Everybody agrees with the mission statement. Implementation? Leaves a lot to be desired. Intention? The jury is still out.
Call me a cynic but I smell a Trojan horse.
H. Khan:
I am not at all happy with this particular mosque that is highlighted in this story. Despite the objection from the Muslim community against the visit of Condoleeza Rice. The officials in the end decided not to go ahead with her visit, due to security reasons; NOT because of our objection. Ibrahim master on the other hand DID GO and visit Codi Rice on a different occasion, to give her a warm welcome and express his apology that the meeting had to be cancelled. He was seen well groomed: suited and booted for the occasion; absolutely overjoyed and honoured that he had the opportunity to express his heartfelt apology. I for one do not understand how this particular individual is given responsibility to look after the affairs of the Muslim community.
Allah help us all. The ignorance is endemic; we now have another crisis on our hands that is constantly playing on the news. We are told by the mass media that a genocide is in the making in Dafur if the western government do not intervene in that region soon. Of course it has nothing to do with the immense resources that are available in that country nor the plan to dismantle the country in Three. We are told that it would be another genocide, in comparison to Rwanda if they do not act soon. The conscience of the world and the UN would be permanently damaged if troops are not deployed. It is nice to know that they have a conscience. It's a petty that their conscience did not rattle in their heads before the war in Afghanistan and Iraq. Muslims leaders are once again seen going to 10 Downing Street to give their full support in this cause but none of the leaders are recognisable. They have selected a new batch of leaders from our community, unbeknownst to us.
shahid:
The nonsensical reaction of ignorant Muslims can only be condemned, but the story is narrated in a pretty confusing manner.
What is the agenda with:
I agree with AbdulRahmen
What is the Agenda with MPAC and Masjids?
Look if to support and encourage women to pray in Mosques, then they are going about it totally the wrong way.
Find Masjid Leaders willing to accommodate women to pray in their Masjids and through dialogue with other less liberal Masjid Leaders discuss the religious merits of all-inclusive Masjids i.e. male and females
But do not go out of your way to antagonise and provoke confrontation
moh:
My understanding is that these sisters came all the way from Illford in london outside the msjid with white cameramen (assuming) from channel 4 to make a documentary. I do not agree with some lads throwing eggs if that happened but I would like sisters and others to ponder that some masjids may not have separate area in jamatkhana for them to join in jumma prayers. Also instead of visiting masjids and putting them on the spot it may be more effective for sisters to start a dialogue with scholars and masjid representatives to look into having areas of masjids designated for women, instead of turning up aat masjids and getting into confrontations. Masjid representatives may in future design masjids to accommadate women. Also I don't know ehether women in illford can attend salat congregation in masjids. Perphaps those sisters may want to start in their area first and set an example to the rest of the country.
Khalid:
so this guys went to pray namaz and when they came out they had eggs it doesnt make any sense. Also millham street moqsue and bicknell street mosque are mainly gujaratis and pakistani areas so why did this somali sister and white revert come all the way from they area to pray namaz in this mosque.... just to cause trouble
munim:
First of all theres problems with both sides. MPAC and the masjid people. Why is MPAC trying to make women pray in the mosque and propagating a hadith with so much intensity when Islam tells us that the women get more reward to pray in their houses. wheres the Hadith about the prophet saw telling the women that it is better for them to pray at their homes!!! MPAC i dont know how much islamic knowledge you people actually have but it seems like you have just picked up a hadith and started propagating it without thorough understanding of it. See what Mufti Ebrahim Desai says: "It should be taken into consideration that that the Ahaadith regarding women coming to the Musjid have the condition added that there should be no fear of Fitnah. It is further stated under this Hadith that there was no fear of Fitnah at the time of Nabi [Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam]. A riwaayat is narrated by Hadhrat Aaisha [Radhiallaahu anha] that, ‘If Nabi [Sallallaahu Alayhi wasallam] had to see the way the women of our times are, he would stop them from coming to the Musjid."
