The Rights of Women in the Grand Mosque
By Hatoon Al-Fassi
ARAB NEWS (Aug. 30, 2006) Last Friday a number of Saudi newspapers
carried a report concerning possible new prayer arrangements for women at
the Grand Mosque in Makkah. The new arrangements are based on proposals
made by a special panel formed according to directives from Makkah
Governor Prince Abdul Majeed. The panel was composed of representatives
from the Makkah Governorate, the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques Affairs
and the King Fahd Institute for Haj Research. It proposed that the present
prayer area for women at the mataf (circumambulation area) be shifted to two
other locations on the ground floor on the northern side of the mosque. The
panel members said that women would . thus get a larger prayer space in the
new area compared to the present one at the mataf. They said the new area
was away from places of overcrowding, the mass movement of people and the
focus of television cameras, thus ensuring the safety and privacy of women and
allowing them to see the Holy Kaaba but avoid the disruption of tawaf
(circumambulation)
As this proposal was made without considering the views of women, I thought it
my duty to express my opinion of it with the hope that the panel’s proposal is
rejected. It not only goes against the message of Islam but also wounds the
feelings of Muslim women.
ARAB NEWS (Aug. 30, 2006) Last Friday a number of Saudi newspapers
carried a report concerning possible new prayer arrangements for women at
the Grand Mosque in Makkah. The new arrangements are based on proposals
made by a special panel formed according to directives from Makkah
Governor Prince Abdul Majeed. The panel was composed of representatives
from the Makkah Governorate, the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques Affairs
and the King Fahd Institute for Haj Research. It proposed that the present
prayer area for women at the mataf (circumambulation area) be shifted to two
other locations on the ground floor on the northern side of the mosque. The
panel members said that women would . thus get a larger prayer space in the
new area compared to the present one at the mataf. They said the new area
was away from places of overcrowding, the mass movement of people and the
focus of television cameras, thus ensuring the safety and privacy of women and
allowing them to see the Holy Kaaba but avoid the disruption of tawaf
(circumambulation)
As this proposal was made without considering the views of women, I thought it
my duty to express my opinion of it with the hope that the panel’s proposal is
rejected. It not only goes against the message of Islam but also wounds the
feelings of Muslim women.
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.
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.
The main problem of this proposal is that it denies Muslim women the right to pray at the holiest place on Earth, near the Holy Kaaba, where
prayers are answered and where the faithful can achieve better devotion and closeness to God. This is also one of the factors that differentiate
prayer at the Grand Mosque from prayer performed in hotels overlooking it. Throughout Islamic history — from the earliest days of Islam —
women have never been banned from praying inside the mataf or any other parts of the two holy mosques. There have, however, been many
recent restrictions on women praying and this new proposal is simply further evidence of this.
The religion of Islam was revealed for both men and women. Both sexes are equal when it comes to performing their religious duties and in
terms of rewards and punishments. The Prophet (peace be upon him) has instructed that women must not be banned from mosques. Despite
these facts, we have observed that the general trend at the two holy mosques is to restrict the prayers of women and limit the areas where they
can pray — as if they were a nuisance to others and unsuitable for those holy places. Some even think that the presence of women in the
mataf will affect smooth television coverage of prayers inside the mosque and it would be better if the women had been confined to their
homes.
We have also seen people widely circulating certain Hadiths, whose authenticity is doubtful, that it was better for women to pray at home than
in other places as if the status of the two holy mosques is lower than that of a house.
Women, especially those coming from distant lands, face many problems and constraints at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. The revered
Rawda Shareef is open to women only a few hours each day while most of the time, it is for men only. Women, unlike men, are not allowed to
face the grave of the Prophet and can only pass by the side of it. The same is also true for the graves of the early Caliphs Abu Bakr and Omar;
women can only pass by them — not face them.
Whatever the circumstances, no Muslim can seriously entertain the idea that the presence of women in the Haram disturbs worshippers and
visitors. We don’t hear the same said about the presence of men. Are the prayers of men somehow better than those of women?
Let us return to the Grand Mosque in Makkah where women are often driven away by officials — both male and female — who tell them to
complete their prayers quickly and generally interfere with the women’s prayers and meditations. At present, women are limited to an enclosed
area in the mataf from which, if they are sitting, they are not able to see the Kaaba. The area is small, confined and similar to a prison and is
often moved depending on seasonal demands and a variety of justifications. Now the proposal is to remove this prayer area from the mataf
once and for all.
