Re: RE: ProgressiveMuslims digest, Vol 1 #362 - 8 msgs

To me the problem isn't praying at the back of the mosque or in lines 
separate from the men.  I've got no problem with that, and would prefer 
not to bow or prostrate in front of a bunch of men who might be staring 
at my behind.  The problem is being segregated in separate rooms where 
we can't hear properly unless the PA system (if it exists) is working 
properly, being obliged to walk through alleys and garbage to enter the 
mosque at all, and never having a woman's perspective voiced in the 
ummah -- at least not in any public way.

I'm lucky, I suppose, in that women at my mosque pray in the same room 
as the men most of the time (at the back, with no barrier in between 
except space), moving to a separate room only on Fridays when the main 
room fills up entirely with men.  But the separate room affords a view 
of the main room through two large sets of double doors, and can be 
entered either through the main room or through an outside door at the 
front of the mosque, next to the main door.  We speak at monthly 
meetings and can therefore have input into the running of the mosque. I 
would love, however, to hear a woman lead prayers or give a khutba, and 
I don't expect that to happen anytime soon.

I'm a relatively new Muslim and haven't travelled much since I 
converted, so I have to say this list is giving me quite an education as 
to how women are treated elsewhere!

Salaams,

Joyce

Yamin Bismilla wrote on 2/4/2004, 11:03 AM:

 > Slaams
 >
 > Why?  Why not?  Freedom!  Sure, lets give everyone all the choices and
 > see
 > what happens.  Lets serve liquor in schools.  They will make a choice to
 > drink or not.  Lets have nude posters of Britney Spears and Vin Diesal
 > dangling from every tower.  People will simply lower their gaze.
 > Legalize
 > all drugs might be good too.  Obviously this is an exxageration ;)
 > But why
 > not?  Give the people freedom!  It's all about balance and where to draw
 > what line.  Or lets not draw any lines.  I think it would be interesting.
 > Run for president.  I'll move to the States and vote for you.
 >
 > I'm not concerned about fitna, but I'm not going to ignore any side of
 > the
 > argument and just start leaping from extremities believing I have
 > eveyrthing
 > figured out.  Seriosly though, I could care less if men and women pray
 > together, but I'm sure some people have a problem with it. I'm not
 > going to
 > ignore their views.  I, unfortunately, am not divine, and I don't know
 > where
 > all the boundries of the world lie.  That is for us to guess, and for
 > God to
 > judge.  If you feel alone at the back of the mosque, I think you need
 > to get
 > more women to the mosque; but I guess that mosque elite is quite
 > powerful.
 >
 > There are always plenty of tests of life.  Perhaps our 15 minutes at the
 > mosque should be a solemn time, free from 'these' tests so we can fully
 > focus on prayer?  no?  We have the other 22+ hours or so to be bombarded
 > with any barrage of tests.
 >
 >