The brothers of the musjid who and if they did what they did as in the article is wrong. They should have talked in a nice manner.
munim:
I put a comment where is it
munim:
Girls' Night Out at the Masjid
By Mufti Taqi Usmani
Posted: 28 Safar 1423, 11 May 2002
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Q.) What is the ruling for organizing a night-out for girls in the masjid. They spend the whole night in the masjid under the supervision of some sisters, play basketball, do some dhikr, pray tahajjud etc., and leave after fajr.
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A.) It is not advisable to organize a night-out in Mosque. In fact the Holy Qur'an has ordained for the women to remain in their homes to the maximum possible extent. They are allowed to go out of their homes only for their needs. But it was not deemed advisable for them even in the days of the Holy Prophet (SAW) to go to the Mosque to offer prayers. After the Holy Prophet (SAW) Sayedina Umar (R ) has expressly forbidden women from attending the Jamaat in a Masjid. It was a decision fully endorsed by all the companions of the Holy Prophet (SAW) and by Sayedina Ayesha (R ). When it is not deemed fit to go to a Masjid for a short time to offer prayer, how can it be allowed to spend a full night in the mosque?
munim:
Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani is one of the leading Islamic scholars living today. He is an expert in the fields of Islamic Jurisprudence, Economics, Hadith and Tasawwuf. Born in Deoband in 1362H(1943 CE), he graduated par excellence form Dars e Nizami at Darul Uloom, Karachi, Pakistan. Then he specialized in Islamic Jurisprudence under the guidance of his eminent father, Mufti Muhammad Shafi, the late Grand Mufti of Pakistan. Since then, he has been teaching hadith and Fiqh at the Darul-Uloom, Karachi.
He has authority to teach hadith from his father Mufti Muhammad Shafi, Maulana Idrees Khandhelawi, Qari Mohammed Tayyeb, Maulana Saleemullah Khan, Mufti Rasheed, Moulana Sehban Mahmood, Allama Zafar Ahmed Usmani, Sheikhul Hadith Moulana Zakariya Khandelawi, Sheikh Hassan Meshat (ra) and others.
In tradition to the scholars of Deoband, recognizing the importance of Tasawwuf, he traversed the path under the guidance of Sheikh Dr. Abdul Hayy Arifi and Moulana Maseehullah Khan both khulafa of Hakeemul Ummat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (rahmetullah ajmaeen). And is authorized by both of his mentors in Silsila e Ashrafia: Chistiyyah, Naqshbandiyah, Qadiriyah and Suharwardiyah. In addition to his busy schedule he is himself a mentor to numerous spiritual aspirants all over the world.
He also holds a degree in law and was a Judge at the Sharia Appellate Bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan till recently.
He is a consultant to several international Islamic financial institutions and has played a key part in the move toward interest free banking and the establishment of Islamic financial institutions. He is considered to be an authority on this subject.
He is the deputy chairman of the Jeddah based Islamic Fiqh Council of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC).
He has been writing on various Islamic topics and is author of more than 60 books and numerous articles.
Presently he is the Vice-president of Darul-Uloom, Karachi, Pakistan, where he teaches Sahih Bukhari, Fiqh and Islamic economics.
He also conducts a weekly session for the public interested in spiritual improvement.
munim:
1stly im quite upset about MPAC yet again propagating with intensity and issuing Fatwas like Mufti's when they dont have the right to do so. And those people who claim to have knoledge of islam, how much of you people have that knowledge, calling Scholars backward and village thing heh. Its not that they are backward its that you people have become too modern and your minds have been corrupted by the west. Let me make it clear to everyone here that For women it is more rewarding to pray in their homes so why this fuss of going to the mosque!!!!!!! if it is not for reward why you women going to the mosque and creating problems for. How much knowledge do you people have about Hadith, you pick and chose Hadith? This is a mockery of Islam and a shame to the muslims. Are you aware that the prophet SAW time and again told the women to pray in their homes because it is more rewarding. I suggest MPAC to consult authentic scholars then publish articles next time, before they make a huge debate for nothing.
shah:
it was a shocking to read what happened and then to read the appeasers of the mosque. the funny thing is these so called muslims on the website have critised mpac sisters from coming over from london, are probably the same ones who critised mpac during the election. if you cant put your own house inorder why are you blaming mpac?
