Chorus Gets Louder
Saturday, 02 September 2006
Resentment Grows Against Plan to Shift Women
Praying Area in Grand Mosque
By Shams Ahsan
The Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH
A US-based group of Muslim women has joined the chorus against the
recommendation to segregate women praying area at the Grand Mosque in
Makkah.
The Muslimah Writers Alliance (MWA), a Washington, DC-based
organization of Muslim women writers, has called the proposal
“discriminatory” which “must be reversed.”
A special committee comprising representatives from the Makkah
Governorate, the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques Affairs and the King
Fahd Institute for Haj Research proposed shifting the present prayer area for
women from the mataf (circumambulation area) to two other locations on the
ground floor on the northern side of the Grand Mosque.
Resentment Grows Against Plan to Shift Women
Praying Area in Grand Mosque
By Shams Ahsan
The Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH
A US-based group of Muslim women has joined the chorus against the
recommendation to segregate women praying area at the Grand Mosque in
Makkah.
The Muslimah Writers Alliance (MWA), a Washington, DC-based
organization of Muslim women writers, has called the proposal
“discriminatory” which “must be reversed.”
A special committee comprising representatives from the Makkah
Governorate, the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques Affairs and the King
Fahd Institute for Haj Research proposed shifting the present prayer area for
women from the mataf (circumambulation area) to two other locations on the
ground floor on the northern side of the Grand Mosque.
The small section (left) represented by Muslim women dressed in
traditional black abaya's (outer covering) is representative of the space
currently alloted women for praying in the inner circle of the mosque at
Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
traditional black abaya's (outer covering) is representative of the space
currently alloted women for praying in the inner circle of the mosque at
Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
This way women would get a larger prayer space in the new area and will be safe from places of overcrowding, the mass movement of people
and the focus of television cameras, the committee members said.
“The proposed plan is no more acceptable today than it would have been when the teachings of Islam began to be delivered over 1400 years
ago,” Aishah Schwartz, MWA founder and director, said in a press statement.
“Get women out!? Reversal of this decision must be our mission until, by the grace of Almighty Allah, it is achieved,” declared Schwartz.
The Grand Mosque is the only place where men and women worshippers pray together. Women and men also perform circumambulation of
the Ka’bah without any segregation.
However, the Head of the King Fahd Institute for Haj Research Dr. Osama Al-Barr told a news agency that the area is very small and so
crowded. “So we decided to get women out of the ‘sahn’ (the circumambulation area) to a better place where they can see the Ka’bah and
have more space,” said Al-Barr.
“Some women thought it wasn’t good, but from our point of view it will be better for them ... We can sit with them and explain to them what the
decision is (about),” he said, adding that the decision is not final and could be reversed.
“This is discrimination against women,” Suhaila Hammad, Saudi woman member of a body of world Muslim scholars, was quoted as saying
by a news agency.
“Banning women from praying at the Ka’bah esplanade is unprecedented in the Islamic history,” female historian and writer Hatoun Al-Fassi
wrote in the Arabic language newspaper Al-Iqtissadiya Tuesday.
“Officials might want women disappearing from any public prayer area, particularly holy places,” she wrote.
and the focus of television cameras, the committee members said.
“The proposed plan is no more acceptable today than it would have been when the teachings of Islam began to be delivered over 1400 years
ago,” Aishah Schwartz, MWA founder and director, said in a press statement.
“Get women out!? Reversal of this decision must be our mission until, by the grace of Almighty Allah, it is achieved,” declared Schwartz.
The Grand Mosque is the only place where men and women worshippers pray together. Women and men also perform circumambulation of
the Ka’bah without any segregation.
However, the Head of the King Fahd Institute for Haj Research Dr. Osama Al-Barr told a news agency that the area is very small and so
crowded. “So we decided to get women out of the ‘sahn’ (the circumambulation area) to a better place where they can see the Ka’bah and
have more space,” said Al-Barr.
“Some women thought it wasn’t good, but from our point of view it will be better for them ... We can sit with them and explain to them what the
decision is (about),” he said, adding that the decision is not final and could be reversed.
“This is discrimination against women,” Suhaila Hammad, Saudi woman member of a body of world Muslim scholars, was quoted as saying
by a news agency.
