Interrogation at the Mosque: Because I'm a Woman!

On Sunday 25th July 2010, MPACUK Ilford were finishing an afternoon of campaigning for the boycott of Israeli dates in Ilford. After a long day of canvassing we made our way to the local mosque to perform our Zohar salaat (the midday prayer). We went to this particular mosque as we knew it had women’s facilities.
Once inside the women’s area, we were greeted by a very angry, half-dressed, non-English speaking man. He questioned our presence in Urdu, which I clearly understood. He asked, “Who gave you the right to be here and why are you here?” We explained to the man that we were there to perform our Zohar prayer. The man then said, “This is no place for women to pray and women shouldn’t be in the mosque!” We informed the man that we would finish our prayer before we left, and we walked to the women’s gallery to pray.
The man came into the area where sisters were praying and called one of the sisters out. However, this was only to complain about the light being on in the bathroom, though he could clearly see sisters walking in and out of the bathroom to perform ablution. We explained the lights would be turned off once the sisters finished using the bathroom. Even then the man was very unsatisfied and unwelcoming and continued hovering over the sisters as they used the bathroom.
At this point , we still did not know who this man was and what his role was in the mosque. He called another man complaining about our presence in the women’s facility. We were not the only sisters praying there - women from a wedding opposite were also present to pray and they, too, were greeted very badly.
The language and manner of this man left me feeling very unwanted and made me feel like women weren’t and can never be a part of the mosque. What was this man doing in the women’s facility? And what gives him the right to decide who can and cannot use a mosque, a house of God?
This got me wondering : are these the types of people we have running our mosques?!
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What Is Wrong With These Idiots?
Submitted by omarinbox on Thu, 29/07/2010 - 1:09am.Its about time they actually left their positions of authority and were exposed. Get a camera and do it again. Youtube it, do up a petition, a leaflet campaign and expose him.
This kind of behaviour has to be stamped out and sadly the only way of doing this is to stand your ground firmly sister.
Salaam wa rehmat ullah!
You don't have what it takes
Submitted by VOLTAGE BROTHER on Fri, 30/07/2010 - 7:07pm.You know what mate, those who built and set-up 'the mosques' ,whoever they are and whatever they are, with all their faults and shortcommings - had what it takes to complete that kind of project. THEY HAD WHAT IT TAKES. and the complainers and moaners don't - that why the 'mosque leaders' are in their position and the complainers and moaners are in theirs.
It's like some guy who is inadequate and incapable of carrying out some task himself, but that others can do. And the only way the inadequate guy can make himself believe and appear that he is more capable than the others that can do the task is to slag off and scorn the way the others did that task. - which he himself could never do in the first place.
And right now whilst the complainers and moaners are at home, sitting on their backsides in front of their computer, sipping on an orange juice bitching about so and so mosque and so and so mosque leader , there is some guy standing in the rain with a bucket asking people to donate to help build a mosque, he goes place to place, year in year out building up the funds, then he finds some beat up property which he get relatively cheap, lays down some new cheapo carpet and organises prayers and slowly slowly builds up a congregation, organises food for fast breaking in ramadan, deals with the multitude of neverending problems and troubles, sets-up an after school madrasa for kids.........
[Mean while the moaners and complainers are on their backsides in front of their computer, sipping on an orange juice bitching about so and so mosque and so and so mosque leader - maybe they going onto islamicrelief website to donate some money too or reading the latest horror story from Palestine - whatever]
.....and the guy who just set up his ramshakle makeshift mosque is now on another phase of fund raising to redevelop the whole mosque to the benefit of the now pretty large and growing congregation. And he's got big trouble from the local council and local population who don't want to see some new mosque on their door step - BUT don't worry folks - Allah gave this guys what it takes even if his english sucks and his dress sense would make a scarecrow look like something out of an armani catalogue!
So cut to 10 years time. 10 years of bitching by the complainers and moaners and 10 years of hard graft, sacrifice, trouble and stife for the now new Mosque leader - ALL READY FOR THE SCORN AND REBUKE OF THE COMPLAINERS AND MOANERS.
What sheer nonsense....
Submitted by Sultan(Oxford) on Fri, 30/07/2010 - 8:17pm.Assalaam alaikum and Greetings
What sheer nonsense to suggest that those who run Mosques HAD WHAT IT TAKES and everyone are whingers. That somehow Allah 'CHOSE' these people to run Mosques.
I am going to refer to Mosques run by South Asians here. So lets have a good look at these people supposedly 'chosen' by Allah. If the Mosques I have frequented are anything to go by then there are common themes.
The people who are collecting monies in the rain (as you put it) and have the time to construct mosques, participate in mosques and are always there for prayers, are typically
1) On the Mosque committe based upon village ties (braderi system). Your in if you speak the same lingo and have the same (low IQ) mindset. If you show any signs of intelligence, your an outcast. Being outnumbered by sheer ignorant people kills any hope for a good discussion.
