Jumma: The last bastion of the boys
Repost This ArticleThe other day I was chatting to my dad and told him that sometime in the future I would like to give a Jumma sermon. He shook his head sadly and told me that unfortunately in this country, women cannot give sermons. I asked him why? And he couldn’t really tell me a good reason.
So I am throwing the question out to the rational and reasonable public – Why can’t a woman give a Jumma sermon? I know from my brother and cousin that most of the Jumma sermons are totally irrelevant. Firstly they are given in a language they don’t quite understand – a tip to Imams: try Sinhala or English as a rule please, in Colombo mosques, secondly the Jumma is dead boring. Thirdly what exactly is the criterion to give a sermon? I know one big one: you have to be a man. But after that, what? From my limited knowledge I know that there is no priesthood in Islam. So technically, anyone learned or qualified should be able to give a sermon. And then back to my original question – why can’t a learned and qualified woman give a sermon?
It amuses and amazes me to hear Muslim men actually endorsing the view that women cannot and should not give sermons. These are men who might possibly work under a woman, hire a woman to defend him in a court of law, have his case heard by a woman judge, entrust his health to women doctors, be taught by women, have a woman drive him around, have a woman do his accounts, design his house, be checked at a military point by a woman, travel in an airplane flown by a woman, have lived in a country that was led by a woman (and please don’t give me that hackneyed phrase of look where we are now. The origin of all our political troubles in the world started with men) and still they think that a woman cannot give an intelligent relevant sermon at the mosque.
The Jumma sermon should be appropriate. It should speak to the people of modern situations, current problems, and other pertinent topics. Why can’t a woman do this?
It seems a bit archaic to blame the inability to have a woman give a Jumma sermon to the lame excuse that it hasn’t been done before. It was not done during the time of the Holy Prophet etc., etc. First you have to examine why you give a Jumma sermon, once that is ascertained – and I presume the sermon is given to educate, inform, and school, and if all this is being done quite well in other spheres by women, then why not Jumma?
A related point is the  treatment of women in mosques. I think we are treated very badly. For one, whenever I enter a mosque with my mum and my sisters and my cousins, we are shooed to one side as if we are vermin. Then if we want to pray we are asked to go to a small room that has barely any ventilation and is dingy, musty and dirty. If there are any shrines, we are not allowed anywhere near the shrine as if we have the plague and will contaminate all surrounding areas. There was even a time when I went to a mosque and was asked to use the back entrance that was reserved for women. There were no outsider men around at that time and it was ridiculous for my dad and brothers to go through the front entrance and for us to use the back entrance. And let me add before any of my beloved brethren accuse me of not being dressed properly. We certainly were dressed respectfully with our heads covered, our arms covered, our legs covered, and our bodies covered.
Why can’t our mosques be like churches, kovils or temples when it comes to women? I have been told that Hindu women stand onto one side and Hindu men stand onto another, but that they are treated with the same dignity and they are not treated like substandard beings who have to be banished somewhere else.
What really astonishes me is that Sri Lankan Muslim men, even the most educated see nothing wrong with this whole set up. Except for my dad and brothers and a few other enlightened men, the majority of the men think this is quite normal for Muslim women to be treated the way they are.
Subjugation of women is a part of Islam. You clearly don’t agree with that. So why are you still a Muslim?
Nazeeya Farooq [edited out] I doubt the writer’s identity, and i’d even doubt it given the biased nature of this blog.
That said, there are plenty of examples where women were allowed to conduct sermons during Prophet Mohamed’s time provided they fulffilled certain conditions, one being “Mahrami” i.e, people not allowed to marry in simple english. They include immediate family members etc..
Not that this ignorant and venomous post merits a reply, but i’d reply in detail through a seperate post. But in short, writer’s ignorance is simply mind boggling (not in a good way that is might i add)..
A simple Google search on the subject would perhaps enlighten Nazeeya Farooq [edited out] May you be enlightened, so called muslim girl
I quite agree with the opinions expressed by the writer. I personally know some very modern and socially open Muslims who still see nothing wrong with the way women are treated as second class citizens by their religion.
Mohamed Azmy’s comment is a good example of this attitude that attacks any questioning of the status quo.
Religion is an archaic practice. For a similar controversy see the issue of women priests. This website advocates it:
http://www.womenpriests.org/index.asp
This looks like the accepted view of the Catholic church, which is denies this:
http://www.catholic.com/library/Women_and_the_Priesthood.asp
Wiki surveys practices amongst many religions here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ordination_of_women
In Islam, I found the following
http://www.ummah.com/forum/showthread.php?169067-why-can-t-women-be-imams
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_as_imams
My attitude is towards religion is mixed. I pay no heed to the doctrine or mythology but have some respect for the cultural aspects. Religion affects culture principally in the defining moments of life: birth, marriage and death. The rest of the time it has varying degrees of influence, concerned with ceremonies, rituals and the like. Sometimes this can be an impressive, even moving spectacle and one in which many can participate or derive pleasure of satisfaction from passive observation.
The rest we can junk. As my father says, ‘its not that I don’t believe in god, its just that I don’t trust his priests’.
Readers please note Groundviews, the self proclaimed freedom of expression advocates did edit (actually censored) my comment above. I had said the writer was a non muslim posing as a muslim with ill intentions, or a muslim as bad as salman rushdi and taslima nazrin. I fail to understand why they had to edit that out.
Nonethless, i feel obliged to clear the misconception here, hence my reply.
Question : Can a Woman Act as Imam or Deliver Jum`ah Khutbah? (Friday Sermon)
Answer : YES, YES, YES,
Read more: http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1119503546384#ixzz0jGDsPejT
Should ignorant Nazeeya Faarooq require more clarifications, i would urge her to contact Dr.Zakir Naik at IRF (www.irf.net) or Sheik Rizvi Mufthi of Srilanka Jamiyathul Ulama (www.acju.net).