“Banning women from praying at the Ka’bah esplanade is unprecedented in the Islamic history,” female historian and writer Hatoun Al-Fassi
wrote in the Arabic language newspaper Al-Iqtissadiya Tuesday.
“Officials might want women disappearing from any public prayer area, particularly holy places,” she wrote.
| In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful |
| Muslimah Writers Alliance Announces |
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Muslimah Writers Alliance Director Welcomes News of Saudi Reversal to Eliminate Women's Prayer Area
MWANET (Sept. 12, 2006)
Women Welcome Rejection of Haram Prayer Proposal
Razan Baker, Arab News
JEDDAH, 12 September 2006
Women’s Petition Opposes Grand Mosque Plans
Razan Baker, Arab News
JEDDAH, 11 September 2006
Saudi Clerics Backtrack on Mecca Women Prayer Ban
RIYADH (Reuters) - Sept. 11, 2006
Saudi Officials Consider Banning Women From Praying at Shrine of Mecca, Raising Protests
By DONNA ABU-NASR Associated Press Writer
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (Sept. 7, 2006)
(ABC News International)
Women in the Grand Mosque
ARAB NEWS (Sept. 5, 2006)
Chorus Gets Louder
SAUDI GAZETTE (Sept. 2, 2006)
Muslimah Writers Alliance Joins Coalition of Activists Seeking Preservation of Women's Prayer Area at Mecca's Grand Mosque
MWANET (Aug. 31, 2006)
Women to Fight Mecca Restriction
Daily News, South Africa (Aug. 30, 2006)
The Rights of Women in the Grand Mosque
ALJAZEERA-REUTERS (Aug. 30, 2006)
Women Face Curbs at Makka
ARAB NEWS (Aug. 28, 2006)
MWANET (Sept. 12, 2006)
Women Welcome Rejection of Haram Prayer Proposal
Razan Baker, Arab News
JEDDAH, 12 September 2006
Women’s Petition Opposes Grand Mosque Plans
Razan Baker, Arab News
JEDDAH, 11 September 2006
Saudi Clerics Backtrack on Mecca Women Prayer Ban
RIYADH (Reuters) - Sept. 11, 2006
Saudi Officials Consider Banning Women From Praying at Shrine of Mecca, Raising Protests
By DONNA ABU-NASR Associated Press Writer
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (Sept. 7, 2006)
(ABC News International)
Women in the Grand Mosque
ARAB NEWS (Sept. 5, 2006)
Chorus Gets Louder
SAUDI GAZETTE (Sept. 2, 2006)
Muslimah Writers Alliance Joins Coalition of Activists Seeking Preservation of Women's Prayer Area at Mecca's Grand Mosque
MWANET (Aug. 31, 2006)
Women to Fight Mecca Restriction
Daily News, South Africa (Aug. 30, 2006)
The Rights of Women in the Grand Mosque
ALJAZEERA-REUTERS (Aug. 30, 2006)
Women Face Curbs at Makka
ARAB NEWS (Aug. 28, 2006)
| ------------------------- Established in 2006, MWA is an internationally-based organization with a Mission to inspire Muslim women to collaborate with one another for the sake of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala and the common good of the Muslim Ummah, in addition to supporting one another in fulfilling their aspirations to become established writers. Applying Islamic principles, boundless enthusiasm, experience and resourcefulness to every project embraced, MWA members are dedicated to one another's success. -------------------------- |
| Muslimah Writers Alliance 1745 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Suite 147 Washington, DC 20006 Fax & Voicemail: 1-866-405-5981 On the web: http://www.muslimahwritersalliance.com http://mwawomenmakinghistory.blogspot.com http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Muslimah_Writers_Alliance http://www.sisteraishah.com http://aishahsjourney.blogspot.com http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sisters4Dawah The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said, "One who helps a fellow Muslim in removing his (or her) difficulty in this world, Allah will remove the formers distress on the Day of Judgment. He who helps to remove the hardship of another, will have his difficulties removed by Allah in this world and in the Hereafter. One who covers the shortcomings of another Muslim, will have his faults covered up in this world and the next by Allah. Allah continues to help a servant so long as he goes on helping his own brother (or sister)." (Muslim) |
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