Aziza Al-Manie • Okaz
ARAB NEWS (Sept. 5, 2006) The prayers in the two holy mosques can never
be compared to conferences and forums held by people. At prayers we really
cannot organize roles, define timings and arrange participation according to
rank and importance. Praying at the two mosques is an ultimate act of worship
that earns a person rewards multifold. Muslims always pray to God for His
mercy and compassion and therefore they jump at the chance to visit either of
the two mosques to worship.
However, it has been heartbreaking and painful to learn of the proposed idea of
shifting the present women’s prayer area in the mataf (circumambulation area)
at the Grand Mosque in Makkah to two other locations on the ground floor of the
complex.
Women are equal to men in their desire to be close to the Kaaba where their
prayers are answered and where they can experience a better sense of
devotion and closeness to God. Women are not all young beauties that rush to
the mosque with an aim of seducing men. Among female visitors are the ill, the
old, tormented widows, the handicapped and disabled, and the ones with
problems desperately wanting God’s help and mercy. They come from every
corner of the world enduring the hardships of lengthy journeys and perhaps
even spending their life’s savings just to enjoy a few hours near the Kaaba.
ARAB NEWS (Sept. 5, 2006) The prayers in the two holy mosques can never
be compared to conferences and forums held by people. At prayers we really
cannot organize roles, define timings and arrange participation according to
rank and importance. Praying at the two mosques is an ultimate act of worship
that earns a person rewards multifold. Muslims always pray to God for His
mercy and compassion and therefore they jump at the chance to visit either of
the two mosques to worship.
However, it has been heartbreaking and painful to learn of the proposed idea of
shifting the present women’s prayer area in the mataf (circumambulation area)
at the Grand Mosque in Makkah to two other locations on the ground floor of the
complex.
Women are equal to men in their desire to be close to the Kaaba where their
prayers are answered and where they can experience a better sense of
devotion and closeness to God. Women are not all young beauties that rush to
the mosque with an aim of seducing men. Among female visitors are the ill, the
old, tormented widows, the handicapped and disabled, and the ones with
problems desperately wanting God’s help and mercy. They come from every
corner of the world enduring the hardships of lengthy journeys and perhaps
even spending their life’s savings just to enjoy a few hours near the Kaaba.
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.
It seems that the panel that has made this suggestion is justifying their position on the basis of four things. To keep females away from
crowded areas, to ensure privacy and safety, to ease the movement of people circumambulating around the Kaaba and to improve live
broadcasting of the mosque through satellite TV.
In my opinion, none of the above reasons are credible enough to implement the decision. Wanting to keep women away from crowded areas
or achieving privacy are reasons that are neither rational nor logical.
The Grand Mosque has a crowded nature. People visit the mosque day and night. Is preventing women from being in the mataf area the
proper way of giving them privacy and safety from crowds? The idea poses another question. How come men’s existence in the mataf area is
not considered to be a source of crowding?
There are no rules or laws that allow men the complete and exclusive possession of this holy area with the exclusion of women. We can’t
implement the same policies applied in ordinary mosques in the Kingdom to the Grand Mosque in keeping women in the areas at the back. It’
s a totally different case here that bears no comparison.
As for improving the quality of satellite broadcasting, I don’t think that this has more importance than females worshipping God in His mosque.
Denying the rights of women being in the mataf is something that has never happened before in the history of Islam. Executing the decision will
create a negative reaction among Muslim women around the globe. It will also confirm the assumption that Saudi Arabia is an extremist
country that deprives women of their given rights. I hope that the authorities responsible for the two holy mosques give thought to this issue. I
hope they look for more appropriate solutions to the issues they have stated — solutions that do not deprive any group of people of their rights.
crowded areas, to ensure privacy and safety, to ease the movement of people circumambulating around the Kaaba and to improve live
broadcasting of the mosque through satellite TV.
In my opinion, none of the above reasons are credible enough to implement the decision. Wanting to keep women away from crowded areas
or achieving privacy are reasons that are neither rational nor logical.
The Grand Mosque has a crowded nature. People visit the mosque day and night. Is preventing women from being in the mataf area the
proper way of giving them privacy and safety from crowds? The idea poses another question. How come men’s existence in the mataf area is
not considered to be a source of crowding?
There are no rules or laws that allow men the complete and exclusive possession of this holy area with the exclusion of women. We can’t
implement the same policies applied in ordinary mosques in the Kingdom to the Grand Mosque in keeping women in the areas at the back. It’
s a totally different case here that bears no comparison.
As for improving the quality of satellite broadcasting, I don’t think that this has more importance than females worshipping God in His mosque.
Denying the rights of women being in the mataf is something that has never happened before in the history of Islam. Executing the decision will
create a negative reaction among Muslim women around the globe. It will also confirm the assumption that Saudi Arabia is an extremist
country that deprives women of their given rights. I hope that the authorities responsible for the two holy mosques give thought to this issue. I
hope they look for more appropriate solutions to the issues they have stated — solutions that do not deprive any group of people of their rights.
| 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)
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