There’s a barrier in front of me and it’s covered in orange felt. An unknown brown stain sits right in front of my face. Coffee? The imam is talking about supporting our community — I think. I can barely hear him over the din of women gossiping about their children or that new muslimah who wears her hijab in a bun. I wonder if it’s me they’re talking about. What is that, coke? When I put my forehead against the carpet in prostration I can smell feet. The men are just on the other side of the barrier, and no one bothered to use odor eaters. Seriously, is it a dirty water stain? That’s disgusting.
Partitions dividing the women’s and men’s sections is just one of many contemporary additions to our North American mosques. But unlike water fountains and basketball courts aimed at providing needed services, the barrier aims to silence and shut women out of the community under the guise of sacred personal space.
Islam has always had some form of sex segregation when it comes to communal ritual worship. For obligatory prayers, men and women have their own prayer sections — with women either praying behind the men, or beside them with a separating aisle. Religiously suggested and sanctioned modes of dress and behaviour intend to help the sexes mingle chastely outside of worship situations. When there are social requirements for the entire community to work together Islam encourages mixing.
Traditional, cultural and political appropriations of these logistics have not only lead to partitions, making us feel like second class citizens, but have also forced praying women into mosque basements or kept them hidden at home.
Over the past 30 years partitions have crept slowly across the face of North America.
Mosque communities are diaspora, they are home grown, African American, cater to converts or exclude anyone who doesn’t speak the language. Some are progressive, others are moderate. Some are more strict than others. Some have charismatic, accredited leaders. Others have to rely on volunteers to keep the community running. All belong to a wide range of Islamic interpretation and expression. All at some point or another have had to deal with the barrier discussion.
Generally, men tend to dominate mosque administrations. This is in part because of a fallacious belief that women cannot hold positions of power, but also because many women are holding down a job, caring for children and the household and simply don’t have the time to sit on a volunteer mosque position. Those who do volunteer tend to be retirees with empty nests, female Islamic scholars, university student representatives or simply stellar sisters who can balance career, children and mosque. But they are few and far between. And really, in mosques where partitions show up, there is rarely a woman on the board.
Those in power tend to have a smattering of Islamic education and try their best to provide religious services for the community, while answering the concerns of Muslims who are growing up with distinctly North American concepts and values as well as the cultural expectations of older generations. Many of these mosques started in someone’s basement, in old banks and even abandoned Anglican churches. In these mosques there tends to be no “traditional” imam, and the role of community leader is shared among a roster of volunteers.
Enter the culturally and politically motivated religious group.
They come with good intentions. They come with “valid” religious credentials (valid could mean a turban, a very long beard, or an actual degree from an accredited religious institution). They come specifically to help this fledgling, North American mosque survive in a morally corrupt secular country with no state-sanction Islam to tell them how it’s done like it is “back home” or according to the “real Islam.” They carry authority. They are highly intimidating. They sometimes even carry funding from overseas, have access to scholars who support their religious interpretation, and who use religious text to wrestle power away from the community. They are mosque pirates and their leadership includes promoting the complete segregation of women.
From Little Mosque on the Prairie:
Oh the fuss that’s made over these partitions! They’re erected without first consulting the women. So we walk into the mosque with a shocking, “oh hell no.” Many women take this as their cue to leave and never come back. Others argue and argue, but either the men in power don’t listen, use misinterpretations of the religious text to prove the barrier’s Islamic justification, or they simply defer the argument to women who actually want to be secluded.
The barriers are also ingeniously constructed, making it painfully obvious that someone puts a lot of thought and effort into excluding women. There’s the drawn curtain (my favourite); the one-way mirrored glass; venetian blinds; old 70s felt room dividers; opaque glass; a solid wall with tv projection and poor sound system; very pretty woven wood slats; and so many more.
Now, there’s no Quranic sanction for the seclusion of women. So how is it justified?