secondly i always assumed condi rice was from america and she was allowed into the mosque? but then again i could be wrong some times i do hear a lanchashire twang.
idiots of islam.
muslim dude:
As the hadith states it is more rewarding if a woman reads at home. But what is a woman to do if she is a musafir travelling with a mahram and its time for salaah. The man can go to any masjid but what about the woman? Would you really prefer your mother/sister/wife to pray on the street? what about wudhu facilities? most masjids in England do have a backward village/cultural mentality.
it makes me sick how ignorant and backwards many south asain muslims have become.
mh:
Muslim dude has a point about musafir woman travelling with mahram etc and wanting to pray. However I understand these sisters were with a film crew filming people coming out of the masjid with huge cameras, don't know from which tv station. You need a dialogue with islamic scholars and not confrontations.
ROB:
I feel the right approach to this matter is to contact masjids and enquire if the y have facilites for women to pray.
if the answer is in the negative then the masjid in question should be requested to provide facilities for female worshippers if pheasible, it is the case in small masjids that they cannot offer seperate prayer facilities.
confrontation should be the last resort.
toblix:
munim, no doubt we the Ahnaf have a strong position on this issue. But there's really no need to clog up the page with half-a-dozen odd posts.
Sometimes its better to lose the argument if it means you win peoples hearts. And you'l never win hearts by trying to patronise people.
Whatever the faults of our elders, slandering them on this forum is a waste of time as it does nothing to alleviate the situation or make our hearts closer to Allah.
As for the issuse regarding whether travelling women should be permitted to preform their salah in the masjid, i think this is a question needs to be put to an alim or if (someones got an answer then they should post it on this forum). Coz i remember a friend telling me once a couple came an asked if they could pray in the mosque, apprently the man was allowed in and the women had to pray in the park. Which was very sad.
All jokes aside, if travelling women aren't allowed in the mosque then the community need to accommodate them somewhere else (i.e. their homes!) so that we that we can live in accordance with the laws of the shariah as concieved by our ulama and also maintain the brotherhood in the ummah.
MPAC stop this Fitnah:
Refrain from your brash posturing approach and save it for the real contenders
Do not use a hammer to crack a nut
The first step to lead, is to consult
And consult with both sides DO NOT divide... because you will not conquer the Muslims
I fear that MPAC's agenda here is very suspect
I say, if a particular place of worship is a hornet’s nest then why would the sisters insist on entering it and stirring things up
Surely it would be advisable for these pushy sisters to seek favourable leaders that will accommodate for them to pray in their Masjids
Further more pressure on unwelcoming Masjid leaders can be applied in more diplomatic and civilised ways
WHY THE STREET BATTLES… WHAT IS THE AGENDA MPAC?? And don't say "Just to pray"
*****Here there is more than meets the eye*******
khalid:
I have heard from the local people this sisters came just to cause trouble with television crew. They should show some respect to they follow muslims when they just coming out after namaz.. rather than putting cameras in they face and confronting them in this way.
Munim:
Regarding women travelling is a separate issue, i personally do not know the islamic ruling regarding it but as soon as i do il post the ruling. It may seem like its a common sense thing but Islam does not run on common sense, you have to go to the scholars about it. For everything you need to ask scholars. Jazakallah
The Special One:
Salams
MPAC's agenda and motives really do need examining for if they really and truly were interested in promoting the rights of women then they would have done the appropriate thing and enquired with the Mosque what facilities they have for women.
Instead of doing this they assume the mosque have no facilities and provoke people by standing outside with a TV camera crew. Had MPAC bothered to enquire they would have found that the mosque indeed has separate prayer facilities for women (downstairs) with a separate entrance. Moreover, they would have learned that it is these very elders that MPAC criticise who have given up their time and money to set up a separate darul ulum for women in Blackburn. It is these very elders (including Ibrahim Master) who have been going out every evening for the last seven months to raise donations from Muslims to pay for this darul ulum building and it is these very elders who have given large donations out of there own pockets to bring about benefits for our Muslim sisters in Blackburn.
By the way the egg incident happened almost a mile away from the mosque and yet MPAC is still blaming the mosque.
MPAC's motives & agenda were suspect before but are even more suspect now and Allah knows best.
