Majlisi Mutahida Ulama Patron, Mirwaiz Mohammad Umar Farooq,recently talked ABOUT allowing women attend mosques. In this regard it isimportant to remember a Hadith narration, in which it is reported from’Abdullah ibn ‘Umar: “I heard the Messenger of Allah (SAW) say: ‘Do notprevent your women from going to the mosque if they ask your permission.’”Bilal ibn ‘Abdullah said, “By Allah, we will prevent them.” (Ibn’Umar) turned to him and told him off in an unprecedented fashion, saying:”I tell you what the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, and you say ‘By Allah,we will prevent them’!!”
It is evident from this Hadith that Ibn Umar got angry withthe suggestion that someone could think of preventing women from attendingmosques, even though he had stated that Prophet (SAW) allowed it. This shouldbe kept in mind by every one who is thinking of building mosques and tries toprevent women from attending it, either directly or indirectly (by not havingenough space for women). Would they like to violate a direct instruction inthis Hadith.
The excuse of not allowing women in mosques is that it canlead to mixing. It is strange that men can work, study and shop with women allthe time, but think only they will become immoral in a mosque with separatespace for women to pray. It should also be noted that even though Hijab isimportant in Islam, prayer is far more important. No one has said that notwearing a Hijab takes you out of Islam, but many Ulama like Ahmed ibn Hanbalhave stated that not praying can take one out of Islam. Even those who do nothold to this view, still agree that not praying is one of the biggest sins inIslam. It is strange when, people consider minor sins and do not even think ofhalf the population not having enough space to pray. Where can they pray, whenthey are in offices, market etc? They don’t have space.
This problem is also unique to Indian subcontinent, asMuslims all over the world have places for women to pray. Women now a days workand study outside the houses, and at prayer times, they just usually miss theirprayers. Do our Ulama think that prayers are only obligatory for men, and notwomen; then they should realize that women need places to pray on time, and sothey need to have spaces in mosques. Men can even pray on the side of a road,but it is hard for women to do that. At this stage it is essential to providespaces for women to pray in mosques. Anyone who opposes it, let him know thathe might be taking on himself the sin of making women miss obligatory prays,apart from going against a Hadith. Also, our scholars, ulama talk about womenrights, husband-wife rights, rights of wife on husband etc., without thepresence of women in masjids. It doesn’t make much sense to speak on thesethings without the presence of women.
Some people might argue that it is better for women to prayat home, or they are not required to attend mosques. It is not the question ofwhere the prayers are preferred, but the question is of not allowing women toattend the mosques. There is not a single Hadith where women are prevented fromgoing to the mosque. There is a myth, and that is attributed to Umar (RA) forbade women from going tomosque. This is a myth, as according to a Hadith prophet (SAW) had said”Do not forbid the bondswomen of Allah from [going to] the mosques ofAllah.” So there was no question of Umar (RA) stopping anyone. Atika bintZayd the wife of `Umar was even present in the mosque when he was stabbed. Ifthis myth had been true, then women would not go to the mosque in all the Muslimworld, but in reality women go to mosque in almost all places except Indiansubcontinent. It is time for Muslims of Kashmir to allow women in mosques, asthey were allowed at the time of Prophet (SAW). It will also give women senseof equality.