Well, apparently women are a distraction, so we are made invisible. Hijab, modest dress, and even niqaab aren’t enough. You can never be sure as to what will set off a man’s immoral thoughts and feelings, so it’s best not to be seen. Or heard. When we do attend the mosque, it’s also drilled into us to be silent, out of the fear that our soft, sultry voices will incite lust in men who cannot possibly be trusted to control their own desires.
And for some poor souls, even announcing the times for a sister’s weekly swim is enough to send them lasciviously imagining round, supple hijabs floating in water.
You know, perhaps it’s best if women just didn’t come to the mosque at all.
This is the subtext. The “official” reason for the barrier is to help create sacred personal space so that both men and women can worship without sexual distraction.
Oh great. I’m behind a barrier for my own spiritual good. If I weren’t hidden from the male gaze, I would cause the spiritual downfall of countless men. Because you know, we all come to the mosque to hook up (well, sometimes). And apparently, humans are incapable of worship in the presence of the desirable other sex. Must really suck if you’re a gay Muslim and you’re forced to pray next to people you’re attracted to.
As of the year 2000, about 66% of mosques in Canada had some kind of partition.
Now, some women do indeed feel more comfortable praying behind a barrier. In the majority of Muslim countries women just don’t go to the mosque. It’s not encouraged. Mosques tend to be overrun with men and the space set aside for women is generally lacking or falls into disuse.
There are also cultural justifications for the partition. North America provides an interesting dynamic for the immigrant Muslim population. The culture is different and potentially isolationist — there is also religious freedom. If you want to meet people from “back home” you can do so at the mosque. Many women attend the mosque for the first time only after they’ve come to Canada or the US. First its for companionship and later its to actually learn about Islam.
In this case, the barrier does indeed provide a safe space for women to meet and network. Ask anyone about the most annoying issue about the barrier. It’s not necessarily the subjugation of women. It tends to be the loud gossiping and socializing during the sermon. But what would you expect? The barrier shouts to us, “you’re not a part of the mosque religious or decision-making culture!” Of course we’re going to feel safe in our little space, unwind and have a bitch n’ stitch. No one cares that we’re there. So why should we?
But we should care because the problem with the partition is that while it’s toted as creating a sacred personal space, where men and women can worship freely without distraction, it denies women participation and access to religious education, makes unfortunate assumptions about the moral fortitude of Muslim men, and encourages the disempowerment of women.
Islam has the capability to promote equality between the sexes. When she’s old enough, I’ll be teaching my daughter Eryn how to read the Qur’an, how to understand problematic verses, and hopefully to encourage her to be an empowered Muslim woman. I would hate for her to grow up seeing the barrier as an essential part of mosque culture. I would hate for her to feel less than anything she is capable of becoming because of her sex.
Thankfully there are brave women and men who continue to challenge the partition’s status quo. Mainstream, moderate mosques refuse to put up a barrier, or accommodate both sides of the argument. Some mosques have even gone back to men and women praying side by side. Women, like myself, subvert the barrier by praying in front of it, or if it’s a curtain, simply tearing it aside. Some women even decide to just lead prayer themselves.
For years women have been empowering others through social networks, offering positions of leadership and opportunities for women to engage in politics, social justice and feminist interpretations of Islam. I find it interesting that while it is not an Islamic requirement and more of a cultural misappropriation, mosques have gone through complete renovations to install high-tech wall dividers to cut the mosque in half. When everyone could be accommodated through a “barrier on wheels.” That way, those women who really feel that they need it have the option. And as for the few blokes who just cannot stand to see a women when they enter the mosque — perhaps they’re the ones who should stay home.
Cross-posted at Womanist Musings.
wood turtle 
October 28, 2010 at 6:35 pm
I love your description; I was right there beside you. I despise the barrier. My blood pressure is rising right now just thinking about it! Unfortunately you’ll see many, if not a majority of women supporting it. They’ll tell you their “just more comfortable” praying out of the sight of men. Who cares if a man can see you! We claim that by covering and being modest, we are freeing ourselves from the exploitation of being a sex object, yet by hiding ourselves, we’re really saying “you’re a sex object so you must be kept out of sight”. It’s that indoctrinated in our thinking that the oppressed now embrace their oppression.