Maria:
Lol.. These are quite an interesting bunch of comments to read.
If the brothers did whats being said - they were wrong..
Yet I dont agree with the sisters or, as people are saying, MPAC, doing what they did as being right..
The sisters handing leaflets out outside the Mosque - is that going to make any sort of a DIFFERENCE!? Yes, no doubt itll make the brothers aware of the hadeeth - but are you really going to achieve your aims in anyway? Are the mosque committee going to come out of the Mosque, smile and say, "well salam sisters, what have you there, may I take a leaflet to read what you're campaigning against us". Naturally you're going to flip for someone going about it in such a way! Calling the masjid and asking to meet and call for xyz or whatever you feel is more useful! Now I study in Blackburn in a masjid - [I dont live there] and I know very well - that as soon as its prayer times - there are certain entrances we SHOULDNT use, because the mosque committee/brothers are going to flip on us because men be comin in and out of the masjid at that time and fitnah can prevail!! So, just to get a point across, no matter how serious the issue we're campaigning for, there is no way, we'd go stand there in their way, put aside the backward behaviour - but we wouldnt out of respect, embarassment, and above all fear of falling into fitnah! Subhanallah! Sisters, why stand outside a masjaid when brothers of all ages and faces are open to your glare and you to theirs!
A simple solution - call up the masjid committee, request space or ask why there arent any facilities for women. I assure you they'll have a good reason for it! Ive asked local masjids for women facilities - and they seem so apologetic when they explain its because of lack of space. And if theres lack of space and fear of men/women having to mix if they were to open an area for women - then who in the right mind would actually still demand space!? its for your own benefit, isnt it?? or is causing trouble your only objective? in which case yeh, feel free to stand and campaign outside all u like-but remember, ur jumping into fitnah and trouble urself - so dont cry at the outcome. and remember Allah hears and sees all, even that which is deep in the heart and mind.
Subhanallah. Such is our state today. The sisters are losing the respect Allah has dignified us with, by jumping into men openly and publicly, with cameras at all sides - blatantly there waiting for something embarassing or demonising to happen so it can go public and more masajids can be embarassed and more nonmuslims can point fingers and say "Oh Muslims! You cant even solve your own problems! Then you want to conquer the world!" Well its downright true isnt it? How can we get anywhere if we cant STOP hating each other for xyz! No matter how backward!
I saw a MPAC leaflet at a conference, it had a pic of a woman with niqab and it said sumthing like "too stupid to run the mosque".. lol.. may Allah forgive our shortcomings.. subhanAllah.. it is sad for us to make each other jump like animals and to incite differneces and hatred amongst ourselves.. it is the human nature I suppose.. nature to be in power and to 'make a difference'. A shame Allah's help isnt sought and His Book isnt referred to when trying to make that difference..
I could go on - never mind.
May Allah forgive us and set straight our affairs, minds, and hearts.
Your sister,
Maria
Maria:
And also, could I say - each societies/communities attitudes and way of thinking differs with another. I know london is a lot more open minded and more 'free' with women you could say. But it's not like that in many other parts of the UK. MANY other parts of the UK. It is our duty to help one another to become better muslims, but you cant jump into a completely different environment and think you can rule or conquer.
You need to know the way they think, know who to talk to, know who can make that differnce in that community - and then step forward.
Dont jump the gun and get ahead of yourselves. You're still doing baby steps in that differnt community, so dont try to run.
Think wisely, and be wise. Theres a way round everything - wisely.
Basil:
Zara says
Hypocrisy knows no bounds!Those who ally with Western thugs cannot be trusted at the best of times!
Go sisters!Viva la femme revelucion!
