Friday, March 30, 2007

The Islamic Bill of Rights for Women in Mosques

The Islamic Bill of Rights for Women in Mosques

Asra Nomani's ten principles of equality for women in mosques
By Asra Q. Nomani


1. Women have an Islamic right to enter a mosque.

2. Women have an Islamic right to enter through the main door.

3.Women have an Islamic right to visual and auditory access to the musalla (the main sanctuary).

4. Women have an Islamic right to pray in the musalla without being separated by a barrier, including in the front and in mixed-gender congregational lines.

5. Women have an Islamic right to address any and all members of the congregation.

6. Women have an Islamic right to hold leadership positions, including positions as prayer leaders and as members of the board of directors and management committees.

7. Women have an Islamic right to be full participants in all congregational activities.

8. Women have an Islamic right to lead and participate in meetings, study sessions, and other community activities without being separated by a barrier.

9. Women have an Islamic right to be greeted and addressed cordially.

10. Women have an Islamic right to receive respectful treatment and exemption from gossip and slander.
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Oh Allah, I pray to live to see the time when Mecca is not the only place on this earth where women have these rights in your House of Worship.
Ameen.

5 comments:

Salihah סליחה صالحه said...

Assalaamu alaykum!

Did you read Asra's book, Standing Alone in Mecca? I didn't agree with some of it (women praying in front of men, just IMO), but masha'Allah, I was really encouraged and challenged by it. One of my favorites!

Rockin' Hejabi said...

Alleikum salaam,

I just discovered it's existence today...inshallah I'll get ahold of a copy soon, I am really motivated to read it!

...That and Fatima Mernissi's most recent.

Saudi Stepford Wife-Daisy said...

Assalamu Alaikum,

BooYa! More Abazons!

I'm workin on the Mecca thing for ya'all. Inshallah, before it starts snowing in Hades, we shall overcome.

Saudi Stepford Wife-Daisy said...

A lot of us are having issues with division of prayer areas in Mecca, not being allowed in certain areas, and so forth.

Not to mention the incredible effort the brothers have to put forth in order to open the doors to the women's prayer area in any masjid in Saudia if one of us drops by unexpectedly. I've actually seen some women having to pray outside of masjids because no one was found with keys to open the women's door! As if God will strike all of us down dead if we must enter in the same door out of neccessity. Not OK.

qrratugai said...

Salaam,
Thanks for sharing this here. I just heard about this bill of rights and thought it'd be interesting to read it!
Good to see more Muslim women supporting it :)