Hope this clarifies and enlightens Nazeeya Faarooq’s ignorant head. Maybe one should research on the topic before coming to silly conclusions that only display one’s own ignorance and stupidity.
Finally Groundviews, maybe its nice to practice what we preach once in a while, no?
I hope this will go unedited.
Why don’t you try to read, and if you can comprehend, the site guidelines which your previous comment clearly violated before submitting more imbecilic comments?
If one disagrees with one’s religion one is free to leave it. I was a Buddhist but dont count myself a believer any more because I do not believe in two of the fundemental tenets of buddhism i.e. re-incarnation and karma. The rest of the doctrine especially the moral aspect is pretty sound even though those morals are barely adhered to by those who follow it. Religion is the biggest collection of irrational nonsense known to man. They are low on logic and high on dogma but people still cling to whatever religious indoctrination they underwent as a child because when it comes to religion, they are incapable of thinking objectively. All humans have an anxiety about death because no one knows what happens afterwards as none have returned from it to tell us all about it. We would love to believe that is it not the end of the road and that something awaits us on the other side. And this is what Religious leaders have exploited to mould the societies they lived in to achieve what they thought was a better and sin free society. But largely I think its been counterproductive, as far less than deter crime and promote virture, religion has given people a banner to gather under and wage war against those who are not of that faith.
And that is my thought/Bana/Jumma sermon/ for the day.
First of all you are claiming you as a Muslim, but unfortunately it seems to be you haven’t understood Islam properly.
A Muslim (Men or women) has (must) to perform daily 5 times prayer. This is one of the 5 pillars of Islam. (The different between Muslim & non Muslim is the prayer. The one who is not performing daily 5 times prayer cannot claim as him/her as a Muslim.)
Islam has strictly has ordered men to perform 5 times prayer at mosque, but for women Islam has given the choice to perform it at home or mosque, if wishes. This choice is not discrimination, but a favor considering women’s nature.
That’s why most of the mosque in Sri Lanka has a small separate prayer hall for women considering the numbers of women worshippers visit the mosque for prayer. Hope you have noticed that during the period of Ramadan (Fasting) most of the women visit the mosque for prayers specially for night prayers. Therefore there are special arrangements are made for women some time extending women prayer hall.
(Islam has given another favor toward women to skip the daily 5 times prayers during their monthly period time until it gets over)
Who told you that women are not allowed near the shrine? Hope as you a Muslim you are aware of that Kahba is the 1st holiest place of the Muslims in Makka. Whoever (Men/ Women) visits the Kahba, performing their prayers & other religious activities there, even kissing the Black Stone (Hajarul Aswath – a stone from paradise)
As a conclusion Islam is the religion considering women a lot and given many favors. Most of the people who convert to Islam are women in the west since they are frustrated with their life style or position in their previous community/ religion. Finally they study & understand Islam and convert to Islam and enjoying the life.
Good question. Jumma Friday sermons are conducted how it was taught by Prophet Mohammed. If we do not agree with it, well we dont have to be Muslims as religion is not forced in Islam. As simple as that. There are many other forums for Muslim women to give sermons to other women. Go deep into this subject and the writer can get the proper answers.
if you can preach in this post criticizing how muslim women are treated and tarnish
muslim image by making unreasonable allegations why can’t you preach whatever you want to preach at sermon in the same website/post you have vast audience you have a good opportunity preach good things.instead try to instigate trouble among muslims first islam forbids creating division among people. Are you planning to be next thasleema nasreen and try to become popular in the world, there are so many other ways to become popular but do not use religious tools to become popular
Iron and Gold are metals. Nobody makes a golden safe to protect iron. The non-Muslim women are like used pepsi cans thrown in the dust bin. They cannot digest Muslim women being protected like gold by their men. If a Muslim woman qualifies to conduct a Jumma surman, there will be many to listen. But, what is the need? Are we short of men? Islam is a complete pakage for life. Each one has a role to play. Simply do that and you will be rewarded. A relegion is based on faith. Millions of Christians believe Mary was vergin when delivering Jesus. Has anybody used Mentel’s genetics theory to challenge her modesty? Why do you want to challenge only the way of Islam? If the Prophet (PBUH) had told you to go to a women only Mosque and conducta Jummah Sermon, well do that and please yourself by pleasing Allah. May Allah forgive you and your so called enlightened family and correct Eeman,
“I do not wear the hijab. My mother does not wear the hijab. My grandmother does not wear the hijab. My great-grandmother did not wear the hijab. Neither do my aunts, or my grandaunts etc.”
I have taken these lines from one of this writer’s article.
who are you nazeeya to talk about Islam ?do not write or talk about Islam if you are not aware of that religion.
Sri Lanka is racially intolerant but it is amazingly accommodating of all religions.
Islam, a close associate religion of Christianity, does preach equality of sexes although Muslim religious leaders subvert the Quran to subjugate women.
For a very long time Catholic church did not allow priesthood for women. Brahmins who officiate in Hindu Temples are still men. But then there is still not a country in the world that gives women equality.
My experience with living with Muslims in the same household in the UK, having Muslim majority neighbourhood, their family life is one of peace and harmony. Muslim men would beg, borrow or steal to make sure their wives and children are well looked after.
I have seen domestic violence among Tamil families in the UK (this is very common), Indian communities but Muslim families have very strong family bonding.
Perhaps the writer, rather than wanting to preach jumma, could educate women to be breadwinners as well instead of having to live on a one man’s income.
You have asked some intelligent and relevant questions. Don’t be surprised at the number of hateful responses you receive!
The bane of Islam, over the ages is that its followers have not been able to separate religious practices from cultural ones. The hijab/niqab come from Arab countries and has nothing to do with Islam per se; having mowloods and recitals (the roots of which can be traced to Hinduism and Buddhism) are peculiar to South Asian countries and some of the religious practices in Malaysia and Indonesia would be viewed as un-Islamic by a Wahhabi puritan!
