Women Praying at the Mosque - Did you know???

[Aminah 4 Allah]

Assalamu Alaikum Brothers and Sisters,

Bismillah Alrahman Alrahim. In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Benificent.

Have you heard of Zarqa Nawaz? She is a Musliminah living in Canada who is responsible for the creation of the hit CBC TV show Little Mosque on the Prairie. She also has made severl documentaries one of which I have had the pleasure of seeing. I would like to share the knowledge that I gain from viewing this documentary film by Zarqa Nawaz called "Me & The Mosque".

Azhar Usman who is a comedian says that:

women are told that they're a distraction but in truth their presence has been erased in the mosque.

Aminah Assilmi the Director for International Union for Muslim Women says:

There are over 1000 mosques in North America. In 1994 52% of those mosques had a barrier between the men and the women but in 2000 this had increased to 66% of the mosques having a barrier. Some people try to show that barriers are from the Quran but it's not because if it was then it would always have been.

Dr. Umar Faruq Abd-Allah who is the chairman for Nawawi Foundation says:

the problem with Muslim and secular intellectuals and thinkers of today as well as Muslim reformers of the 20th Century is that some of the brightest thinkers saw that the secret of the continuing decedence of the Muslim world was the disempowerment of women and the subgegation of women and the segregation of women from society such that they had become incapicitated. It's alwasy important to see things in terms of their time and place.

A hadith literature specialist Sheikh Abdullah Adhami who is a certified hadith narrator and legal scholar says:

The best of the men are at the front. There are lots of hadiths that gave evidence that there were no barriers at the time of the Prophet (may peace and blessings be upon him). Women could even speak up in the mosque. All the issues men bring up today about looking at the beautiful women etc. all occurred in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and they were never dealth with by putting up a barrier. The women of Medinan society were more revolutionary than the Muslim women of today. We have allowed excuses of athe men to silence the women and an end needs to be put to this.

Aminah Assilmi, a Muslim sister said:

It is very degrading to men to say that they can't resist a little look here or there that they are so weak.

Itrath Syed is an Anti-War Activist prominent in mainstream British Columbia society based out of Vancouver said:

It seems that women's bodies ina dnof themselves are inherently offensive.

Aminah Assilmi says that:

women can participate in a Pray-In which is where women will go into the main area of the mosque (ie. where the men usually pray alone) and quietly take your place behind the men and pray with your children in from of you.

Dr. Tareq Suwaidan who is an Islamic Author and Kuwaiti scholar says that:

The lack of vision and management in mosques is creating a problem. The is the leader of the mosque where he also does the prayer and gives the sermon. He have the order taht there is to be no separation so the women came in and they wanted to. Some of the men complained but when I showed them the sayings of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the action of his Companions they didn't have enough knowledge to answer that. The women don't have to be in their room, it's their choice where to stay. It would seem that having a choice about where to pray in the mosque is easy but first you have to change the attitude of the community.

Amal Abukaram is a former Winnipeg community member and says that:

the barrier makes the women feel unwelcome which makes the children feel unwelcome and in turn your community will not thrive which is a serious issue.

Dr. Tareq Suwaidan the Kuwaiti scholar and Islamic Author said:

Unfortunately tradition hs taken over andmany people can not separate tradition from the true teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). If we look at what was practiced in the life of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) then we will see very clearly that there were no walls or curtains separating men from women except int he case of the wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon them) who should not be looked upon except by pure hearts and that's why they were separated.

Quran 33:32: "O wives of the Prophet! You are not like any of the [other] women, provided that you remain [truly] conscious of God."

Unfortunately many of the scholars and late on the masses have taken what is for the wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and applied it to all the Muslim women and thus you should not talk to them except from behind a separation.

Quran 33:53: "And [as for the Prophet's wives] whenever you ask them for anything that you need, ask them from behind a screen this will but deepen the purity of your hearts and theirs."

If you look into history and look into the sayings of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the Quran it is clear that this is a very specific case for the mother of the believers, the wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) but not for everyone else.