Well Zara there might be case here in their defence that is
"Keep your friends close and your enemies even closer"
*********************************
I could be wrong
Zara:
Basil:Yes, there could be an element of truth in that statement. I was not implying that the sisters should be radical..just that they should fight for their rights.There is a great deal of ignorance from Muslim male sections of the community when it comes to addressing the Islamic rights of women.Women should be smart and learn how to make their views known within the Islamic, political and social arena. There is nothing wrong with handing out leaflets, but there should not be an inclusion of Western media in this debate! The sisters are determined and one should admire their strength, but the dialogue should be made WITHIN the Ummah. This has nothing to do with secularists who promote their own ideals and often exploit the divisions that separate our commuitity, to their own advantage!There is something very disturbing, however, about a Muslim man who feels it is acceptable to throw eggs at his fellow Muslims, simply because he disagrees with the approach used in drawing attention to their argument.There is speculation that this incident has been exaggerated and only God knows what really happened that day, but I would be very circumspect in accusing our sisters of lying without substantial evidence! There is a great deal of opposition to women praying in the masjid, not due, so much, to inadequete space, but chiefly because there are some sections of the Ummah that have serious hang-ups regarding certain aspects of the female status in Islam: stemming from the particular interpretaion of their schools of thought.I keep making the emphasis, on this forum, that Muslims must learn how to express their frustrations in a peaceful and democratic way.How can we "lead by example" to the rest of the Kufar society in which we inhabit when we cannot even express ourselves(democratically)without being attacked by our fellow Muslims?! MPACUK have done a good job in bringing to our attention those elements within our commuinities that lack Islamic etiquette and, at times, moral behaviour.The issues that challenge Muslims everyday are not just those that appease the more global spectrum of events, but ones that force us to take a firmer stance on inappropriate behaviour that takes place on our own soil...in our own mosques and commuinities.
'start be doing what is necessary, then do what is possible..then suddenly you are doing the impossible.'
Zara:
Basil:
If that is the case then you should take this up with MPAC.
Unless you were being obscene,there is no reason why your views should not have been posted!
Try re-sending it. I had a similar problem a few weeks ago, but had it resolved in the end.
Nasreen:
Assalmu Aliykum brothers and sisters,I am deeply saddened that some brothers out there would resort to such level of disgusting behaviour even when faced with the teaching of the hadith. I think we should respond to this and should call on all brothers and sisters within Blackburn who think women should have a place inside our masjids. Hopefully gather enough support from women aswell as men and be able to do something about this.Ignorance within our male community is a huge issue and it does not help when we have men like Ibrahim Master in strong infuential positions. I think it is important that when us women ask for a place in mosque we HIGHLIGHT that we are not praying alongside men and we are not leading prays -as far as I understand this is forbidden in Islam. I think this is what SCARES our asian men, they think that this is what we are after.I live in Blackburn and mashallah I am currently trying to learn more about Islam and practice... However I find it difficult to interpret the Quran and Hadith and get to grips with what I am being asked by allah talla to do. So yes we need a masjid for women and its about time we had one.As well as expressing my opinion my main purpose for writing this was because I live in Blackburn and I want to help this sister, myself, and all the other sisters out there to do something about this. So please please please get in touch with me and tell me what I can do to help.Thanku
Mo:
"...and said to them “You’re not even Muslims!”"
Takfir? If not, why not?
If so, what should be done?
Sumayyah:
Sallams all
I totally agree with brother AbdulRahman. You can obviously see that Brother Munim he has researched what he has posted, and alhamdulliah he is right. A women does get more reward if she prays at home. What is the need for sisters to leave their homes whcih the prophet pbuh has advised us to do? If sisters will continue like this, what is the difference between us and other religions. A women wanting to pray in a mosque will cause unnecessary attention to herself for no reason....when in truth men and women should be seperated.
I was so distressed and upset seeing those MPAC sisters on Channel 4 television just now...is this what you are showing the world....isnt there enough media attention on islam already?
Sisters, you really need to consult a Mufti rather than making your own assumptions.
I really could go on...but please please sisters, think about this as i fear what the world is now comming to.
