Your thoughts?
First woman to lead Friday prayers in UK
By Jerome Taylor, Religious Affairs Correspondenthttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/first-woman-to-lead-frida...
Thursday, 10 June 2010
Raheel Raza leads a group of Muslims in a first ever public, woman-led Juma Prayer in Canada
A Canadian author will become the first Muslim-born woman to lead a mixed-gender British congregation through Friday prayers tomorrow in a highly controversial move that will attempt to spark a debate about the role of female leadership within Islam.
Raheel Raza, a rights activist and Toronto-based author, has been asked to lead prayers and deliver the khutbah at a small prayer session in Oxford.
She has been invited by Dr Taj Hargey, a self-described imam who preaches an ultra-liberal interpretation of Islam which includes, among other things, that men and women should be allowed to pray together and that female imams should lead mixed congregations in prayer.
Three of the four mainstream schools of Sunni Islam allow women to lead exclusively female congregations for prayer, but the overwhelming majority of Muslim jurists are opposed to the notion of their presiding over mixed congregations outside the home.
Raza, 60, is part of a small but growing group of Muslim feminists who have tried to challenge the mindset that has traditionally excluded women from leadership roles within the mosque. They argue that nowhere in the Koran are female imams expressly forbidden. Instead scholars rely on the hadiths (the words and sayings of the Prophet Mohamed) to exclude women – although Muslim feminists and some progressive scholars argue that even these are not clear enough to say with confidence that women are altogether banned.
Ms Raza received death threats after leading a mixed-gender prayer congregation in Toronto five years ago.
"It was a very profound experience," Ms Raza said yesterday in a telephone conversation from her home in Toronto. "It's not about taking the job of an imam. It's about reminding the Muslim community that 50 per cent of its adherents are women who are equal to men. Women are equally observant, practising Muslims who deserve to be heard."
Ms Raza's appearance in Oxford is a repeat of a similar prayer session in 2008 which was led by Amina Wadud, an American-born convert and Muslim feminist. But this is the first time a Muslim-born woman will lead a mixed prayer service in Britain.
Ms Wadud's prayers were attended by a small congregation of less than 40 who were heckled on their way in to prayers by protesters, largely by fully veiled Muslim women. Once inside the prayer hall, meanwhile, they were comprehensively outnumbered by journalists.
But Dr Hargey, a divisive figure within British Islam who runs the Muslim Educational Centre of Oxford, said his congregation had since grown and attracted new followers.
"For Friday prayers we now receive about 100 people, twice that for Eid prayers and important occasions," he said. "I am expecting about 200 people to attend this Friday's prayers."
In recent years there has been a growing demand from Muslim women to be included and represented at their mosques. Earlier this week Faith Matters, a conflict resolution think-tank funded by the Government and private benefactors, released a list of 100 women-friendly mosques. The number of female Muslim scholars, meanwhile, often referred to as imamahs, are also on the rise.
Ms Raza, who is due to fly into Britain this morning, said she was aware that she would be preaching to the converted tomorrow. "But it's about opening one heart, one mind at a time," she added.
I was reading up on the topic of women leading prayer and how its not always been as taboo as it is now:
According to Shaykh Ibn Taymiyyah, women could lead congregation prayers of mixed gathering as long as it was for nafl prayer (Tarawih) and she stood at the back.
According to atleast a couple of other classical scholars, women can lead all prayers and as proof they use the example of a sahabiyya for whom the Prophet
got someone to do the adhaan and then she led the prayer of the people in her household. they argue that this was a mixed congregation and thus women leading prayer is allowed.
The people on the other side (which AFAIK is the vast majority, or atleast it is now) argue that no, this was not a mixed congregation but just women of the household and thus cannot be generalised to women leading mixed congregations.
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
the view of the 4 fiqhs is that a woman cant lead a mixed prayer
thought so, they're prayer can't be valid then :S
"How many people find fault in what they're reading and the fault is in their own understanding" Al Mutanabbi
Things are rarely black and white. Mostly shades of grey that are extremely very close to black or white.