Sister Aminah Assilmi says:

Ignorance is the underlying reason it's a cultural practice that they're heard from family and sheikhs in some countries. It's ignorance because if they take the time to study the hadiths and the Quran themselves they will find out that that's not the right way and just because it's done in a so called Muslim country that does not mean that it's Islam.

Dr. Umar Faruq Abd-Allah said:

You are rally talking here about a dysfunctional culture which is the dysfunctinal Muslim culture that comes over from India, Pakistan and the Arab world which is not a wholesome or sound Islamic culture. The problem for Muslims it that certain patriarchical beliefs have become incorporated into the religious writings themselves.

Sheikh Abdullah Adhami said:

We have created a culture that has ingrained ignorance as the status of a woman, are we now giving legal rulings that respond to a reality that we created? and sayign that this is the legal decision in Islam? I think that we need to be honest about separation for in reality when there's a purpose that's constructive for our coming together enjoins the men and women to be together in society and social settings because they are equally responsible to take care of he world.

Dr. Tareq Suwaidan said:

For those who believe that curtains or walls have good intentions as they want to make sure that there are no desires and that Prayer is done in a pure heart, that there is no wrongdoing done in a place of worship. I admire their intentions but their actions are wrong. It's a matter of knowledge. Many people think that it is not alloweed so then you teach them then they will learn.

Quran 13:11 "Verily Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in their hearts."

So what do you think? I know that I sure thought a lot after I watched the movie. Ever since finding out that women don't have to go out the back staircase or down into the basement of the mosque to pray away from the men I have felt a little uncomfortable going to the women's accomodations. I mean it's great for those sisters who want to pray there but for me I would much rather pray in the main prayer hall so I can really feel that I am a part of the whole community and not just the few sisters that come to the mosque to pray in the ladies accomodations. Maybe this is why the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings but upon him) said that it is best for women to pray at home rather than in the Mosque. I don't know maybe it was because of all the politics that were to come in realtion to the taboo of where oh where are the women going to pray???

But Allah knows best.

Wassalam,
Aminah

 

[samiha]

:salam2:

I just have a few comments after which I will leave.. insha'allah maybe come back to this later.

1) I hated this "documentary" i couldn't see past halfway, it made me sick: inside and out. And i apologize but that's how I felt, and even after several attempts cannot make myself watch it again ever because of such feelings.... besides it gets me angry.

2) The people in this video use the titles of "shaykh" and "scholar" ... but what does it really mean to be a scholar?!!! Anyone can issue a fatwa, that's simply easy... but to understand the implications of Fiqhi matters, why something was ordered... what is best... THAT is not something everyone can do.

3) There is a limit to opinions in Islaam.

4) It's so funny how they draw comparisons saying "the woman of then - i.e. the Prophet's wives cannot be compared to us today" BUT then they neglect that SAME comparison when it comes to other things! It's only halfway deal here. They fail to realize, that yes, if you wish to make that comparision, you should ALSO say in regards to understanding, adab, ettiquites, mannerisms, we TOO are deficient in comparison to them and the other women of that time! If you READ about the rules regarding women praying behind the men, you will realize just how much they truly understood the Deen. They knew when to come in, how long to stay... what to do after prayer, how they should enter, the voice tone, etc etc... they KNEW how to act behind the men, the KNEW what was proper for a women to do and NOT do.

I cannot and will not EVER EVER EVER claim the same thing for women nowadays. From experience and otherwise. Is it Islamic adab for a woman to sit at the back laughing and giggling? To not wear proper hijab and come to mosque? To raise thier voices? No.

But it happens. It happens because today's women can be ignorant. We can strive to be like the wives of the Prophet ... there is no harm in that, rather it is best! However, just to label them under "unreachable" and class ourselves different entirely??? How ... how... hypocritical in some ways it seems to me!

Until we can get the same atmosphere as that of the time of the Prophet i do not ever think that the barriers should be removed. And in these days in these societies and communities, i do not think that will happen. Lack of understanding and reason is what i call it... I would write more, but just doing so makes me feel sick.... allah knows best - i rest my case for now with a fatwa.

Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid

Question:
In one of the mosques there is a partition between men and women. A dispute has arisen as to how important this partition is. Some think that there is no need for it, because at the time of the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) there was no partition; others insist on having it. The resulting argument may lead those who think there should be no partition to stop praying in the mosque, despite the fact that removing the partition could lead to some degree of mixing or looking at the opposite sex when leaving the mosque, because some of the men are not strongly committed in their religion. Should we insist on keeping the partition even though some people may stop praying in the mosque, or should we remove it although this may lead to people looking at the opposite sex?

Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen answered this question as follows:
The partition should stay. The fact that there was no partition at the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was either because there was no need for it or because there was a reason why they could not have a partition. With regard to the former, the Sahaabah, may Allaah be pleased with them, had such strong faith in Allaah that they would not look at women; with regard to the latter, the financial situation of the Sahaabah, as we know, especially before the conquests, was one of hardship, and they could not afford to put a partition between themselves and the women. Having understood this, we should next look at which is further removed from fitnah, having a partition or not having it? Everyone will agree that having the partition is less likely to cause fitnah. If that is the case, then whatever is less likely to cause fitnah is what should be done. If you say, “If we insist on keeping it, those who want to remove it will stay away from the mosque,” our response is that if they stay away, they are doing wrong. They have no excuse for failing to pray in jamaa’ah because of this partition being there. Having the partition there is not a sin such that they could say, “We are not coming to be witnesses to sin.” If they stay away, they are committing sin by failing to attend prayers in congregation.


Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen



wasalam

 

[BintMuhammad]

Assalamu alaikum,

Jazakallaahu Khayr for the post and definitely there is nothing wrong with women praying in the mosque BUT to complain (I'm not referring to you sister aaminah) about the barriers, I think that's very feminist.

There is no doubt that a woman’s prayer in her house is better for her than praying in the mosque, as is indicated by the Sunnah of the Prophet (Peace & Blessings of Allaah be upon Him). He said: "Do not prevent your women from going to the mosque, even though their houses are better for them." (Reported by Abu Dawud in al-Sunan, Baab maa jaa’a fee khurooj al-nisaa’ ilaa’l-masjid: Baab al-tashdeed fee dhaalik. See also Saheeh al-Jaami‘, no. 7458).

Whenever a woman prays in a place that is more private and more hidden, that is better for her, as the Prophet (Peace & Blessings of Allaah be upon Him) said: "A woman’s prayer in her house is better than her prayer in her courtyard, and her prayer in her bedroom is better than her prayer in her house." (Reported by Abu Dawud in al-Sunan, Baab maa jaa’a fee khurooj al-nisaa’ ilaa’l-masjid. See also Saheeh al-Jaami‘, no. 3833).

Umm Humayd, the wife of Abu Humayd al-Saa‘idi reported that she came to the Prophet (Peace & Blessings of Allaah be upon Him) and said: "O Messenger of Allaah, I love to pray with you." He said: "I know that you love to pray with me, but praying in your house is better for you than praying in your courtyard, and praying in your courtyard is better for you than praying in the mosque of your people, and praying in the mosque of your people is better for you than praying in my mosque." So she ordered that a prayer-place be built for her in the furthest and darkest part of her house, and she always prayed there until she met Allaah (i.e., until she died). (Reported by Imaam Ahmad; the men of its isnaad are thiqaat (trustworthy)).

Why would the Prophet SAW say that it is better for a woman to pray at home if there were no possible disadvantages?

Aminah Assilmi, a Muslim sister said:
It is very degrading to men to say that they can't resist a little look here or there that they are so weak.

Why would it be degrading when it's the men themselves are those who said this? I don't think all men are weak but they are human beings and as I have said before in my other post on another issue, just like in diseases or illnesses "Prevention is better than cure"

Also, the people at the time of the Prophet SAW are waaaay better than the people of today! So they can't say just because at the time of the Prophet SAW there were no segregation/barriers in the mosque we must not have it too.