You will also find that the replies depend on whether the writers are Sunni, Shia, Ahmediya, Wahhabi and which school of jurisprudence they belong to: Shafi, Hanafi, etc.
Women had more rights in the time of the Holy Prophet and in the golden age of Islam than they do today.
Surely if our only defensive response to intelligent questions about religion is: if you don’t like it leave it, we are in trouble!
One would also question where all these “Imams” come from and what qualifies them to make pronouncements and issue fatwas. For a religion that does not have a priesthood we have somehow ended up with a large number of them.
In Canada we have gone through this debate. A woman actually led the Jumma prayer and the sermon was delivered by a lady professor from the USA. For once there was an intelligent sermon from an educated person who had done the research and was able to put things in proper context. Of course the venom and vituperation directed at the lady and the organization in question were frightening.
As a young man I remember how we would have the wits terrified out of us by an Imam delivering a sermon conjuring images of terrible suffering in the grave and vivid descriptions of hell! This happened week after week.
The Jumma services were intended for the community to meet and discuss issues of common interest. I have not read anywhere that women are excluded not do I believe that Islam is a religion that believes in their subjugation. The best person to lead a congregational prayer is the most educated person there. The Holy Prophet encouraged his followers to question. Faith through conviction is surely better than faith that is simply taught by parents.
I don’t think the writer knows what Islam is about.
She seems to be confused about religion and women’s lib
Pearl Thevanayagam said,
March 26, 2010 @ 6:50 pm
Perhaps the writer, rather than wanting to preach jumma, could educate women to be breadwinners as well instead of having to live on a one man’s income.
———————————-
Are these women Allowed to work in the first place? Seems as if your argument ignores the fact that women can be confined to their homes, regardless of their earning potential.
The author does well in asking the hard questions about ingrained sexism in the muslim practice.
Sabarullah said,
March 26, 2010 @ 6:47 pm
Iron and Gold are metals. Nobody makes a golden safe to protect iron. The non-Muslim women are like used pepsi cans thrown in the dust bin. They cannot digest Muslim women being protected like gold by their men
—————————-
This is extremely offensive. I’m surprised it survived the moderator! Living abroad this statement would never be tolerated.
“honour killings” of women who wish to marry whom they prefer and not those selected by their families are the bane of some muslim majority countries.
Such countries are hesitant to formulate laws against this practice.
In UK those who committed such murders are punished by courts of law. This appears to be the most extreme form of discrimination against muslim women.
I am delighted to read this article. I firmly and solidly beleive that a women should be given all the support to give a jumma session. Additionally I also support strongly that women should allowed to be mullahs and also represent in all aspects of life. The world is not the 10th century today-a dynamic environment need dynamic changes to cope with the daily needs and wants of the people, whether men or women. Or for that matter whatever religion or philosophy must take this into account. Let us start a new movement to encourage this very great thought so men and women can be alike and judged equally and justly. Prophet Mohamed and Ishan Nabbi (Jesus) would have definitely supported this if they lived in this period of time.
I did Google “Nazeeya Faarooq” to establish the writer’s background and credentials, but couldn’t find anything of any significance except her previous ramblings on this very same site, shockingly with the same tone on a different issue..
Given my findings, the vilifying nature of groundviews’ admins, and groundviews’ penchant for nonsense, I wouldn’t be surprised if Sanajana Hattotuwa himself posted this. Well.. i may well be wrong here, but i suspect a foul play in this article. Alternatively groundviews may have received the article from Anti Islamic forces, cleverly camouflaged as Nazeeya Faarooq to mislead the readers of the site.
My point is this couldn’t have been written by a muslim.. not even by a non practising ignorant muslim.
It would be nice if the writer can clarify my doubts on her identity.. I doubt such a person exists, even if she did i wouldn’t rate her any higher than i rate this attention seeking [edited out] Taslima Nasrin.
For the record writer’s claims are baseless, and i wouldn’t want to waste time with a loser. Besides many others before me have clarified with references, not to mention the help of search engines like Google if one were really interested on this topic.
Groundviews was started to unite communities, not divide people from a community which is what is happening now. Sad but true… Given this was an attempt at sensationalism with malice, I do demand retraction of this article. Yes, you heard me right, I demand a retraction, firstly as a muslim and secondly as a reader of the site.
This is not cool… Shame on you both Nazeeya and Groundviews.
Dingiri, that was well said. This has been the best piece EVER that Ive come across during my lifetime on the complexity that is religion. Im a muslim myself and even though I like to believe that my own religious convictions have not been shaken by your discourse I am nevertheless the wiser now regarding the logical and dogmatic aspects of religion that your just pointed out. I fully agree with you that when it comes to religion, people are not capable of thinking objectively. Religion today and as has always been seems to be a divisive and not cohesive force. Mankind needs to wake up to the fact that all religions are but rays of the same God.This realization is lacking and is the root cause of of all schisms and barriers even within individual religions. And truly, this is a sad.thing. I dont think God ever wanted it this way but the human mind is frail and people like the writer here tend to exploit this weakness by raising totally unproductive issues such as this which is akin to disturbing dogs in slumber
Thank you for your most enlightening views.
assalamu alaikum wa rahmath-Allahi wa barakathuhu
sister, first let us both Question ALLAH,
Why were only men appointed as Prophets ?
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GONE
God knows why
1.Muhammad SAW says , “do not prevent the woman from entering the masjid if she wishes to”
Awoman can surely enter masjids, but masjids should be build in such a way, that it accomadates for both men and women in relavant proportions with a partition !
2. A woman can also give lectures on Islam, A woman can preach, just like how Ayesha R.A did, Islam doesn’t prevent her from doing so
3. A woman can lead WOMEN in prayers, in Jamaa’ath prayers , Islam doesn’t prevent her from doing so
4. A woman can lead men in prayers, ONLY if
- If she is exceptionally qualified and others are not so well versed in the rules of Prayer and knowledge of the Qur’an;
- If her husband is a new Muslim who is struggling to learn the rules of Prayer and the Qur’an, while she herself is perfectly well versed in them;
- If she is a mother of minors who are still learning the rules of Prayer and the Qur’an.
