Women and Mosques

Women and Mosques Allah the Highest created mankind in the form of two sexes, male and female and gave each character and duties which can be different from each other. The only thing that favors any of them before God is their righteousness. Allah the Highest said : “O MANKIND, WE CREATED IN THE FORM OF AND FROM MALE AND FEMALE AND MADE YOU NATIONS AND TRIBES SO THAT YOU MAY KNOW EACH OTHER. INDEED THE MOST HONOURABLE OF YOU BEFORE ALLAH IS THE MOST RIGHTESOUS WHO GUARDS THEMSELVES FROM ALLAH’S DISPLEASURE MOST, AND ALLAH IS MOST KNOWING AND THE BEST TO KNOW ABOUT YOU”. (S:49 A:13) The rules and commands which Allah the Highest sent down in the Quran apply equally to men and women, except for a few which might apply to either only. Whenever Allah the Highest addresses people in pleural in the masculine, this applies to men and women. Women were not kept at home. Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him used to draw lots between his wives to see who will accompany him on his travels. This is while the Muslims often met an enemy and fought. Indeed, women used to go out with men when men went to battle. They used to feed and water the fighting men, and look after and nurse the wounded. Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him did not run women’s opinion down, indeed took his wife’s advise if appropriate, and here is a good example of this. When Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him went with the Muslims for Omra and they stopped at Hodaybia. After negotiations they agree on peace for 10 years, but for the Muslims to go back this year and return next year. Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him commanded the Muslims to slaughter their offerings and shave or cut their hair, as Allah the Highest commanded him in the Quran. When he went to his tent angry because of this. Om Salama his wife advised him to go and slaughter his offering and shave his head without talking to anyone which he did and the rest of the Muslims followed. And here is Omar Ibn El-Khatab standing in the Mosque telling women that they should not request more than 400 silver pieces for dowry. A woman objects quoting an Aiah in the Quran “AND IF YOU WANTED TO EXCHANGE ONE OF WIFE WITH ANOTHER AND YOU HAVE GIVEN ONE OF THEM A HEAP OF GOLD, DO NOT TAKE ANY OF IT BACK” (S:4 A:20) It was never related that Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him hit or insulted any of his wives or mocked her or her opinion, or called her with a name she does not like. This is the example we should follow, for Allah the Highest said about him, “YOU HAVE A GREAT CHARACTER” (S:68 A:4) Women used to pray in the Mosques with men at the time of Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him. They prayed in the back and their first line was the backmost then the second line in front of them and so on. Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him and the Muslims used to site for a little while after Salah to allow the women to go out before them men. Then he prayer and peace upon him told the Muslims to leave the back door for the used of the women only. Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him commanded the men on a number of occasions not to stop women from praying the mosques, even if at night, he said : “Do not stop Allah’s women slaves from going to Allah’s mosques”. (Bukhari;Gomaa,13 & Muslim;Salah;135,136) And “Do not prevent women from having their share in the mosques”. (Ahmed;6;90) And “Permit women to go to mosques at night (fajr and Esha)” (B:Jomaa;13 & Muslim Salah;137-140) Abd Allah Ibn Omar had a son called Belal, who asked him about going his wife going out to the mosque at night. When Abd Allah Ibn Omar narrated the last Hadith to him, Belal said: “Then they will get up to mischief”. Abd Allah Ibn Omar hit Belal in his chest saying :”I tell you Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said and you answer back”. This is because Allah the Highest and His messenger’s rulings should be the final word if we are in dispute over something. Allah the Highest said in the Quran “WHEN ALLAH AND HIS MESSENGER DECIDE ON A MATTER IT IS NOT FOR A BELIEVING MAN OR WOMAN TO HAVE A CHOICE”. (S:33 A:36) It does not make sense to prevent women from going to the Mosques, doing Salah and Zekr and learning about Islam when we entrust women with our children, our honour and our money. Why do we stop our daughters from worship and learning in the Mosques and they are our honor and entrusted with our grandchildren. Why do we prevent women from Salah and learning in the Mosques while they mix in the markets and at work, and no protection is better than their faith. The female are half mankind, so who dares to stop half mankind from worshipping in mosques, when Allah the Highest said: “ WHO DOES MORE WRONG THAN PREVENTING THE ZEKR OF ALLAH’S NAME IN HIS MOSQUES”. (S:2 A:114)