RE: 2 questions

Assalamu Alaykum

I would also be very interested in the answers to these questions so,
would ask if somebody were to answer them they post their answer to the
list as well.

Thank you

Wassallam

Arif

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of
Sameer Ahmed
Sent: Saturday, 24 April 2004 9:21 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Progressivemuslimsnetwork] 2 questions

Asalaam Alaikum,

I have two questions that I have never received satisfactory answers to,
and I
wanted to get a "progressive" Muslims' response to them. Can you please
respond directly to me at [email protected]

1) Why do women have to pray behind men in Islam? The answer I usually
get to
this question is that if a woman prayed in front of a man, the man would
lose
concentration. But this response seems very male-centric. Why doesn't a
woman
lose concentration when she is praying behind a man? Is Islam saying
something
about the inherent sexuality of men and women?

2) Why can't women be Imams or Khateebs in Islam? I guess the first
question
might partly answer the second part because if men must pray in front of
women, then obviously the Imam would have to be a man. But what bothers
me is
that if a community has a female Islamic scholar who is much more
knowledeable
than the men in her community, she does not have a religiously
sanctioned
venue (the Jumah Friday prayer) to convey her knowledge to the Ummah.

I would really appreciate responses with references to the Quran,
Hadith, and
other Islamic scholarly work.

Thanks a lot.

Wasalam,
Sameer


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