Muslim women

And women should not be allowed to drive; period.

Edited by Sparten - 25-Aug-2006 at 03:38

Tele Induz and Omar...

Ok, your right again Northman.

The issue with men & women praying together is that when you pray in congregation you are "feet to feet, shoulder to shoulder" with the people next to you. People think (quite rightly) that if members of the opposite sex are that close, they will not be concentration on there prayers.
To seperate sections for men & women praying is in my opinion necessary, and I'm certain its Hadis too, but it isn't Quran.

Where these positions are is a completely different question. To the left, right, above, below, behind (though probably not in front - its not good to be looking at a woman's backside when praying) is arbitary.

Line of sight is mainly a ME cultural thing, actually Hamza Yusuf (an american scholar) once gave a speech I heard that made a good case about it not being an Arab thing during the prophets time, but something that has been picked up from other middle-eastern cultures.

I also need to understand what parts of the culture is religion and what is merely male dominated, female opressing traditions.

In my experience, its usually the women who are the instigators and protaganists of segregation.  I think the whole male dominated thing is a myth. People are just assuming the wrong cause to the visible effects.

Whether women go to the Mosque or not is something that varies hugely by culture. Religously I think they have just as much obligation to do so as men.


Edited by Omar al Hashim - 25-Aug-2006 at 07:49

I agree that the close proximity between males and females will stir passions from within. I still don't like the idea of segregated rooms or barriers in most mosques though.

I wouldn't go so far as saying that women are 'instigators' of segregation. Makes me want to barf. Imams tend to be men. The boards of directors tend to be made up of men. The women are regulated to part of the room behind a barrier and hardly get to preach on any given Friday. No. I don't think women set up normative behavior themselves. I think the macho mentality is more the culprit.
    

Edited by Seko - 25-Aug-2006 at 10:39

Originally posted by morticia Originally posted by TheDiplomat [QUOTE=Omar al Hashim] Ok, your right again Northman.The issue with men & women praying together is that when you pray in congregation you are "feet to feet, shoulder to shoulder" with the people next to you. People think (quite rightly) that if members of the opposite sex are that close, they will not be concentration on there prayers.To seperate sections for men & women praying is in my opinion necessary, and I'm certain its Hadis too, but it isn't Quran in the mosques people pray feet to feet ,shoulder to shoulder and given the fact that sexual feelings are one basic instict and springs to mind evry day for many times,it is better to spearte man and women in the house of Allah so that everyone can concantrate on praying better and as a result unite their souls with Have you gentlemen ever heard of the word CONTROL? Are men unable to control their sexual "urges" upon seeing a female? Does this mean that women can't ride on the same bus as men, women can't go to the same theatre as men, etc...because men can't have close proximity to a female without having premature ejaculation? C'mon guys...I don't buy it! Why not try to exercise 'CONTROL'of those MANLY powerful sexual urges and concentrate on praying instead, eh?      It should make no difference what gender is standing next to you, when it's time to pray, sex should be the last thing on your mind...but, now I see that, obviously, that's not true! I certainly hope that's not the VALID reason why women are separated in a Mosque from the men.

Very well said Master.

Oh I understand why morty said it.

Its just the perpetuation of a sterotype created by (in a large part) a misunderstanding of different peoples with a touch of cultural arrogance thrown in, that I'm disputing.

(It may also be counter-productive. If womens rights is associated with westernisation, it'll recieve more opposition than if its not. Which I think we can agree is a bad thing. These movements need to come from within and can't be pushed from outside)


Edited by Omar al Hashim - 27-Aug-2006 at 22:38

Everybody knows the sterotype of Muslim women. Exceptions always confirm the rule. However its not the Muslim women who are to be blamed. its the muslim men who are immersed in bigotism.

Originally posted by Paul And if you go for a stroll around Kota Baru without a headscarf, the police will stop you.... Muslim men, Chinese and Indian girls won't get stopped, only you.