October 29, 2010 at 6:26 pm
much love, respect and prayers from South Africa. this inspires me in my own struggles here to carry on … ! thought provoking article. in the case of mosque barriers, out of sight does indeed equal out of mind … and its time to rise up against that and assume our positions as equal members of our religious communities.
October 30, 2010 at 12:11 pm
Welcome! And thanks for your comment — it’s inspired revolution in my imagination.
October 30, 2010 at 12:09 pm
I remember when I first put on hijab, within a couple of years I actually felt more comfortable in public and more exposed at the mosque. And all because of an external pressure saying that I was temptation.
It’s rediculous how ingrained sexual oppression is in our religious culture. And people can’t even see it. Not going to the mosque or being hidden transcends ‘tradition’ and starts becomes haram when you do attend. As if our right to attend is superseeded by maintaining the chastity of men.
And I seriously cannot comprehend how many men actually buy into the idea that they are so bloody weak, that they are incapable of interacting with Muslim women. Non-Muslim women on the other hand tend not to cause as much as a problem as the pornographic potential of the hijab.
October 31, 2010 at 4:02 pm
The thing with the mosques these days is that that lack of communication between its attendees. There’s a board that decides whats best for the people and the people don’t really care anymore. Whats been happening is that more and more people are removing themselves from the mosques because there just isn’t anything that attracts them to it. Due to this the attendees don’t know each other and find comfort in separating themselves.
Now what about those people that want to be a part of the Muslim community. To be a part of the mosque. They the one’s behind the barriers. Be it physical, be it the conservative ways of the Imam’s. But what we have to bear in mind here is that there is a line between gender that should not be crossed in certain circumstances.
The circumstance of the intimate conversation between you and your lord should not be distracted by the possible glance toward a member of the opposite gender. This is one of the reasons women make salaah behind a male imam, as well as behind the males who are following him in prayer. Women are more able to control their desires than men, we simply wired incorrectly. Having a barrier between the genders makes things easier, architecturally too.
It can manifest as a curtain, a different level to the mosque or a corner. This makes it easier because of the maximization of space. In this circumstance the separation is done not to keep you out of sight and out of mind but because its easier. If we look at the two great mosques, medina and makkah – its only during prayers that there are barriers set up as it makes it easier. If the women wish to see the prophets (S.A.W) grave, times were allotted by gender because of the narrow doors and overcrowding. For everything else like tawaf and performing the walk between safa and marwa, there is mixing.
This is not a strong enough argument to justify a barrier which is why the architects need to consider making a female entrance on the right or at the back of the mosque and the males entrance at the front or the left of the mosque. This would allow the females to be seated at the back and see whats going on in front of them with no barrier and for the males to not be distracted by their sexual desires.
Another point I’d like to make is that females are discreet leaders. They pretty much control the pants of the male they married to, thus shaping their decisions. Females are the consultants males seek when in doubt of an issue. Males are arrogant at times and boastful. They don’t think too well a lot of the time because once an idea settles in, they see it to the end. We are the braun and you are the brains. Look to the life of Ayesha (R.A) as a testament of this.
I pity every male out there that does not consult his women and who doesn’t respect her opinion.
October 31, 2010 at 11:16 pm
Thanks for your comment. I do agree that a lot of people, in North America at least, do not attend the mosque because of a disconnect between the community and religious leaders. Every faith struggles with this. We have ‘Eid Muslims just like we have Easter and Christmas Christians.
But there are times where the centre of one’s religious community is needed, regardless of one’s activity with that community. Weddings, funerals, aqeeqah, etc. We have certain cultural rites of passage that are met through the mosque. But these needs cannot be met if that mosque is not friendly.