REFERENCE:
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1119503546384
If a woman leads non mahram men in prayers, you’d be hearing a lot of THE WAY YOU MOVE IT, I CAN’T BELIEVE IT, I’VE NEVER SEEN A …..LIKE THAT !
I’m being honest here, that may happen sister, Just look at the temples,kovils and churches, all love stories occur there, some of my friends goto the temple, because some hot chicks visit the temple on Poya days !
We’re no saints !
GENERALLY, it is believed that men like to see , break the LOWER THE GAZE rule very frequently .
4 . It is only during JUMMAH that womencan’t lead men in prayers, Jummah is obligatory for MEN , and I remember reading a hadeeth which says , “a woman gains equal merits for performing jummah at home” , i.e for certain reasons, Muhammad SAW said, that IT IS BETTER for women to pray at home , it is not obligatory for women !
TYPO : It should be BUILT not build
This woman’s ego seems to know no bounds. She is using this forum to gain cheap publicity for her assumedly ‘educated, western -oriented, english-speaking’ upbringing. I find it difficult to blame her, knowing very well her attempts to give herself a competetive edge in the marriage market. However, she seems to have overshot the mark and doesnt realise that her efforts may eventually prove counterproductive. Education and a liberal outlook are fine but most muslim men look for modesty and femininity as reflected in dress, speech, and behavioural styles when they go hunting for a wife. Its a pity that her dad and brothers who she classes among some of the ‘enlightened men’ in her circle are just sitting on the wall like Humpty Dumpty without giving her a few words of advice. The familiar roles seem to be reversed here and it seems SHE is doing the preaching in the household. Not content with this, she now wants to preach to the community. Shucks.
QUOTE
“honour killings” of women who wish to marry whom they prefer and not those selected by their families are the bane of some muslim majority countries.
UNQUOTE
that’s utter moo poop, read Quran 4:19 and that honour killing or whatever will be napalmed !
I saw some good comments and answer to the author a so called muslima Brother WASA has given a fair comment and answered some of her questions. Islam is a practical religion. I advise the sister and others to study quran and hadeeth without prejudices of western thoughts. I am giving one good reason for it. fastest growing religion in the western countries is Islam it is more than 240% and most of converts are women. you know very well there is no war taking place in western countries to covert them, they are not bought by dollars, they merely attracted by the teachings of Islam Quran and Hadeeth.
A muslim by definition one who submit, surrender, obey the commandments of Allah and gain peace. if you want to call yourself a muslim you should follow it. Having a arabic name does not mean you are a muslim.
As you said If you are not satisfied with the sermon or if you find any wrong in that. you even being a women can point out to the said imman and reason it. I can give you an example in the history Once Umar(R.A) the great calif of Islamic kingdom who ruled one third of world and well-known for his strictly just rule, fixed a certain amount for dower a lady pointed out that he is wrong and gave the reason. he never got angry and he accepted and said the Umar(R.A) is wrong the lady is correct.
If you are put into a dirty room or something it is not at all the fault islam. complaint to the relevant majid committee.
About Hijab a popular misconception is that hijab is only for women but it is for both men and women, both sexes should cover their body with a non-transparent, not sexually attractive good clean cloths the only difference is the extent of it.and the ladies have to cover the body except the hands and face. it is so said to prevent them being molested. If you are awake, look at media you hear molesting in numbers the cased which are reported it is only the tip of the ice. one in four college girls are abused in USA universities. have you ever voiced against this heinous act.
I do not want to drag the other religion but as you compared others I just point out one or two examples to open your mind. Have ever seen a lady poosari conducting a marriage ceremony in hindusm, have ever heard of lady Bishops or Pop for that matter, or have you seen a lady monk conducting a Pirith in a big ceremony.
I wind up here for fear of length.
wassalam
A Sane Muslim,
You hit it right on the nail! I am not a Muslim, but I detest the dirty politics going on here.
I am disgusted at all the hatred directed against Buddhists, Muslims and moderate Tamil voices on Ground Views.
Shame! Shame! How much do they pay you to wreak havoc on fellow Sri-Lankans?
Shame! Shame!
Hi fellas,
If there is any good to be learnt from an individual, a religion, a group or a cult we should adopt it but we should be courageous, wise and objective enough to discard any unskillful habits that come tagged along with it. And organised religions are goldmines for being a container of good and bad habits. But mind you, it does not necessarily speak about the founders of that religion.
I myself was born in to a traditional Buddhist family and I followed Buddhism ardently for more than a decade before I dumped it – esp the Sri lankan version of cultural Buddhism. So if the Author is unhappy with the current version of Islam that is being handed out, an option is to simply walk away but don’t forget to adopt the good stuff in it.
Being brainwashed with organised religion from a tender age, as it happens in many countries including Sri Lanka is a SHAME! It takes away the objectivity that a child should be engrained with. Hence the reason for wars fought in the name of religion by the so-called adults since time immemorial.
My personal opinion is that young Sri Lankans and also our brother and sisters who will be born in the years to come will continue to drift away from organised religion because one does NOT need organised religion to be brought up as a caring and responsible individual.
Thanks for reading, just my 2 cents.
So many personal attacks here against the writer, but nobody actually tackles the issues Nazeeya Faarooq raises. Does this mean that the writer’s claims are true? The writer does not talk about Islam in general but about the way the religion is practised in Sri Lanka, and whether those practices accord with the religion. As a Sri Lankan Muslim, she has every right to ask these questions, to ensure that the religion is practised in her country in accordance with Islamic principles and tenets—just as Taslima Nasrin had that right too. The questions that need to be answered are:
1. Are women forbidden to give the Jumma sermon in Sri Lanka? Does the religion itself forbid this?
2. Are women shooed in Sri Lanka to one side of the mosque? Is this in accordance with the Quran and Hadith?
3. Do Sri Lankan mosques give vastly inferior facilities for prayer to women such as unventilated rooms? If yes, which parts of the Quran or which Hadith recommends this?