Your sister
Sumayyah
farah khaliq:
Dear sister what happened to you was not Islamic and should not be tolerated nor should an incident like such happen outside the house of Allah, but my dear sister two wrongs do not make a right, yes we should have the right to pray in the house of Allah and yes its mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah, but at the same time the emphasis is on praying in a quiet corner at home, and dear sister if the reward of praying at home is grater then why bring the burden upon yourself to make a journey to the mosque and pray? Also I am dearly sorry to say this, but the Hijab observed by my sisters was inappropriate, it was defiantly causing Fitnah outside a mosque,. The short sleeves, trousers, net Hijab, and the hair showing, not to mention the make up, did nothing more than create attention from the Ghair Mehram, and then praying outside where Ghair Mehram can see you praying, was not within Islamic etiquettes, a woman is not allowed to speak softly to Ghair Mehram, and here, the voices were being raised to the extent that the room was full of shouting/screaming, and this room which had a seating juxtaposition of men and women? My dear sister’s can we please adhere to the fardh before attempting the Sunnah? Let us walk before we can run. The imams of the mosque were stripped of their Hijab, when they were forced to speak to agroup these done up sisters, I really don’t think its fair to put our scholars through this, we should focus on other things like having the correct aqeedah before we start to make a mockery of ourselves on national TV.We are the Ummah of the beloved s.a.w; and our leader never raised his voice, yet what is sought to be the Haya, of that Ummah is on the streets making a mockery out of Hijab?Where was your campaign sisters, when straw attacked the Hijab? I didn’t see any sisters jumping to the opportunity of making their views heard?Once again the media has the better of us; once again a documentary about Muslims and nothing positive was shown!May Allah guide us all!
samar:
Spot on farah. Shouting in the streets and campaigning in an aggressive fashion to non-mahrams wasnt a very inspiring sight... Why were these sisters making a show of themselves in front of all these guys straight after prayers? Where was the sharam and where was the hayaa that Islam calls for?
It was an embarassment. Yes fair enought the hostility they received was not entirely called for, but how can a group of rude girl sisters march up to a crowd of non-mahrams and behave in such a way in the first place?
As for the boardroom meeting between MPAC and the mosque leaders... surely Mr Bukhari could have exercised some self restraint in his conduct rather than the forceful and aggressive way he chose to pounce on anyone who didnt accept his opinion.
I am in full agreement that in an ideal world, if there were space in local masjids where women could go for Jum-uah namaz, eid namaz, taraweh namaz,if they so wished, then this would be ideal, but only if it doesnt cause a fitnah. What exactly did these sisters think they were doing praying out on the street. Please ladies have some sharam!
AMINA:
Dear brothers and sisters
Some of the posts that I have read have been really disheartening. Please show respect towards one another. Brothers who wrote ‘go build your own mosque, don’t you have washing to do??’ – comments like these are really not helpful….
Every Muslimah has a duty to gain and develop her Islamic knowledge. On occasion going to read Jummah prayers and hearing the sermon, attending tarawee during Ramadhan can be one of the ways in which to develop this knowledge. For those of us who work having a masjid near to your workplace can be vital in trying to fulfil our Islamic duties. It is also a lovely feeling to pray with your sisters side by side. But sisters - we should be fearful of creating fitnah and there should be enough space to have separate entrances and complete segregation in the masjid – and this is not always possible.
However, the sisters who made this programme went about this in the most undesirable fashion. You compromised yourselves by confronting men outside the masjid... This of course does not excuse foul language or violence but this scenario snowballed – Surely there must have been a better way to draw attention to the cause and to start a dialouge? The programme was really quite embarrassing and the behaviour of some parties was really not appropriate.
As some have commented there is provision in East London for women so why not utilise these facilities first? Make the most of what you have and may Allah SWT reward you for it.
We should all make an effort to listen to one another and not argue – let us follow the teachings of our beloved Prophet (SAW) and treat each other with respect.
zainab:
I find it alarming the amount of venom being displayed towards sisters who are attempting to assert what is an Islamic right.
Only the Hanafi fiqh states women should pray at home. Why should you accept this misogyny that has no basis in Islam.No wonder non muslims have a field day and ammo against Islam!
As a convert[longstanding now mashallah] I have wrestled with this issue firsthand. I am currently a single parent[not by choice] and am now struggling to find acceptance in the community to which I made a concsious decision to belong. This has been compounded by the persecution complex the muslim community are feeling post 7/7. But where does that leave sisters in the north who need to access mosques and community to manifest their faith and exemplify this practical application of their faith for their own children? Thank Allah for the progressive mosques and keep up the work sisters!!!
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