Amal Abukaram is a former Winnipeg community member and says that:
Quote:
the barrier makes the women feel unwelcome which makes the children feel unwelcome and in turn your community will not thrive which is a serious issue.

SubhanAllaah! Alhamdulillaah I never felt that way. Reasons like that are very dangerous! Isn't that similar reasons to this, lead women to lead a mixed gender congregation prayer? and held khutba infront of men and women without wearing hijaab?! Astaghfirullaah! I feel these are the works of Shaytaan whispering to these women to think of this non-sense reasons and make them feel unwelcome and degraded and what not! Instead of seeing and appreciating the bright side of why these barriers are implemented. SubhanAllaah no wonder why there are more women in hell than men.

May Allaah swt guide all the women in this world AMEEN.

 

[Jannah03]

I honestly have NO problem with being in the masjid behind a 'screen' or 'wall'. I still feel apart of the ummah regardless. As a niqabi i dont want me to gawk at me anyway. sister you must understand that, "some" men cant help themselves. "some" of us(men and women) do get nervous when there is not barrier. This is a matter of modesty dear sister. I even call myself a lil feminist also but the barriers should stay. Dont take the barriers has "the men want nothing to do with us" WE (men and women) must educate our ummah are the religion! we must learn this deen! we must STOP the mixing of culture and this deen. this deen is our culture. I dont like for the fact that some men do not want us women to enter the mosque. the prophet (pbuh) said NOT to stop your women from attending the mosque. But we as muslim women must carry ourselves like a muslim woman. We must have proper dress and mannerisms. the men should should strip themselves of this characteristic of being high and mighty. Yes they have guardianship of us, but thats because Allah allowed it, and some are taking it out of context. WE MUST LEARN THIS RELIGION. in my opinion of course. I used to pray in the main part where the men were. But that was when i was a teenager and didnt know much of this deen. But now as a niqabi and have been blessed to yearn more for knowledge. i see no problem with praying in the womens area. i enjoy being with my sisters and not have men "look back" at us. I feel protected. Im not saying you dont know your religion, but if we want to see this ummah in a better way we must learn this religion. Jazakallahu khair for reading. I hope to not have offended anyway. if so i do apologize. just send me a private message if need be. Asalaamu alakum.

 

[Ahmed ibn Ibrahim]

WaAlaikum Salaam, dear respected Sisters,

I agree with all of you! =)

No really, I think that if we were in a situation where the local Muslim community were very strong in their deen and righteousness, and decided that they wanted a Mosque like the one of the Prophet's time (PBUH) where the women prayed behind the men, then they should be able to do that. After all, we're always striving to be more like those of the Prophet's era (PBUH); this is why some sisters choose to be like the Prophet's wives and wear the Niqab, why some men choose to wear thobes (even in the West), why some men keep a beard, etc. And Alhamdulilah, may Allah SWT be pleased with these efforts, and the Dow'ah often made in implimenting them.

However, I understand that the Ummah today is not of the same quality as it was back then. Not to say that we're awful and know nothing, no, but I think we all recognise that most of us have a long way to go before being like the companions or wives of the Prophet (may Allah SWT be pleased with them all). As such, I think that in many Muslim communities today having separation of the sexes is a good thing, something that helps prevent fitnah. Even if we all agreed here that it would be better for us to remove the barriers, can you imagine all of the fitnah that would follow in trying to impliment that in our local Masjids? All of the bitter hearts, the people who'd never return, the brothers and sisters turning against themselves, yelling and crying... And for what? So that we could be like those of the Prophet's time in one more thing, when there are a thousand other things we could (and perhaps should) be doing first?

This is a complicated issue, and I love my wife dearly in her desire to be like the people of the Prophet's time (PBUH). She has some valid points and this is definately something worth thinking more about, but at the same time so do you my respected Sisters. I think that talking about this issue is another way of demonstrating how we are different in implimentation and practice from the people of Madinah and Mekka, 1428 years ago - and should make us concider how else we could improve ourselves, for the sake of Allah SWT.