While a statement such as "the view of the 4 fiqhs is that a woman cant lead a mixed prayer" is exceedingly strong and simple - no cause for confusion at all, the matter is that there have been historical scholars who have allowed it.
Maybe not the majority, but the view has been present.
More pressing questions are "why" and "why her".
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
if i was a man, i wouldn't read behind a woman just to be on the safe side
Women may be EQUAL in Islam, but not in the same way.
"How many people find fault in what they're reading and the fault is in their own understanding" Al Mutanabbi
Equivalent - equality is not necessarily fair.
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
exactly
"How many people find fault in what they're reading and the fault is in their own understanding" Al Mutanabbi
Shaykh ibn Taymiyyah, although he was a great scholar he made serious mistakes in aqidah and sometimes went against his madhab (Hanbali) and took minority opinions in fiqh.
Although there might be various minority opinions, some of them are rejected completely and are not even considered. Such as the baatil opinion that a man might see a woman naked before marrying her.
Best to stick to the madhab one follows and avoid minority opinions, even if scholars from the past allowed it.
PS. When you mention some classical scholars said so and so, please mention their names.
I am not arguing that people should follow the opinion but merely that it exists (and it was not just by him).
Hiding past arguments is a bad idea as it can mislead people into thinking that there were no other opinions ever and that can be a bad thing.
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
This is absolute crap. Raheel Raza is a disgusting human being. Just looking at her face can tell you the what sort of person she is. She is part of an organization from Toronto called the Muslim Canadian Congress that advocates mixed salaats, female imams and accepting the fact homosexuality is ok. Woman are NOT allowed to lead salaats just like the fact they are not allowed to say Talaaq in divorce. What if she menstruates during a salaat with 100's and 100's in congregation then? These so-called Muslim women just want to prove that they 'can be somebody' in society. Ruining the religion.
this would also be an issue where it is women's only congregation.
What if a male imam needs to urinate or fart with hundreds and hundreds in congregation? Does that mean that no one should lead prayer?
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
I think Habib's made a good point. If the imam needs to fart he can do, and then re-do his wudhu, it's not like women who are menstruating can do the same thing.
But then again if women can lead other women...
"How many people find fault in what they're reading and the fault is in their own understanding" Al Mutanabbi
Sometimes scholars will hide certain opinions from lay people (even valid opinions) inorder to stop the fitna of people following them. I would have mentioned one but I think it's better if I do not.
But then you get into the situation "Hadhrat Aisha Siddeeqa (ra) was 6 at the age of engagement, 9 at the age of marriage and that has only ever been the only opinion" when that is not true.
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
just so wrong.
Those who danced were thought to be quite insane, by those who couldn't hear the music...
assalamu alaikum,
I agree with the revival editor, the 4 madhabs expressly forbid it.
The fact that this lady says no where in the Quran is it forbidden, but is forbidden according to ahadith, shows that she disregards hadith. The sunnah and Quran go hand in hand. Likewise no where in Quran are there details of how to perform salah. So what then should we disregard salah.
Furthermore she is a so called "muslim feminist". Feminism has no place in Islam. I do believe in women's rights but in Islam this is very different to the concepts of feminism.
For an analysis of the sort of views these muslim feminists have see here:
http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=7&ID=6805&CATE=3600
Also Ruling on Women leading mixed prayers:
http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=3&ID=4591&CATE=352
“O my people! Truly, this life of the world is nothing but a (quick passing) enjoyment, and verily, the hereafter that is the home that will remain forever.” [Ghafir : 39]
1) was there not men available to lead that particular Friday prayer?
2) Why did she accept the position?
3) Surely, it is very clearly stated that women are not allowed to lead prayers anyway? Why can't this be just accepted instead of making a big unnecessary deal about it?
Politics. It was meant as to make a point.
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
LOL! Nice statement!
Interesting why the angels prostrated to Adam and never to Hawa - equality seems to be lacking from the start of mankind's story...
how is it interesting?
Adam(As) was the first man[kind] to be created, he was VERY special. When the angels prostrated to him(as), Hawa wasn't even created [afaik] :roll:
"How many people find fault in what they're reading and the fault is in their own understanding" Al Mutanabbi