4. Are they told to enter the mosque by the back entrance in Sri Lankan mosques? Again, if yes, do the Quran and the Hadith recommend this as appropriate practice?
@ Nazeem Seyed-Mohamed, Professor in Sweden,
All I have to say is you are NOT a muslim, rather some random dude with psychological deficiencies, pretending to be a muslim.
You say QUOTE “Ishan Nabbi (Jesus)” UNQUOTE.
Isaan nabbi? Really ? Its Eeeshaa Nabi Alaihissalam, not Isaan nabi. This is no brainer, and you are supposedly a professor? Please get a life guy. Do some proper research before impersonating muslims on this site.
Groundviews this article is evil and full of bull… I second sane muslim and demand retraction.
Why is the writer not answering to any comments? Where is she hiding now? Why not have some courage, come out of here closet and face the truth?
Can someone please bring this to the attention of Jamiyathul Ulama in Colombo please? I haven’t got their numbers.
This is a reply to Nazeeya Faarooq’s post on Groundviews. Not that her ignorant rantings merit a reply, but certain clarifications are called for. Hence my attempt at making sense to a seemingly senseless Muslim.
Let me try summarize her ignorance,
1- Nazeeya Faarooq’s Myth: Women cannot give sermons. Why can’t a woman give a Jumma sermon?
Fact: Who says you can’t? Simple answer is you CAN. Check up facts with Islamic scholars or just Google.
2- Nazeeya Farooq’s Myth: I know from my brother and cousin that most of the Jumma sermons are totally irrelevant.
Fact: Yes they are your brother and cousin; I can imagine how irrelevant their conclusions can be.
3- Nazeeya Farooq’s Myth: Sermons are given in a language we don’t quite understand.
Fact: Sermons are delivered in a language understood by the majority, besides there are always mosques with Sinhala and English sermons if one were willing to attend. In fact there’s a roster, this means having to attend different mosques every week. When in Colombo, I do the same. I attend a mosque where sermon is delivered in a language understood by me.
4- Nazeeya Farooq’s Myth: The Jumma is dead boring.
Fact: Really? May we kindly ask what’s “Interesting” to Nazeeya Faarooq? Not as boring as displaying blatant stupidity on a community website like Groundviews?
5- Nazeeya Farooq’s Myth: What exactly is the criterion to give a sermon?
Fact: Mmmm…. I assume you are genuinely interested. If you can comprehend, may I suggest you Google, wannabe Taslima Nazrin? No I am not giving you the links, because you seem capable of asking the wrong questions and finding the right answers.. So here’s a challenge, Google will you, junior taslima
6- Nazeeya Faarooq’s Myth: We are treated badly in mosques.
Fact: Please inform them before hand that your highness required a red carpet whenever your holiness visited them. Really how stupid can one get? I bet you haven’t attended a mosque in your lifetime. Yes, I dare challenge you. Care to respond with facts such as mosque name, date etc..?
7- Nazeeya Faarooq’s Myth: If there are any shrines, we are not allowed anywhere near the shrine.
Fact: Biggest shrine is in Mecca where women are allowed. As such your claim is invalid.
8- Nazeeya Faarooq’s Myth: There was even a time when I went to a mosque and was asked to use the back entrance that was reserved for women. Fact: Never heard of “Mahrami” and “Ajnabi”, and that there needed to be a clear separation? Besides tactical choices such as location of a door should not be taken as either an endorsement or insult. Not all mosques have adequate facilities. I have visited mosques where men were asked to use the back entrance and women were asked to use the front entrance.. Happy now, girl? Does this satisfy your feminist ego?
9- Nazeeya Farooq’s Myth: Why can’t our mosques be like churches, kovils or temples when it comes to women?
Fact: Oh dear… what an ideal world. But in all seriousness women are allowed in Mecca, therefore women can be allowed in mosques. There’s no stopping them.
Grounviews, what can I say except thank you for the entertainment eh?
The dogmas of Sri Lankan Islam has even led to intra-religious violence with different Islamic sects violently attacking each other and even killing each other in the process. This is un-Islamic. The confrontations started ever since a fundmantalist and extremist brand of Islam came into Sri Lanka at the hands of the Wahabi movement. Islamic extremism is not a new phenomenon in this region, but it is indeed sad to see it increasing amongst Sri Lankan Muslims.
Nizaya’s Question:
Reading through her writing I note the following points:
1. She writes with he western conception of equality of sexes
2. Woman’s right to preach Jumma sermon.
3. Suggesting revisionism in Islam to create post modern role to Muslim women.
Noting the foregoing I wish to clarify the positions taken by this writer who wish to reform the Muslim society not know what Islam stands for and how Muslims society behave.
Equality of sexes:
In Islam, Men and women have distinct roles in society and family. Allah Almighty has created both men and women as the best of creations to suit their best defined roles and therefore their physiology and psychology are designed in the principles of form follows function to play the defined role in human society.
Therefore a modicum of elementary knowledge of human biology would tell you that women are not equal to men from a physiological and psychological sense. They are neither unequal but they are different in their biological makeup.
Islam considers that men and women are complimentary and not equal or unequal and both have complimentary roles to play in society. Mankind cannot exist if they are not complementary and share complementary social and family responsibilities. If they are considered equal/unequal then the sustainability of mankind will become questionable as it is observed in the modern western society with the problem of single mothers and same sex parents or heterosexual couples with conflicting equal sex mentality. Therefore, for the sustainability of man a woman is vital and vice versa.