=)

Asalaamu alaikum

 

[kayleigh]

Some people think a barrier is good, some think it's bad. I don't think the dispute is something people should be fighting over. as for the rest...well, I don't have the time or patience to read what everyone said, but discouraging women IS very common, and even prohibiting them from entering is common, especially in the UK, or so I hear.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the woman who made this is a big of a moderate, perhaps even a progressive Muslim, which is bound to rub pretty much every member on this board the wrong way.

 

[IslamIsLight]

salam aleikum
I dont see the video or documentary so I dont really know what its all baout
But I dont see its a problem to have a wall in a mosque devinding men and women.

I personally dislike to enter the mosque from the same entrance as men when all of them are staring too .I can imagine how would it be without the wall ,or curtain
And still i think for woman is the best to pray home
I dont like praying in the Mosque ,coz its always loud in womens area ,some pray and others running around or talking .Its called disrespect ...I simply prefer to pray home
Just an opinion ,not offending anyone

waaleikum salam

 

[uskupi]

assalam alaikum...i agree with those who say barrier should stay, in the matter of fact i do not understand why should this be discussed,but since it is i would like to say few words.In the sahih-ul Buhari we read that the prophet Muhammad salallahu aleihi we salam said:>i can restrain from thing's but i can not restrain from them (woman)<;.If the prophet salallahu aleihi we salam said this than what can we say about ordinary believers how long can they restrain?.It is not problem for a day or a week without barriers, but it is in long term as they will mix and the posibility of fitnah with each day will go stronger and stronger so that one day reliable scholars will again be asked if is not better that we put the barrier back again...assalam alaikum

 

[Basicofislam]

:salam2: I really liked the Video.Sister jannah said she wears naqaab so she rather be behind a barrier.First of all sister Naqaab is sunnah and not fard. You wanna follow what was told only for mothers of the believers then kudos to you. Then for you it is best to pray at home. If the pardah was wajib or fard for women. Our prophet would have instucted us to do so. The reason the masjid in those days did not have a barrier and the women praying behind the prophet and the sahabis just proves it is not fard for a woman to wear naqaab. Yes i would not fight with the men to get my right by standing outside a masjid. But then the men have to realize that they cant do this to women period.It is very important to see the imam so that you pray correctly behind him. I dont mind a wood carved half barrier. So you can easily see through the design . Yet seperating men and women a little bit. Also when a khutba is given the women should be able to see the imam. Cause human being learns in a different way when you can see. Or when a halqa is happening a woman should be able to see the imam. another good way is if you divide the room and on one side it is men and one side women. And the only person a woman can see is the imam. For me i dont care to see a man. But yes i would like to see the imam so that i can pray properly.

 

[abou haytam]

salam o alikom

when i was 17 years old, we have a mosque in our college and we have a separation between girls and guy but we have one gate, so in this gate a lot of fitna happen so i was always wondering if this separtion dose not existe...some sisters'' the way they are wearing hijab'' are more attarctive than non hijabi. this separation is verry useful our days. so i would said two point here.

1-If you'' women'' beleive and you are sorry that there is a separation between man and women, learn first how to wear a correct hijab.

2-dose this separation reduce something of your reward? do you feel fare from allah???? If you feel so, you should learn little bit about islam. please sister don't go far with your critic in non sens thing.

salam o alikom.

alalh is near everyone of us and to pray in the basement or in the level 2000 change nothing if your heart is empty.

 

[abou haytam]

salam sister,
now that you don t see the imam you don t pray properly??? soubhana allah, imama become an intermedate between you and allah? :astag:

PS: i which you good luck in mecca, cuz there it hard to see the imam. i advise you sister to not relate your prayer to your position in masjid. it s a non islamic thinking. allah is everywhere.