And while I also agree that at certain times there is a line between genders (obligatory/fardh worship for example), I can’t agree with you that men and women are wired differently and therefore women must be subjected to unequal treatment.
If men really cannot control themselves, then no Imam should counsel a woman, and no male scholar should teach. This type of reasoning is why women are secluded in their homes. If a man truly cannot think of anything but desire for a woman when he’s in the middle of prayer, he shouldn’t be coming to the mosque. That burden is not our responsibility.
You’re right. Separating women behind a wall is easier. It’s lazy and demeaning.
And yes, the best mosques I’ve been to is where there is no barrier, with the women praying behind the men. But I do not see a reason for men and women to enter the mosque through different doors. Into the musallah, sure — men and women are going to have separate doors for their restrooms / wudhu areas anyway. Perhaps that’s what you meant. But the main entrance of the mosque tends to lead to the community area. If we are one ummah, and there is sanctioned mixing for specific events and tasks, then I see a huge problem having women enter the main mosque from the back. It’s symbolic and highly suggestive of second class citizenry.
I hate to burst your bubble, because it is a nice one — but there are plenty of men who do not consult women. Who control them, beat them, rape them, kill them.
Standing behind the gender binary that women control the home while men dominate the public sphere diminishes the fact that this rarely is the case. There are brilliant men. There are men who stay at home. There are strong women. There are women who hold down 2 jobs. There are single parents. And there are people who never marry. Women shouldn’t have to be discreet leaders. Women leaders are sanctioned in Islam. And trust me, if enough women were on mosque boards, there wouldn’t be barriers.
The mosque and the learning, community and spirituality fostered there should be accessible to all.
October 31, 2010 at 11:42 pm
I appreciate your response. Its equality we should strive for after all, not separation.
November 1, 2010 at 4:47 pm
“If the women wish to see the prophets (S.A.W) grave, times were allotted by gender because of the narrow doors and overcrowding.”
There is only overcrowding because there are alotted times for women to visit (men are presumably allowed to visit anytime). This makes women even more frantic to enter in the times that they can. But once we are herded in we see a white sheet up in front of us. That’s right, we cannot even see the Prophet’s grave.
November 1, 2010 at 4:52 pm
yes Tricia – I think this is really ridiculous, as if the men have more right to the Prophet (saw)! the women’s allotted visiting hours are mayb 1/5th of the time men get … hence the frenzy and overcrowding …. i do think in a setting like that there should be gender separation merely because of the large crowds … but both should have equal access, in a mosque that big, believing this is not possible is just naive! just another example of women’s marginalization in sacred space.
November 3, 2010 at 12:22 pm
I think that the whole idea hangs around the point of what is actually law, or what is actually islam?
Ive thought about this alot. The problem unfortunately is that what is considered norms and part of the religion in one part of the world will differ from the rest. As you said in one part of the world, many women grew up not going to mosque, not seeing many others go, and hence they ‘feel’ its not right or best to go. They will then get to hear all soughts of religious proofs why they shouldnt go.
The problem with these things is when are we changing the religion to suit our own selves? What if the prophet then or if he was allowed to day seeing our current situation, would he partition the women off? Was it done that time? honestly no one can really answer these questions.
What is amazing for me is that often reverts or perhaps more free thinking muslims from western countries, struggle to find a place for things they consider apart of islam.eg democracy, equal rights for women, etc. They will then try to find someway to rationalise verses out of the quran.
Im sorry to say but for most of the apologist answers Ive heard and read all over, none really have any real validitiy. Theres so many holes in their arguments.
For me, what is required is a total reinterpretation of the quran and sharia. The problem for many reverts and born muslims is that what made them happy about their religion, was the feeling that it was completely perfect.
Learning that it is now not perfect, would cause many people to be angry and in doubt,so theyd rather refer to stay thinking as they were.
I dont really see how you will be able to teach your daughter the ‘right’ way of interpreting certain verses. Who is right to? Right to you? Right to the majority? Right in terms of western ideals? Thats just trying to find a way to make your religion fit your own ideas, and thats already starting with a premise that what you think is correct.