In a spiritual and economic domain they are equal because these are efforts, work done and results which are measurable. In this sense, whatever good a woman does is accepted as equal to that of a man and similarly all her commercial transactions deserves equal and proportionate return. Because this is based upon ones physical out put which has an economic or goodness value.
Therefore the writer should understand that she too has a place in society similar to men but have to pursue roles that is most fitting to their innate nature. Otherwise it will lead to a dog doing a donkeys work.
Woman’s right to preach Jumma sermon.
In Islam woman have a complementary role to play in society and religion. There is no compartmentalisation in Islam thus separating the role of religion from society in the epitome of “render unto Ceasar what is his due and render unto god what is his due”. Therefore religion and society are intertwined single entity and from it comes the socio-religious role of men and women. Hence any social role a Muslim plays has a religious tone and vice versa irrespective of the sexes.
Teaching and preaching in society are vital elements needed for the cultivation and perpetuation of civilised social upbringing. Therefore this cannot be relegated to men alone and it is not relegated so in the Muslim society. Both Muslim men and women are playing their due roles in their best capacities in the contemporary society.
Definitely a woman can teach and preach and Islam has not prohibited that. The women who understand the realities of the problems of women are the best suited to preach to women as singles, doubles, multiples or congregations. This should not be confused with the role of Jumma in society vis a vis the Imam.
The role of sermon for Jumma and leadership of the Imam is an exclusive masculine role. In the right conception of Islam, the role of Imam is multifarious; he plays the role of the leader of the parish, a quasi judge, an emergency responder, advisor and a guide etc. In this context the imam has to respond to the need of the people without any time consideration irrespective of day or night. Certainly this cannot be played by women.
Apart from this, there are other reasons why the imam should be a man in particular relevance to Jumma sermon as follows:
1. Imam being the leader of the parish knowing the ins and outs of the community in question knows how best to advice and guide them through the medium of sermon.
2. The congregations with whom the imam’s life is intertwined with will be receptive to his guidance due to the strength of relationship and trust built upon as a result of the proactive and participatory role played by the imam in the life of the individual and the community.
3. Imam, being a counsellor both in public and private with the congregation can infuse change that an alien cannot.
4. Leadership in Islam is not qualified by the mere presence of knowledge, instead legitimacy of leadership is derived by knowledge, upright behaviour with strict adherence to the Qur’anic dictate and the guidance of the prophet both by knowledge and practice as the Qur’an says “do not preach what you don’t practice” and being dynamic intertwined leader of the congregation.
Should women be made an imam for Jumma sermon, sustaining services will be highly questionable due to the need to grant pregnancy leave, menstruation leave, and other concomitant emotional leave apart from their inability play a leadership role due to multifarious role. Further, family responsibilities and care of children does not permit a woman to play an imam’s role.
Considering the above, women have all the right to preach to their children and their sisters and woman folk either individually or in congregation with the exception of Jumma sermon.
Suggesting revisionism in Islam to create post modern role to Muslim women.
In Islam, there is no compulsion in religion and truth stands clear from error (Qur’an 2:256). Qura’n is a revelation from Allah Almighty to Prophet Muhammed like what He revealed to David, Moses and Jesus (Peace be upon them all). So a believer has to accept it in total to claim oneself a Muslim or reject it outright and claim not a Muslim. This is a basic freedom Allah Almighty has given us and there is no in between or middle ground in this. Islam being a way of life shown to mankind through Prophet Muhammed and the previous prophets of Allah, the faithful followers owns it and follows it as dictated by Allah. And those who do not want to follow this need not try revisionism. They can have their own way and be not part of the Muslim Ummah. Considering these the writer has two options:
1. Obtain proper knowledge of Islam and make oneself a devout Muslim.
2. Be a life long learner and be a listener than an ignorant writer. She should not take her family members or any other Muslims as her role model. Her role model should be based on sound Islamic knowledge based of the Qur’an and the practice of the Prophet and his rightly guided companions. Since Islam believes in knowledge based society than a culture based society.
“In Islam, there is no compulsion in religion”
Is that really true though?
“In Islamic law (sharia), the consensus view is that a male apostate must be put to death unless he suffers from a mental disorder or converted under duress, for example, due to an imminent danger of being killed. A female apostate must be either executed, according to Shafi’i, Maliki, and Hanbali schools of Sunni Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh), or imprisoned until she reverts to Islam as advocated by the Sunni Hanafi school and by Shi’a scholars”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostasy_in_Islam#Punishment_for_apostasy
Outsider,
You certainly have some elaborate theory of the difference between men and women! There is a lot of double-speak too and contradictions in your discourse. So women are spiritually equal to men, but only men can lead the Jummah sermon, and only men can be imams? So where’s the spiritual equality then? In the economic domain, men and women are equal, yet they must pursue roles that are “innate” to their nature? Are you saying the two sexes should battle it out equally in the work world, but that some jobs/roles are better for men than women, and vice-versa? So does the woman who preaches to her family or the female community earn as much as a male imam preaching to the general community?
Elaborate though your gender theory may be, it does not seem to be Islamic. Here’s how the Qur’an describes the two sexes:
“Verily for all men and women who have surrendered themselves unto God, and all believing men and believing women, and all truly devout men and truly devout women, and all men and women who are true to their word, and all men and women who are patient in adversity, and all men and women who humble themselves before God, and all men and women who give in charity, and all self-denying men and self-denying women, and all men and women who are mindful of their chastity, and all men and women who remember God unceasingly: for all of them has God readied forgiveness of sins and a mighty reward.” (33:35)
“I shall not lose sight of the labor of any of you who labors in My way, be it man or woman; each of you is equal to the other (3:195)”
Do you see any difference there in terms of God’s reference to the two sexes? Do these verses speak of different gender roles?
The Qur’an also says “Men are the maintainers of women because Allah has made some of them to excel others and because they spend out of their property; the good women are therefore obedient…”(4:34)
However, in today’s world, women have property and spend out of their property. Do men then continue to be “maintainers” of women? Or in the modern world, are they equal, since some women are capable of maintaining their men?