2) The more money you have, the more respect you have in the community and the more likely you will become a governer or to influence the committe members. Never mind that the guy amassed masses of properties by lying, giving backhanders to secure riba-based mortgages (haram in Islam except the property you live in) and became a millionaire without lifting a finger of work or using this own money. A case of getting someones money, letting others pay for the repayment and become owners of property without doing anything. Something for nothing (forbidden in Islam).
3) Illegally claiming disability allowances and housing benefit when they have property abroad and here. Not knowing the difference between halaal money and haram (impermissible) money. Going in the path of Allah, knowing full well that the state is looking after the kids and wife. Yes, what pious people we have here.
Noticed lately, the number of so-called 'disabled' drivers parked on double yelow lines who then walk perfectly to the Mosque for jummah. Talk about sinning on one hand (telling the world you are disabled by the blue badge on the car) and then walking into prayers asking Allah to forgive.
Want to know why their prayers are not heard. See point 3.
4) Mosques which "are mine" and "what I say goes" because daddy or grandpa built it..Well, the community actually built the Mosque because they funded it and the Mosque is accountable and controlled by the community.
5) Imported Imams who are effectievly told to abide by rules and not speak about issues which the governers and congregation do not want to hear. So the imported Imam has no choice but to abide in case he loses his job and gets deported back home.
I can recall an Imam speaking up (quite rightly) against Alcohol selling to a congregation where he knew the front row was full of men who had resturants, shops selling alcohol as business. He (the Imam) was reprimanded by the 'pious' governers for this.
You want me to go on ?
Did a relation build your Mosque and that's why you defend the mosque leaders knowing full well that they are the main reason why Islam has a bad image in the UK. Because they (via Mosques) have not really taught their communities what true Islam is all about.
But how can they, when they do all the above and have no real Islamic knowledge themselves.
By the way, my great grandfather built a mosque but I would never claim it belongs to me simply because I was in his family tree. For me, I am happy that the right person is there to lead that Mosque without anyone knowing what my relationship to the originator of the mosque is.
Mosques may be built with good intentions by the few in the community. As are Muslim Schools. But the best people to run these are not those who built them but those qualified to run them (knowledegable, intellectual ones. Not thugs).
Certainly not by the people listed in my points.
Wasalaams
grump old man.
Submitted by VOLTAGE BROTHER on Sat, 31/07/2010 - 4:48pm.You sound like some grumpy old man.
Whine whine whine,
moan, moan, moan,
whinge, whinge, whinge,
bitch, bitch, bitch..
the dikr of losers who achieve nothing themselves and so resort to attacking the achievements of others inorder to makes themselves appear better.
Of course its easy to attack and throw scorn at the mosque someone else set up when YOU have'nt set one up yourself.
(low) VOLTAGE (dim) BROTHER. Is that the best you can say ?
Submitted by Sultan(Oxford) on Sat, 31/07/2010 - 9:18pm.I prove my point.
No point in arguing with ignorants who do not get the point.
Perhaps if you removed the electrodes from your privates Mr Voltage Brother, then perhaps you would see clearly what I am saying. And what others are saying.
But keep blindly thinking there is nothing wrong with the (asian) Mosque commitees. Let them discuss the purtiy of Islam while cheating the system, and other undesirable acts. Obviously, because they are the "chosen ones" who built the mosques, then they are somehow forgiven for commiting these sins which they conveniently forget. Obviously, becoming committe members is nothing to do with power-struggles and giving themselves a name.
Oh, by the way. I HAVE BUILT a MOSQUE. Everytime I donate to mosques, I build a mosque. Which means I have a say in matters.
No donations => no Mosques.
Change your name to a low-voltage dim-brother.
LOL I love your posts
Submitted by VOLTAGE BROTHER on Sun, 01/08/2010 - 2:46am.LOL I love your posts.....
It's like a steady build up of dumb ideas, views and opinions building up to a finale climax of utter inane stupidity like....
'...Oh, by the way. I HAVE BUILT a MOSQUE. Everytime I donate to mosques, I build a mosque...'
LOL keep up the comedy pal.
The only Aunty and Uncle in the Village.
Submitted by Any Mouse Cow Herd on Thu, 29/07/2010 - 2:03am.The village idiots who came West and still presume that they are the village elders will continue to live as if they were still back in the Motherland. Which means abuse like this will continue for years to come.
If THEY are village idiots then what does it make YOU?