If people really want to find the truth, they must become more critical, critical to the point of anger.
As I read today, the truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off!
November 4, 2010 at 9:35 pm
Religion is never perfect because it requires flawed humans to act as intermediaries of God’s word. As a believing Muslim, I’d say the Quran is perfect as a miracle and a symbol of the word of God. Interpretations on the other hand are filtered through human culture, politics and patriarchy.
Sure, I’ve had my spiritual crisis where upon converting to a “perfect religion” I’ve then had to acknowledge misogynistic or problematic verses — but there are variances of translation and a scholastic tradition to put these verses in context. I have never felt that I need to do a song and dance to find women’s rights or democratic notions in the Quran or in how the Prophet led his life.
The fact that I can see it easily is partly due to faith, but I am in no way in denial of issues within the textual understanding. I obviously am critical of certain Islamic practices and can get angry at times — but I hope I’m not misinterpreting your comment to think you’re suggesting rejection of one’s faith?
Too often people assume that Islam is this one big monolith and that we all have to follow the same interpretation. There are common threads that tie us together, but the variances in different religious understandings or expressions are in no way incorrect. And it was like this from day one. During the Prophet’s time and in the time of his contemporaries, people practiced Islam differently in Medina, Damascus, alone in the desert, and beautifully in al-Andalus. There’s no reason to presume that this would change during our time.
The problem with a multitude of variances is that you get some looking for the real Islam or lobbying for their version to the exclusion of others. Putting up a barrier may ring clearly for some and others may feel that their Islam is only valid with a barrier — but when interpretations become positions to justify hatred, misogyny, or violence, they most certainly have to be revisited and challenged. Some say the Prophet had a barrier, some say no. But when you look at his character and the spirit of the Quran, I think that if there were anything preventing women from full, autonomous participation in the community, he’d have a few things to say about that.
As for reinterpretations of the Quran, you can always check out Muhammad Asad’s translation or google the Reformist Quran if that’s your cup of tea. Both are examples on how the Islamic tradition is fluid. The shariah as well is not one homogeneous, stagnant block of judicial rulings, which is how the media tends to portray it. Shariah has always been fluid, based on guidelines set out in the Quran, but contextualized to meet the current needs of the community. Naturally, those who take literalist readings of the Quran or of 8th century legal texts, or who quote ultra conservative opinions in place of the Quran are missing the point of ijtihad. (though, this is really only a Sunni perspective. There are other valid, guided and structured religious and legal realities in other expressions of Islam.)
Finally, please don’t presume to know how I’ll raise my daughter. When I said that I would be teaching her how to read the Quran, I meant that I will be giving her the tools of a critical, empowered mind. To be a strong woman. To know that she can achieve anything and that there are no barriers to her success. And that this is in no way in opposition to the teachings of Islam. I never said that i would teach her the right way. She will have to figure out what is right for her. My job is to help her make informed choices.
Thanks for your interesting perspective!
November 4, 2010 at 1:00 am
In response to the last comment…its all about perspective really. Debate is the life blood of all disciplines…go into any university for example, and u’ll be shocked to find a single faculty without differing opinions on even the most fundamental issues. Religion is no different so whats the surprise? We needn’t get into postmodernist debate. Islam is perfect because it allows for debate and dialougue and it encourages it. Islam is perfect bc it is accomodating and moderate and based on the idea of balance…a mizaan. Islam is perfect bc God tells us that we are judged primarily by our intentions. As Muslims we must never go against the foundations of the faith that are cleary articulated in the Quran…the oneness of God, the importance of being a good person, abiding by our pillars and articles of faith and seeking to emulate the life of the Prophet and those on sirat al mustakeem (the right way) that came before us. If you do that ur intention is never to bend rules in ur favour. Ur intention isnt to trick the system by ur extraordinary logical deduction skills. Rather, ur intention is a quest for truth. Ur intention is to understand the faith and love it more. God knows our hearts and judges accordingly. I can look at autumn leaves and say they are gold, and you can look at them and say they are yellow. One may sound more beautiful to some while the other may sound mellow. You see, we do not describe what we see, we see what we describe. I think the constantly evolving nature of Islamic interpretation is beautiful…someone might think its apolgetic. There is debate on how to view the issue that is being debated…let alone the subject of the debates! God knows our hearts. Thats all we need to remember.