As for women not being able to lead the sermon because they need pregnancy, menstruation and emotional leave—are men not plagued by infirmities of the body, and need leave to attend to these? The greatest numbers of crimes of passion are committed by men—yet it is women, not men, who are emotional?
And, you say that family responsibilities and care of children does not permit a woman to play an imam’s role. So men have no family responsibilities? They are not plagued by family concerns in fulfilling their role as head of the household?
Finally, it seems that the issue of women being forbidden to lead in the Jumaah sermon, or to be imams is not as simple as you make it out to be. It appears to be in debate, and there have been through history, women imams and women leading prayers in mixed congregations. Just check this out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_as_imams
Women aren’t out to “revise” Islam according to the post modern ways. They seek to restore Islam to its original meaning, to wrest control from the false prophets who have taken control of the religion to suit their own power needs. You would know that if you have taken any trouble to read these female Islamic scholars.
Let’s call your post what it is—a con job.
Thanks to Faridah, for citing the Qur’an verses 33:35, 3:195 and 4:34. As none of the above verses qualify explicitly or implicitly a woman to be an imam for a mixed congregation. Though Wikipedia is not a source for scientific discourse, the link provided is clear about the absence of evidence or precedents in the Shariah about women being an imam to a mixed gathering.
What is evident here is sheer ignorance of those who advocate woman to be an imam in a mixed gathering. That the Qur’an and the Prophet has defined a way as regards how Muslims behave. The ignorance of the intent and purpose of the Qur’anic guidance by people with Muslim name and secular mindset is a software/hardware mismatch that is causing this commotion. Faridah’s quote : Verse 33:35” Verily for all men and women who have surrendered themselves unto God, and all believing men and believing women, and all truly devout men and truly devout women, and all men and women who are true to their word………..”
The above verse quoted by Faridah clarifies that “those who have surrendered to God, believing and truly devout” will try no revisionism in this regard. As the position of Imam and Jumma sermon was first led by the Prophet and followed by other men. This being the example of the prophet in respect to Jumma Imam and sermon and in the absence of Qur’anic instruction or Prophet’s guidance on the role of woman for the post of Jumma Imam and Sermon. The rest of the Muslims cannot be a judge on this. As all four sources of Islamic Law are silent (including the schools of jurisprudence) on this and therefore it is more fitting for devout believer man or woman to abide by than think otherwise, which does not take us anywhere. A woman imam delivering Friday sermon to a mixed congregation satisfies only the ego of those who wish to display that women are equal to men and not complimentary. This is just because they wanted to challenge the convention but it does not improve the condition of anyone. Should they wish to positively contribute to the ummah, they have many other alternatives if they are sincere and devout.
Both Muslim men and women are great in their realm and both of them have immensely contributed to the world irrespective of the disciplines of knowledge. Those who know Islamic history knows well why our history does pick women’s contribution conspicuously is because it is not something of a special, since innumerable women in Islamic history contributed equally as men, unlike the western history.
It is our mothers (believing, devout, educated, truthful, chaste…) who have produced great men and behind every successful man lies a devout wife. It is because of the specialism and toil of the great mothers, wives and sisters and ladies great men have been produced. In spite of these, some contemporary men are misguided due to split personality created mismatching upbringing in a clashing worldview.
Verse 33:35 says : ….men and women who have surrendered themselves unto God, believing …,.. truly devout…, .. true to their word, ..who are are patient in adversity, … who humble themselves before God, ..who give in charity, …self-denying ,…who are mindful of their chastity, ..who remember God unceasingly: for all of them has God readied forgiveness of sins and a mighty reward.”
The above verse lists the qualities and attributes of men and women in respect to their spiritual qualities. In other words that Allah will never discriminate of their good qualities for being man or woman.
Verse 3:195.“I shall not lose sight of the labor of any of you who labors in My way, be it man or woman; each of you is equal to the other (3:195)” exactly confirms this.
Notwithstanding their different physical makeup, their efforts towards their maker are accepted without discrimination.
Verse 4:34 “Men are the maintainers of women because Allah has made some of them to excel others and because they spend out of their property; the good women are therefore obedient…”(4:34)
“”However, in today’s world, women have property and spend out of their property. Do men then continue to be “maintainers” of women? Or in the modern world, are they equal, since some women are capable of maintaining their men?””(Faridah’s Quote)
Women did have property not only in today’s world, which they did have in the past too, the wife of the Prophet herself was a business woman, and there were many in history. To none of them the question of maintenance by men did arise, because Islam conferred upon women the sole right to their property and shariah safeguarded their interest against irresponsible husband. Similarly the husband of rich women is also not absolved of the responsibility of the maintenance to wife, since it is the duty of the husband. However in instances of economic hard times to husband, the wife have been gentle due to nuptial love and affection. And there were no tug o war as is seen in the contemporary society who believes in the rights only but fail in their duties (which are someone else’s right).
Even in the event of a woman maintaining her husband economically, the role of the wife remains same within the family. The instances of sick or unemployed husband helped by wife do not eliminate the male role in the family.
The problem today is with the clash of two world views of which Islamic world view, views the world as a temporary abode and mankind in a transitory and temporary life to test them who behaves the best to be rewarded in the next world. As regards the western world view, which views world as the end and therefore instruments any means to just enjoy world hedonistically before end of life to man approaches. So my dear friends we have to decide which road to take to answer this????
Dear Nazeeya,
It is not true that women are not allowed to lead prayer there are certain conditions though and it is a very complex subject which I wont go into, Friday prayers are only obligatory to Muslim Males, Women although free to attend are not obligated to do so which is probably why they are not allowed to give the sermons. Despite what people might say Allah has given all of us a conscience for a reason and Allah enabled us to think for ourselves for a reason, if something strikes you as being wrong then follow your heart at the end of the day Allah is the only one who will pass final judgement, hold true to your beliefs keep your faith in Allah and hope for the best…
Outsider,
You said, “A woman imam delivering Friday sermon to a mixed congregation satisfies only the ego of those who wish to display that women are equal to men and not complimentary. This is just because they wanted to challenge the convention but it does not improve the condition of anyone.”
