JEDDAH, 26 August 2006 — The proposal to shift the prayer place of women within the circumambulation area (mataf) to two places inside the Grand Mosque, away from the Holy Kaaba, has drawn mixed reactions from both Saudis and expatriates. Some said the move was discriminatory while others said it would reduce overcrowding in mataf and facilitate tawaf (circumambulation).
Opponents of the proposal urged authorities to provide women wider areas inside the mataf instead of denying them the right to pray close to the Kaaba. According to the proposal made by a committee set up by the Presidency for the Two Holy Mosques Affairs, women will be given two wider prayer areas on the ground floor, in the northern part of the mosque overlooking the Kaaba; the first between Al-Fatah and Al-Nadwa gates and the second between Al-Madinah and Al-Hudaibiya gates.
“These two places are ideal for women worshippers and provide wider space for them,” an informed source at the presidency said. “The present area provided for women in the mataf covers 630 square meters but the new places offer them double the area,” he added. Suhaila Hammad, a member of the National Society for Human Rights and the International Union of Muslim Scholars, opposed the move, saying it would deny women the right to pray inside the mataf.
“In Islam, women have equal rights like men in terms of worship and devotion to God,” she said narrating a verse from the Holy Qur’an. “When we make a decision on this matter, we should also take into consideration the feeling of the thousands of Muslim women who come here from different parts of the world for Haj and Umrah. We should not deny them the right to pray inside the mataf,” she told Arab News.
Suhaila called upon authorities to allocate at least three more areas inside the mataf for women to pray and meditate comfortably.
Hatoon Al-Fassi, a Saudi writer and historian, expressed her confidence that the presidency would not accept the proposal that goes against the message and spirit of Islam that treats both men and women equally.
“I strongly reject this proposal and request the authorities not to implement it,” she said in comments published yesterday. Such a move has never taken place in the history of Islam, she added.
Hassan Misfar of the International Fiqh Academy called upon the mosque authorities to allocate special areas for women to perform tawaf. He said he feared that Western media would use the new proposal in support of their allegation that the Kingdom’s regulations discriminate against women.
“The move is unfair,” said Safiya Ali, an expatriate dawa activist, commenting on the proposal. She feared that once the present area for women in the mataf was shifted they would not get a chance to stay and pray closer to the Holy Kaaba. Safiya wanted wider prayer areas for women in the mataf with greater privacy.
Osama Al-Bar, dean of King Fahd Institute for Haj & Umrah Research, supported the plan, saying it would solve the problem of overcrowding in the mataf area, especially during peak Haj and Umrah seasons. “We have to take into consideration that the mataf has a limited area and is very difficult to expand it further,” he said.
Many other Saudis favored the move saying it was necessary to create more space for circumambulation around the Kaaba for the growing number of pilgrims.
well obviously the proposal is absolutely preposterous.
they would probably want to wipe out the whole female population from the Masjid-Al-Haram site next, because it's best for the women to pray at home, in the deepest darkest corner of their bedroom, right?
well obviously the proposal is absolutely preposterous.
they would probably want to wipe out the whole female population from the Masjid-Al-Haram site next, because it's best for the women to pray at home, in the deepest darkest corner of their bedroom, right?
This is Hajj so obviously women must go if they're finacially able and have a mahram, it's best for women to prey in their homes when they're not considering hajj, also it's the best form of jihad for a women.
well obviously the proposal is absolutely preposterous.
they would probably want to wipe out the whole female population from the Masjid-Al-Haram site next, because it's best for the women to pray at home, in the deepest darkest corner of their bedroom, right?
In Haram women are allowed to pray as they have equal rights.
i dont think this will work, in hajj and ramdahan people stand even 1000 metres from haram .if someone is staying at Mislfilah and other sides. its impossible for them to reach there.
As for the question, does (prayer in) a masjid in Makkah have the same reward as (prayer in) Masjid al-Haraam; A masjid in Makkah does not have the same reward as Masjid al-Haraam, rather the multiple reward is only for Masjid al-Haraam, due to the saying of the Prophet (sallallaahualaihi wasallam), “Prayer in my masjid is thousand times better than in any other masjid except Masjid al-Haraam.” So just as the virtue is specific for the masjid of the Messenger (sallallaahualaihi wasallam), it is also the same for Masjid al-Haraam. And in Saheeh Muslim from Maymunah (radiallaahu anhaa) who said that, “I heard the Prophet (sallallaahualaihi wasallam) say, “Prayer in it is better than a thousand prayers in any other masjid except the Masjid al-Ka’bah.” And this is further proved by his saying, “Do not undertake a journey except to three masaajid: Masjid al-Haraam, this masjid of mine and Masjid al-Aqsaa.” And the wording of Muslim, “Verily a journey is taken to only three masaajid, Masjid al-Ka’bah, my masjid and Masjid al-Aqsaa.”
Volume 2, Book 21, Number 282: Narrated Abu Huraira
Allah's Apostle said, "One prayer in my Mosque is better than one thousand prayers in any other mosque excepting Al-Masjid-AI-Haram."
It was reported that Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allaah said: the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: One prayer in this mosque of mine is better than one thousand prayers anywhere else, apart from al-Masjid al-Haraam, and one prayer in al-Masjid al-Haraam is better than one hundred thousand prayers anywhere else.”
(Narrated by Ibn Maajah, 1406; Ahmad, 14847. The hadeeth was classed as saheeh by al-Boosayri in al-Zawaa’id. Haamish Sunan Ibn Maajah).
J/K you deserve a rep but unfortunately i can't give you any *evil grin*
--he he just kidding, i'm out of reps too at the mo
J/K
was not doing it for reps
i can ask iqram and other firends to give me reps everyday but i am not thsi forum for reps
anywaz we are offtopic
Women’s Prayer Area in Haram Might Be Shifted i think its not a good idea at all , its impossible for people staying in hotels at bab e aziz side to reach there in hajj and ramdahan. http://www.islamicboard.com/465800-post6.html
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no
Sorry bro
[but later I'm all out]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: One prayer in this mosque of mine is better than one thousand prayers anywhere else, apart from al-Masjid al-Haraam, and one prayer in al-Masjid al-Haraam is better than one hundred thousand prayers anywhere else.”
but i am not thsi forum for reps
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