:salam2: I really liked the Video.Sister jannah said she wears naqaab so she rather be behind a barrier.First of all sister Naqaab is sunnah and not fard. You wanna follow what was told only for mothers of the believers then kudos to you. Then for you it is best to pray at home. If the pardah was wajib or fard for women. Our prophet would have instucted us to do so. The reason the masjid in those days did not have a barrier and the women praying behind the prophet and the sahabis just proves it is not fard for a woman to wear naqaab. Yes i would not fight with the men to get my right by standing outside a masjid. But then the men have to realize that they cant do this to women period.It is very important to see the imam so that you pray correctly behind him. I dont mind a wood carved half barrier. So you can easily see through the design . Yet seperating men and women a little bit. Also when a khutba is given the women should be able to see the imam. Cause human being learns in a different way when you can see. Or when a halqa is happening a woman should be able to see the imam. another good way is if you divide the room and on one side it is men and one side women. And the only person a woman can see is the imam. For me i dont care to see a man. But yes i would like to see the imam so that i can pray properly.

 

[kayleigh]

salam aleikum
I dont see the video or documentary so I dont really know what its all baout
But I dont see its a problem to have a wall in a mosque devinding men and women.

I personally dislike to enter the mosque from the same entrance as men when all of them are staring too .I can imagine how would it be without the wall ,or curtain
And still i think for woman is the best to pray home
I dont like praying in the Mosque ,coz its always loud in womens area ,some pray and others running around or talking .Its called disrespect ...I simply prefer to pray home
Just an opinion ,not offending anyone

waaleikum salam

salaam,

I agree - it's just more comfortable with just women. The only time I think it's absolutely wrong to separate them is if the women's side can't hear or see the Imam very well, or they are in poor conditions. I've prayed with and without partitions, but I think the only reason I didn't mind the partitions at the time, is because I knew most of the men I was praying with - they weren't complete strangers.

There are some distractions when you pray at the masjid, but I think it's a great thing since it connects you to the community, lets you socialize afterwards, and can you build friendships with other Muslim women. Nowhere else can you find such a concentrated group of Muslims.

Personally, I think the barrier is a good idea for the most part. Partitioning so both can still see the imam is ideal, though - less distractions if you can see the speaker. But, I think the people who are against it shouldn't be criticized, because they do bring up good and valid points. It's just a difference of opinion, which doesn't really matter.

wasalaam

 

[gazkour]

Assalamo alikom wa rahmato Allah wa barakato

In an ideal world,we would no need any barriers as in our beloved Prophet(SAW)'s time. But today, unfortunately. that's not the case. So I know this screens are not a fard, but I do think are quite nesessary and convenient (for example when a sister needs to breastfeed or something like that).
I think always the "moderate" view is the best, because Islam calls us to be moderate(and I don't mean taking Islam lightly or to our own convenience!).
So if you get to the point of feeling "uncomfortable" when going to a mosque with separation then I think there's something wrong there just as if you can't pray because there's no screen.......... Allah knows best.

Assalamo alikom wa rahmato Allah wa barakato.

EID MUBARAK TO ALL MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS!!

 

[q8penpals]

Salam

Perhaps the barrier should stay, but that the men should not put up a huge fuss if some women prefer to pray behind them rather than behind the barrier? Then both thoughts could be taken into consideration.

With the exception of special prayers like Eid for example, how long does a basic everyday prayer last - 15 minutes or so? Let's just all get along for that bit of time!!

Lana

 

[Kayote]

Salam

With the exception of special prayers like Eid for example, how long does a basic everyday prayer last - 15 minutes or so? Let's just all get along for that bit of time!!

Lana

:salam2: all,

Love the comment above. Made me smile.

I personally believe that the barrier should stay. I certainly need to read up on this to further educate myself. If the Prophet (pbuh) did not resurrect the barrier then who are we to introduce it.

Having said the above, I personally would be more comfortable & would even go as far as to say more tuned towards my prayers if I knew there are no women at the back observing me (not that they would be...).