Men have been imams or priests for centuries now. So have they produced such a good result in the world? Take a good look around you. The world is increasingly becoming absent of spirituality, and drowning in male ego. Why is it egoistic for a woman to want to lead people in prayer, but not egoistic for men to want to do so? Only male ego can answer that conundrum.
As you said, “The above verse lists the qualities and attributes of men and women in respect to their spiritual qualities. In other words that Allah will never discriminate of their good qualities for being man or woman.”
And a reasonable reading of this is that men and women are equal in their spiritual qualities. So again, why can’t women lead prayers in mixed congregation?
“Notwithstanding their different physical makeup, their efforts towards their maker are accepted without discrimination.”
Nowhere in 3:195 is there any mention of the different physical makeup of men and women. That is your addition. Don’t transpose your prejudices onto the reading of the verse.
“It is our mothers (believing, devout, educated, truthful, chaste…) who have produced great men and behind every successful man lies a devout wife. It is because of the specialism and toil of the great mothers, wives and sisters and ladies great men have been produced.”
Most women know that men who talk like this are the ones who beat their wives. This is how they disguise their sexism by seeming to be great believers in women. If you truly believe that out of the “specialism and toil” of women, great men have been produced, then it stands to reason that these very same women can make “great men” of themselves if they so wish to.
“The problem today is with the clash of two world views of which Islamic world view, views the world as a temporary abode and mankind in a transitory and temporary life to test them who behaves the best to be rewarded in the next world. As regards the western world view, which views world as the end and therefore instruments any means to just enjoy world hedonistically before end of life to man approaches. So my dear friends we have to decide which road to take to answer this????”
[Edited out]. All religions view the world as a temporary abode, and life on earth as a test, with the reward being given in the next world. Muslims are as materialistic and hedonistic as anyone else from other religions who are losing touch with their spirituality.
Fine Farida, I see only beating round the bush and no convincing arguments around the point, giving sufficient Quranic justification on the relevance of woman leading a mixed congregation. Nadeem Majid’s point is succinct, Friday Jumma is compulsory for males only and voluntary for females and therefore that there is no need to have this halabaloo about woman leading the mixed congregation. Since jumma is not compulsory for the women this argument is irrelevant.
Any one persisting on this further, I am helpless but to quote Qur,an Chapter 109:1-6 as a point of departure from this polemics.
“Say: O you reject faith!
I worship not that which you worship,
Nor will you worship that which I worship.
And I will not worship that which you have used to worship,
Nor will you worship that which I worship.
To you be your way, and to me mine.”
Regards
@Outsider
Here is an argument from a leading Islamic scholar. I hope you find him convincing.
http://www.scholarofthehouse.org/onwolepr.html
Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadi says:
“The Qur’an itself does not mandate that only men be allowed to lead prayer. The Sunna is indecisive on the issue. There is evidence that the Prophet on more than one occasion allowed a woman to lead her household in prayer–although the household included men–when the woman was clearly the most learned in the faith.”
He says further: “But the question is: Is there a specific exclusion against women when it comes to prayer? It seems to me that if there is such an exclusion the evidence in favor of this exclusion ought to be strong, if not unequivocally so. But the legal evidence in favor of such an exclusion is not very strong–it is more an issue of customary practice and male-consensus than direct textual evidence. Consequently, in my opinion, priority ought to be given to what is in the best interest of the community, and knowledge is the ultimate good. It seems to me that if a female possesses greater knowledge than a male–if a female is more capable of setting a good example in terms of how she recites the Qur’an and also in terms of teaching the community more about the Islamic faith, a female ought not be precluded from leading jumu’a simply on the grounds of being female.”
So “it is more an issue of customary practice and male consensus rather than direct textual evidence.” Religion is meant for one’s spiritual development. It is not to be used as a tool to obtain power over women.
If you want to argue with his position, I hope you will be so kind as to provide actual textual evidence, and not expect us to rely on your interpretation as truth.
Dr.Khalid Abu Fdl’s opinion is issued to a specific question and to a specific peculiar situation in a local university amongst a group of 10 students. An opinion made on a specific peculiar situation is not suitable for generality and normal circumstance. This is the consensus of all the jurist/scholars in Islam. Dr.Khalid too ends his note saying “God knows the best” a proof of inconclusivity of his own edict though specific to a particular situation. Therefore this cannot be generalized as a rule.
However irrespective of his erudition, it should be noted that Dr.Khalids longtime association with RAND corporation (the research and development wing of the CIA) and the ISIS – Institute for the Secularization of the Islamic Society and the Council of Foreign Relation of the US, speaks volumes about his Islamic credentials of wider mainstream scholarly acceptance. Where the CIA is grooming Islamic scholars to create a fathwa factory and to secularize the Muslims so that the west can have a free and wild run over the Muslim world.
Islamic fundamentals are based upon the Quran and the Dictates of the Prophet. Therefore these fundamental issues will not revise by a mere statement by Dr.Khalid. Unless there is unanimous consensus in compliance with the letter and spirit of the Quran and Hadith. None of these are binding upon the society, however high one particular person or his devout followers holds his private opinion, unless there is juridical unanimity..
Observer,
I expected the character assassination of the scholar. So, I can take it then that you can’t cite any textual evidence for your claims.
“Dr.Khalid too ends his note saying “God knows the best” a proof of inconclusivity of his own edict though specific to a particular situation. Therefore this cannot be generalized as a rule.”
Yet it seems you have no problems generalizing and producing specific cultural practices as rules. And you don’t seem to need juridical unanimity for doing so.
Sorry, post above is directed to “Outsider”.