My contention is that the panel should have made its proposal without denying the rights of women. In Islam, the only instruction regarding the
prayers of women is that they should not pray standing in front of men and, in our times, woman pray in the last rows or on the upper floors of
mosques.
In order to allow women to pray in the Grand Mosque in the proper manner, let us allocate a special area for them beginning from the Kaaba
and ending at masaa (the running area between Safa and Marwa). The width of this area could be determined based on field studies
conducted by the Haj Research Institute on the number of women who come to pray at the mosque. If this were done, the equality of sexes
promulgated by Islam would be achieved.
It would also protect women from prejudice and ensure that no men prayed behind them. Moreover, women would be able to pray in comfort,
sit closer to the Kaaba and achieve maximum devotion and closeness to God.
I request the officials of the presidency to look into this suggestion with open minds and open hearts. I am sure they will not accept the panel’s
proposal which violates the spirit and message of Islam that was sent for all of humanity without any discrimination.
— Hatoon Al-Fassi is a Saudi writer and historian based in Riyadh. She can be reached at: Hatoon-alfassi@columnist.com
prayers are answered and where the faithful can achieve better devotion and closeness to God. This is also one of the factors that differentiate
prayer at the Grand Mosque from prayer performed in hotels overlooking it. Throughout Islamic history — from the earliest days of Islam —
women have never been banned from praying inside the mataf or any other parts of the two holy mosques. There have, however, been many
recent restrictions on women praying and this new proposal is simply further evidence of this.
The religion of Islam was revealed for both men and women. Both sexes are equal when it comes to performing their religious duties and in
terms of rewards and punishments. The Prophet (peace be upon him) has instructed that women must not be banned from mosques. Despite
these facts, we have observed that the general trend at the two holy mosques is to restrict the prayers of women and limit the areas where they
can pray — as if they were a nuisance to others and unsuitable for those holy places. Some even think that the presence of women in the
mataf will affect smooth television coverage of prayers inside the mosque and it would be better if the women had been confined to their
homes.
We have also seen people widely circulating certain Hadiths, whose authenticity is doubtful, that it was better for women to pray at home than
in other places as if the status of the two holy mosques is lower than that of a house.
Women, especially those coming from distant lands, face many problems and constraints at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. The revered
Rawda Shareef is open to women only a few hours each day while most of the time, it is for men only. Women, unlike men, are not allowed to
face the grave of the Prophet and can only pass by the side of it. The same is also true for the graves of the early Caliphs Abu Bakr and Omar;
women can only pass by them — not face them.
Whatever the circumstances, no Muslim can seriously entertain the idea that the presence of women in the Haram disturbs worshippers and
visitors. We don’t hear the same said about the presence of men. Are the prayers of men somehow better than those of women?
Let us return to the Grand Mosque in Makkah where women are often driven away by officials — both male and female — who tell them to
complete their prayers quickly and generally interfere with the women’s prayers and meditations. At present, women are limited to an enclosed
area in the mataf from which, if they are sitting, they are not able to see the Kaaba. The area is small, confined and similar to a prison and is
often moved depending on seasonal demands and a variety of justifications. Now the proposal is to remove this prayer area from the mataf
once and for all.
My contention is that the panel should have made its proposal without denying the rights of women. In Islam, the only instruction regarding the
prayers of women is that they should not pray standing in front of men and, in our times, woman pray in the last rows or on the upper floors of
mosques.
In order to allow women to pray in the Grand Mosque in the proper manner, let us allocate a special area for them beginning from the Kaaba
and ending at masaa (the running area between Safa and Marwa). The width of this area could be determined based on field studies
conducted by the Haj Research Institute on the number of women who come to pray at the mosque. If this were done, the equality of sexes
promulgated by Islam would be achieved.
It would also protect women from prejudice and ensure that no men prayed behind them. Moreover, women would be able to pray in comfort,
sit closer to the Kaaba and achieve maximum devotion and closeness to God.
I request the officials of the presidency to look into this suggestion with open minds and open hearts. I am sure they will not accept the panel’s
proposal which violates the spirit and message of Islam that was sent for all of humanity without any discrimination.
— Hatoon Al-Fassi is a Saudi writer and historian based in Riyadh. She can be reached at: Hatoon-alfassi@columnist.com
| In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful |
| Muslimah Writers Alliance Announces |
 |
 |  |  |  |  |  |
 |
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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