Submitted by VOLTAGE BROTHER on Thu, 29/07/2010 - 10:52pm.So these 'village idiots' came from 'the motherland' raised the finances, built the mosques, maintained and managed them; and YOU go to these mosques with your heads bowed obeying the way THEY have ordered YOU to behave and act whilst YOU are in THEIR mosque. So what does that make YOU if THEY are village idiots LOL - well at least we know some Village idiots are considerably smarter than those who arnt (village idiots)
1 Watt bulbs Thinks they are bright but actually very dim.
Submitted by Any Mouse Cow Herd on Fri, 30/07/2010 - 1:42pm.THEY have ordered YOU to behave and act whilst YOU are in THEIR mosque.
Their Mosque? Have we arrived at the situation where you can only enter a mosque if you have family links to it.
Read the article again, she (the author) went into the female part of the mosque to pray, only to be confronted by a half dressed male. It was he who was not behaving , Yes I can understand how thinking that no local women would in the mosque at the time, he could undergo his ablutions in privacy (or could it be the women section is usually cleaner) the fact remains he was in an out of bounds area. I get the feeling his anger arose from getting caught and still you try to defend hi,
Tell us all 1 Watt Bulb, what would you have done if you found a man half dressed inside the women's section of the mosque.
UnIslamic to deny women their place in the mosque:
Submitted by Tahira on Thu, 29/07/2010 - 6:32am.The prophet (pbuh) said: "Do not prevent the female servants of Allah (SWT) from attending the mosques of Allah (SWT)."
Was he all there?
Submitted by Ali on Thu, 29/07/2010 - 6:23pm.Last week I attended a wedding and was dumb-founded when I heard an older man speaking to someone asking when the leacture was to end and whether the food will be served outside??? I thought please...is food the only thing that drives this community forward. 3 Mins later same question...and again...and then again.
It seemed that the poor man was not all sound. I initially jumped to a conclusion without knowing this person. I feel at times we the younger generation need to be careful and not jump to conclusions...give the benefit of the doubt and move on...
That is right
Submitted by Mooonshine on Thu, 29/07/2010 - 9:21pm.You are correct.
Womens area to please the Equal Rights Commission ?...
Submitted by Sultan(Oxford) on Thu, 29/07/2010 - 9:50pm.Assalaam alaikum and greetings
You know, I sometimes get the impression that when Mosques are built with a "womans prayer" section, it is only to show that Islam caters for women (equality and all that) but deep down the male governers (aka villagers) resent this and do not actually want women to be there.
I am refering specifically to those Mosques controlled by (unlearned) 'elders' from the south asian continent.
Where it not for the Charity Commision, the Equal Rights Commision, and the people's perception that the women in Islam are treated as 2nd class citizens, I am pretty sure Mosques would not be built with womens section at all.
But when they are built with "womens prayer halls", "services for women", "education for girls", I have found (more often than not) that this looks good on paper and for non-muslims to see but, in reality, the governers (or some mosque attendees) would rather women stayed at home and never come to a mosque.
Result, these rooms and services are rarely used and lie empty (or they take a back-stage, putting up expensive chandeliers befiore completing the womens section aka "box-room"). Those women who happen to come into mosques for prayer, as they wish to or because they are passing by, are frowned upon by someone who believes he knows better.
As this sorry incident appears to have shown.
Wasalaams
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Mosques are for men and women
Submitted by Dante on Fri, 30/07/2010 - 9:50pm.Mosques are for men and women to pray. The congregrations in Mecca/Medina are testament to that. Furthermore, it is supported by the evidence put forward by Tahira. So inspite of this, I believe the only reasons to prevent women from having an active role in the mosque are two-fold. Firstly, there is the sexist attitude in-grained in some men who instinctively believe women are incapable of running the mosque, and secondly it is the fear of losing power, the "you let one of them in, you let them all in" attitude. Clearly something ripped off from the BNP maifesto
On the issue of voyeurism, maybe he was so anxious seeing so many women in the mosque at once, he thought you were planning a coup d' etat?
Interesting comment from a self proclaimed "non-Muslim"
Submitted by Laughing Buddha on Sun, 01/08/2010 - 6:10am.Blew your cover there Mr. Islamic Muslim!
Ramadam Mubarak!
Bwahahahaha!!!!
Here comes the Zionist Homer
Submitted by Zack on Sun, 01/08/2010 - 10:35am.Here comes the Zionist Homer Simpson Collin Cucumber pretending to be a laughing Buddha
Correct this statements as
Submitted by Anonymous Cowar on Sat, 31/07/2010 - 12:03pm.Correct this statements as this should read are these the people running asian mosques. This does not happend elsewhere at all.
very sad state of affairs.
Submitted by again on Sun, 01/08/2010 - 9:22pm.very sad state of affairs. the man who thinks he obvioulsy does have the right to say yes and no to whom enters into the masjid to prostrate to his lord ... ?
how pathetic was he to behave in such a arrogant manner..
name and shame I say. name and shame!
May Allah be please you sisters in what your intentions were. ameen.