January 11, 2011 at 10:56 am
Bravo! I’ve grown weary of the pathetically weak excuses proffered by those who wish to maintain separate and unequal spaces in mosques. If we dig a little deeper, I believe that many Muslims would be embarrassed by the accommodations meted out to women in our communities. I’m encouraged by the voices of progress from around the world making strides and intend to continue working in whatever way I can to move our communities closer to an expression of Islam full of dignity and grace for all.
January 17, 2011 at 3:59 pm
I don’t go to mosques anymore. If I weren’t a muslim, I would never be interested in Islam by visiting a mosque. I’m an American, not a frickin she-devil.
March 17, 2011 at 5:07 pm
Yet another post of yours which expresses in words that which I have felt for years. I can´t explain the anger I have towards these “barriers”. And, as you mention, it makes me actually stay away from the mosque. Not that the men there notice, LOL (come to think of it, how COULD they?). Here in Germany, most of the mosques have a complete barrier (eg. an electric folding-blind which resembles a garage door, (yes, really!)which rolls down at the flick of a switch the minute a women enters the prayer room), or more commonly, they just stick the women in a completely separate room with a speaker connected to the main mosque room (which may or may not function, or more likely, produces loud crackling noises when the Imam speaks, and somehow gets turned off when the actual prayer begins. Not to mention the fact that the heating in the women´s room has usually not been turned on in advance, and so we freeze).
So, actually, the nearby garage-door-mosque gets more points from me, since the entire prayer room has floor-heating (an almost unheard of luxury when it comes to Turkish mosques).
Invariably, I end up thinking, I really didn´t have to go through the trouble of showing up for this)
It is to the point that I feel really lucky if I visit a mosque which actually has a balcony for the women (“hey cool- I´m actually in the same room as the others”)or there is a “see-through” barrier (although, I must admit, I have only enjoyed these on my visits home to Canada).
I look forward to following your future posts!! And you can bet I´ll be passing your link on to my friends!!
Salam alaikum 🙂
Nafissa
March 22, 2011 at 9:53 am
Wa alaikum salaam Nafissa,
I think I’d actucally love to see a garage door mosque! Thanks for that!
July 16, 2011 at 2:37 pm
I´ll take a picture and send it 🙂
August 8, 2011 at 7:56 am
Hi there,
I’m very new to your blog but I find it intriguing. I was born in Canada and raised as an Indian/Pakistani Muslim. My parents never forced Islam on me rather they taught me what it was and how it worked and such. I truly discovered my love for Islam 4 years ago when I went to University and have been striving to find (and have found) answers for why we follow – what we follow.
Anyways – I’ll keep my history short here at the moment. Needless to say that I follow Islam to the best of my ability and a lot of culture gets compounded in there. So I think that at times some of my values – are probably a result of me being a…brown Muslim. So although I am a bit of a feminist – I think that this whole barrier concepts in masjids is interesting indeed. But because of the way my mother was raised there are a lot of traditional values that are instilled in me. Don’t get me wrong though – she’s all about equality and was raised as such. But when it comes to barriers in masjids (and a few minor things) her reasons are based more on the way that she was raised.
