– Fosters a certain sense of modesty

– Creates gendered space

– More privacy for sisters

AGAINST A BARRIER:

– Is not the Sunnah

– Can undermine the sense of community

– Creates a disconnect between the speaker or prayer leader and half the listeners

– Often creates a situation that is physically uncomfortable for women while men sit in comfort in the mosque

– Can make it easier for mosque leaders to ignore women, women’s concerns and the women’s area, since they are literally invisible

– Can negatively affect the next generations when their mother’s do not have good access to Muslim spaces and Islamic learning. Ideally, we would be encouraging every Muslim’s full participation in Muslim communities and spaces and especially sisters’ acknowledging the importance they have in raising our children, transmitting knowledge to them and in the social life of the communities in general.

– Does not acknowledge the cultural and familial realities most of us live with. “They can pray at home anyway” just doesn’t cut it for so many reasons critical to our communities here in N. America.

– Can discourage women’s attendance at the mosque – at a time in which many younger people are staying away from the masajid altogether (becoming “unmosqued”)

– Gives an impression of exclusion of women (and children, who often share space with their mothers)

– Can facilitate lack of focus, chatting, etc. in the women’s area.

– (If TV set-up) Reduces the live events in the mosque to a TV experience. Not a hoped for vibe.

As-salaam-u-Alaykum sister

I understand what you mean but some sisters feel it is not fair that they cannot see the Khateeb, whilst the men can, in the sense that some of these sisters are ‘visual learners’. It is said about 70% of communication is non-verbal. Therefore, whilst you mention the thousands of brothers and sisters who listen to the sermons in Makkah, Medinah or even Arafah, we must acknowledge that regardless if it is a man or woman, many will not be able to see the Khateeb. However, in the local masjid situation, the women are the ones who do not get to see. Nevertheless, can’t this be solved by having a TV connected to the women’s side..that way they can see the Khateeb and learn (as well as feel more relaxed and have a cup of tea)?

Actually in the prophets(pbuh) mosque in madinah, there are barriers! Proper ones, plus the women have a completely different entrance.
As a niqabi sister I feel its much easier and comfortable for us to be behind a barrier…for me it means I can remove my niqab. And don’t we all want to be comfortable in the house of Allah?
Also, about being able to see the khateeb in order to understand…..what about the thousands of people in makkah, madinah or even arafah on hajj? Do you think they are not enlightened by the sermon just because they cant see the imam?

I do feel the sisters do get short-changed by some of the brothers regarding the issue of praying in masjids.

However I do know there are some masjids that have adequate spaces for the sisters, whilst at the same time there are masjids that do not have such spaces.

A sister in Islam has flexibility – she can pray at home or at the masjid. Mothers, especially, who have little children do not have to pray at the masjids – they can equally pray at home – which is why Friday Prayers are not too incumbent upon them as they are with the brothers. However certain cultural traditions have seeped into the Islamic culture, and as a result there have been certain brothers (and even sisters) who feel that a woman praying in a masjid is a haram thing to do! ..they make it feel like that! lol.

If that is so then why do men and women do Hajj and Umrah together?

Also there are many hadiths in Sahih Bukhari and Muslim regarding women praying in masjids.

1. Sahih Muslim Book 004, Number 0890:
Ibn ‘Umar reported: “Grant permission to women for going to the mosque in the night. His son who was called Waqid said: Then they would make mischief. He (the narrator) said: He thumped his (son’s) chest and said: I am narrating to you the hadith of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him), and you say: No!”

2. Sahih Muslim Book 004, Number 0887:
lbn Umar reported: I heard the Messeinger of Allah (may peace be upon him) say: “When your women seek your permission for going to the mosque, you grant them (permission)”.

3. Sahih Muslim Book 004, Number 0886:
Ibn ‘Umar reported: ‘The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Do not prevent the maid-servants of Allah from going to the mosque.

4. Sahih Bukhari Volume 1, Book 12, Number 831:
Narrated ‘Aisha: “Allah’s Apostle used to offer the Fajr prayer when it was still dark and the believing women used to return (after finishing their prayer) and nobody could recognize them owing to darkness, or they could not recognize one another.”

5. Sahih Bukhari Volume 1, Book 12, Number 824:
Narrated Ibn ‘Umar: “The Prophet said, “If your women ask permission to go to the mosque at night, allow them.”

6. Sahih Bukhari Volume 1, Book 12, Number 832:
Narrated Salim bin ‘Abdullah: “My father said, “The Prophet said, ‘If the wife of any one of you asks permission (to go to the mosque) do not forbid her”.

Fact is women were allowed to go to masjids and still are.

Now the issue is whether or not the sister going to the masjid, on a regular basis, is so adamant in doing that, that it affects the family life – I mean if she has to drive there everytime with the kids in the back seat crying and moving about whilst the masjid is not nearby – therefore creating more hassle than calmness. So the women have options and more flexibility 🙂

And if we are to discuss this physical barrier thing, why don’t we do an experiment – one masjid has an Imam do 2 separate (BUT THE SAME!) lectures to men and women without a physical barrier, and one with a physical barrier. Afterwards we can ask the women via questionnaire what hey learnt and who was more attentive in listening to the Imam. After all Islam is about learning for our own benefits.

Completely agree with you sister. I understand both sides, but I personally am much more comfortable with the barrier. People can bring up “This Shaykh said this” or “This Shaykh said that” and exhaust the topic so much when there are so many other issues we need to focus on as well. I’d ask any brothers to ask the sisters how they feel though, you may be enlightened.

wa laikum salaam, speaking from personal experience, a private closed room is the ^worst^ place, the sisters just gossip and natter and you can never hear a thing the speaker is saying.

there is only ever about three or four sisters who crowd around the screen/speaker to actually try to painfully listen over the noise, the only time the bulk of the sisters behave themselves (they keep quiet-for fear of distrupting the speaker and audience and actually listen) is when they are in the main room a decent gap behind the brothers.

the idea of a seperate room works in principal but unfortunatly if you put the sisters in their own room with a tv, just becomes a social gathering (this may be the only time they get together with their friends) with the tv going on in the back ground. you can’t imagine how annoying this is if you actually want to listen and take notes, i know and completely agree that we sisters need a secure and private space to get together, “let loose/ let their hair down”, but during a lecture/seeking knowledge is not the place or time for that.

Lol ‘sheikh’ Suh, you’ve got to be kidding right. Women were never stopped from going to mosque, IF it happened it was for certain once-off reason, doesn’t mean for the rest of eternity women can’t go to mosque. Get your facts straight. Islam is not a sexist and chauvinistic religion. That’s the beauty of it.

let me remind u dea about hazrat umer(r.a) he stopped women fa goin to mosque….
as Prophet may peace be upon him said
“Mere baad koi nabi hota to umer hota..”