Salam

 

[Basicofislam]

:salam2: I never said imam is a way to Allah ,abou haytam. When you pray behind the curtain. So many times i have seen women making mistakes cause cant see. Cause some surahs when recited you have to do sujood then get up. And i can tell you soo many other mistakes. That can be prevented.Half the concentration is in the salah and the other half is trying to look through the curtain to see what the men are doing. Now tell me is that wrong or not. And if the first row of women make a mistake all the way till the back are making mistakes.

 

[IslamIsLight]

salam aleikum
how u supposed to be praying and looking at the imam at the same time ,im trying to figure out
When u pray u looking down, not up at the imam or on the sides to see what other women do so u do like them ,u come to pray all together and not to repeat after ...

waaleikum salam

 

[BintMuhammad]

salam aleikum
how u supposed to be praying and looking at the imam at the same time ,im trying to figure out
When u pray u looking down, not up at the imam or on the sides to see what other women do so u do like them ,u come to pray all together and not to repeat after ...

waaleikum salam

:salam2:

I agree. When we pray, we are supposed to do our best to concentrate. I think looking at the Imaam can distract you. Also, that is why we are taught how a prayer is done, so we don't have to imitate. From the Imaam's recitation, his pauses and stops, you'll know from there if it's time to do Ruku' or make sujood. Sorry, just an opinion.

 

[MubarekMuslimah]

Assalaamu alaikum

None of us should have to watch another person pray in order to complete our own prayer properly. You teach yourself how to pray - otherwise how do you pra y when you are alone? I can understand a nee revert not knowing how to pray but this is what other sisters are for - we should be helping one another to pray properly - not peeking through curtains!! What if the imam makes a mistake? then what do you do? or if you go to a different mosque one day and an Imam from another community does it slightly different, or syas a different surah??

This all comes down to basic lack of unity. Lack of unity that people are worrying about how to pray right because between us we can't teach each other. People too proud to ask one another for help, or too shy and others who aren't concerned.

look I dont mean to be rude to anyone here but I am slightly irritated that we are here debating whether we should have wooden screens or not when the very basics in some cases are not being fulfilled correctly and we are not unified in helping one another to do this? why are we concerned if the women can see the men or men can see the women when the MEN THEMSELVES and the WOMEN THEMSELVES should be more concerned with unity among them and their prayer being correct and helping one another? ( no brother should need to see the Imam to pray correct either)

The women's area can ber very noisy and very hard place to concentrate so I relate to sisters who perhaps cant hear the Imam and therefore need to see him for that purpose. I prefer to pray at home. Each time I visit the mosque I usually see things I dont like - sorry I know it sounds horrible - but I see people disrespecting the mosque chaperone/ cleaners or I see women who let their children run between the rows while people pray or food in the paryer area in the carpet where we have to put our head. I hear of young boys having water fights in the wudu area and their parents do nothing. I hear of men trying to get into or peek into the women's area. I see people walk in front of one another when they pray or gaps in the lines. I see people give each other dirty looks cos their beard isnt long enough or their hijab isnt just=so, I see people push one another at the top of the stairs, I hear of people's shoes being stolen and I see people who use the prayer area as a social gathering place and sit there all day gossiping about one another! astifrugallah!!!!!!!!!!!! Where is the respect gone? Where is the respect for one another and for a building built for the purpose of worshipping Allah swt? Why the disrespect in keeping the wudu area and toilet clean? why the disrespect to the lady who does clean it - for free? would we do her job?? Where is the unity and consideration for one another???????

Im sorry Im on a big rant today and I will prob regret typing this but I see so little unity and respect between us nowadays - right now it doesnt matter whether we can see the men/women or not through a screen or not - the most important issue right now is helping one another and respecting one another and respecting the mosque and what it represents = worship to Allah swt and a community of muslims. The screen should be debated later in my opinion when we can safely say we don't let Allah swt down in any other area of our spending time at the mosque.

Like I said Im sorry - I just think we need to wake up as an Ummah to what is really important becuase life is too short. This is an urgent matter - nothing else should be more important then correcting our manners individually and collectively.

And Allah swt knows best.

Salaams