So w/r/t barriers – its a very interesting point. I think that my stand point on them is that they’re okay as long as they are reasonable in terms of condition, size, type of barrier etc. So ideally – a clean not physically blocked off partition next to the men would be perfect. In ISNA masjid (which is also a school I think) its not terrible either. There’s a small physical barrier that reaches perhaps the average person’s waist line and a (smaller) well kept area where the women can pray. And obviously smaller – b/c fewer women attend masjid probably because – of all the reasons you and other people have listed. Do you think that – that’s reasonable? I mean I think that its a reasonable barrier. You can hear whats going on perfectly well – the women and men are both addressed when there are issues and everyone maintains a respectful environment.
Otherwise – I’ve really been enjoying reading some of your commentary (this morning) and I think I’ll be a frequent visitor. =) Thanks for your insight.
August 8, 2011 at 3:02 pm
Hi Anees! Thanks so much for commenting and welcome 🙂
I think your family’s experience is completely valid — and I do talk a little about how the barrier as a cultural manifestation is absolutely needed for some who wants a safe space to worship and meet other women.
I have a very open-minded friend who rocks out at concerts, styles her hijab wildly, but who never utters a word at the mosque for fear of being heard by a man and prefers to pray in another room altogether. Not that concerts and piety are mutually exclusive — but I suppose we all have different comfort levels when it comes to spirituality. The key is making sure that everyone is accommodated.
My issue with the barrier is more related to consultation and the assumption that it’s mandatory (it’s not). I can’t quite understand why mosques are being built intending to put women in the basement, into a balcony, or behind a wall – when that excludes portions of the population who feel alienated when praying in these areas. This becomes problematic when women just stop coming to the mosque or stop engaging in Islamic knowledge held at the mosque, or from participating in community work.
What makes ISNA a great example is that it was originally built without barriers. I prayed there for at least a year with their open concept. It was only after (presumably) women requested to have private rooms and the small, opaque barriers that they had them installed. Today, I can pray, see the imam and feel comfortable – but so can my friend when she prefers to pray in an adjoining room.
Glad to see you here 🙂
August 9, 2011 at 9:29 pm
I love the setup at my local masjid. There is a seperate room for women and children where women breastfeed, change their children and socialise. There is also a seperate room for men, who can change their children and socialise.
There is a barrier in the main prayer hall, but it’s not cornering us off like animals, and only covers some of the space, so women who don’t want to pray behind it don’t have to. I personally do, because I feel more comfortable that way, and because the semi-opaque wooden separation casts pretty shadows. It’s a nice area, and I personally don’t want men to look at me. On Fridays or at talks, the partition is moved out of the way into the middle and the Imam actively encourages ladies to ask questions and participate (he mentioned especially the young girls who had questions often held back from shyness) and questions about women’s issues are addressed.
The attitude is respectful, men don’t hold back from addressing their sisters out of fear of being accused of free mixing or something. So why is this attitude so rare? In some masjids they send children as go betweens between the two groups, which is laughable. Women are cornered off, out of sight, out of mind. And often with far less facilities.
And I wish I could change it, I really do. But for now, all I can do is say alhamdulilah for my local.
February 22, 2012 at 1:03 am
I can definitely feel your pain. I went to a new masjid the other day for one of the daily prayers and found that the women’s section was locked off. It took me fifteen minutes to find someone to help me get into the women’s section and finally they put me in a little corner of the men’s space with curtains surrounding me. I could barely hear the imam leading the prayers and had to peak through the curtain to follow him. It makes you feel unwanted and that you should have just prayed at home in the first place.
February 20, 2013 at 11:09 pm
[…] attitudes, discrimination against mothers and their children, horrible sermons, and barriers, basements and balconies. Mosques are supposed to be the spiritual centre of the community, open to all without criticism, […]
March 12, 2013 at 5:04 pm
[…] America, has attracted much debate, controversy, frustration and confusion. From cramped spaces to intrusive barriers to the great menstruation debate (regarding whether it is permissible for a woman to enter a mosque […]
June 7, 2013 at 8:42 am
[…] America, has attracted much debate, controversy, frustration and confusion. From cramped spaces to intrusive barriers to the great menstruation debate (regarding whether it is permissible for a woman to enter a mosque […]