Sister ATTACKED for asking to pray at a Blackburn Masjid

Sister ATTACKED for asking to pray at a Blackburn Masjid
Sunday, 17 September 2006

HOUNDED, ABUSED and then physically ATTACKED. Brothers and sisters this is the reaction I was faced with when, as a sister in Islam, I voiced my wish to pray in a masjid.

Some sisters and I were giving out leaflets which quoted the hadith of the prophet (pbuh) allowing sisters to pray in the mosque - Ibn Umar reported: The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said:

‘DO NOT DEPRIVE WOMEN OF THEIR SHARE OF THE MOSQUES.’

[Sahih Muslim, book 4, number 891]

At first some brothers quietly took the leaflets, but the atmosphere soon turned nasty when a large group of men emerged from the mosque...

...These men picked on the two sisters who weren’t Asian – a Somali sister and a white revert – and said to them “You’re not even Muslims!”. (How many non-Muslims do you find wearing hijab and niqab???). We were made to feel demeaned by brothers who had just completed their jumah prayers, and called every name under the sun. Our call for sisters to be allowed to pray in the mosque - as it was in the time of the prophet (pbuh) - was met with sarcastic abuse. One young man in Islamic clothes said, “Yeah right and we’ll bring our mothers and sisters in bikinis and watch them do a catwalk in the masjid.”

It was worse for the two brothers who were also giving out the leaflets – they were pushed and shoved by men trying to snatch the leaflets, and one brother was pinned against a car and punched. We retreated to the other side of the street and one elderly man came to us and explained that he agreed with us but that we should go for our own safety. And all we would have wanted was to pray Zuhr prayers AFTER the men had used the mosque for jumah… before I hear anyone say that brothers are priority for jumah.

But the uproar from Blackburn’s goons didn’t end there. We were followed by a car and hounded as they drove up and down the main road taunting and throwing eggs at the sisters. Even more shockingly I was standing by a group of children at the time and talking to a little girl who had wanted to talk to me because she liked my headscarf. The first egg hit someone’s doorstep and the second egg hit us – and the poor girl was covered in egg as much as I was.

The funny thing is, I didn’t feel the least bit humiliated for what had happened, or even upset with them. It was the masjid leaders that I was deeply devastated by. Instead of teaching them Islamic etiquette, the Qur’an and Sunnah, they were enabling the goons outside the masjid and ignoring the hadiths presented to them when all we asked was to pray Zuhr.

The irony is that this mosque, Masjid-e-Hidayah, led by Ibrahim Masters, had issued an invitation to Condoleeza Rice to visit the mosque when she was in town to see Blackburn MP Jack Straw in March this year. So a female American politician with the blood of hundreds of thousands of Muslims on her hands is welcome – but Muslim sisters can get lost.

Is this what some of our Ummah has come to? Is this what has become of some of our masjid leaders?

Sisters have a right not only to pray but also to be educated in masjids.How are we supposed to educate our children? Our children are the future of this Ummah!

The sister of ‘Amrah bint ‘Abd al-Rahman reported:

‘I LEARNED QAF. WA’L-QUR’AN AL MASJID…’FROM THE PROPHET (PBUH) HIMSELF ON FRIDAYS, WHEN HE USED TO RECITE IT FROM THE MINBAR EVERY FRIDAY’

(Sahih Muslim, 6/160.Kitab al-jumu’ah,Bab khutbah al hajah)

We haven’t plucked this out of thin air, these are hadiths. No Muslim can plead ignorance when shown the statements and deeds of our beloved prophet (pbuh).

The masjid is a house of God. It doesn’t belong to a particular person, it belongs to ALLAH (SWT). Therefore unless it was stated by our Lord or by our holy prophet (pbuh) that sisters are not allowed in masjids I should be able to continue this struggle for us being able to pray in any masjid whenever we wish to.

As for the goons of Blackburn, Friday the 15th September 2006 might have been your day to keep us out, but the day for the sisters to gain their Islamic rights will arrive insh’Allah. When you have Allah (Swt) on your side no man or even Imam can stop us from worshipping our beloved Lord in his own house, the masjid.

Makes you wonder if some people even know what being a muslim actually means???

How can you turn Muslim sisters away from the mosque???

We should be encouraging them to come.

I will read it later on
but where u get it from ?

It is sad - although women in mosques is largely a MiddleEastern phenomena - people in Pak dont do this which is what this is all about.

Here's the link:

http://www.mpacuk.org/content/view/2695/34/

Any people from Blackburn heard about this???

Sounds disgraceful

I don't see a problem for women praying mosque when they are living in western countries and working.
BUT mosque management should have sperate room for women where all women can pray.

This is what happen here in Hong Kong and no one have any problem with that. and Imam have asked women to stay in mosque for like 10-15 mins after their prayers so men can leave before them.

Pakistani's are still stuck in their stupid culture sometimes!!!

In my local mosque in England, there is a seperate room for women, they also have a separate entrance.

May Allah educate us all

dont worry, evne the holy prophet was treated like you, just pray to allah.

allah will take your revenge! these scounderals have made a huge mistake, there end is very soon!

Lets not generalize - these are some people from Pakistan.

sorry - i meant some pakistani's

that's disgraceful!

Thats why I dont go to the 3 local Pak masjids within walking distance to me and prefer to go to a 'mixed' masjid that caters for all nationalities / cultures and caters for sisters.

Also worth bearing in mind that een the 'loosest' of Muslims turns up for Jummah, so the guys that did this may fall into that catagory of 'Jummah only Muslim'

Id have laid into these guys if it happened at my masjid!

Most of the masjids in Toronto are governed by Pakistanis. There is no such problem. Women can prey 5 times a day with Jamat, let alone Jumma and eidain. There are special arrangements in these mosques for women. They have separate enterance, separate wadu-khana, washroom, prayer hall and elevator. That is the case in almost all of the 5-6 mosques I can think of at this moment.

Quoting a piece of news without any perspective does not make sence to me. What are we trying to do in this forum, is this a news forum. Can we please get some perspective here. What is the reason why those women were not allowed in the mosque? What is the other side of the story?

Can we please try to research a little bit before we stamp our judgement?

I need to know the other side of the story and the person who posted this news article without any perspective is obligated to provide it.

By highlighting this issue in this forum, we are made aware of the problem.
We know Islamically that women are allowed in mosques.

I have posted the link where I saw this story.

But where is other side of the story? Why were women not allwoed in the mosque when they are allowed all around the world? Why are you posting half truth?

I am posting what I found on the internet
I have asked if there is anyone from Blackburn who knows about this

so this blaspheomy hasnt happend to you?

I just wanted to inform everyone that in the information age when we can find news at the click of a button there is lot of dis-information. There is lots of wrong perspective that is planted into our heads. Do not believe whatever you read, question it, try to find out other side of the story before you give your openion about it. I am trying to find out any information I can get.

So far I found this comment to the news which points finger at the masjid management:

"Muslim brother:
I think there is no point in trying to pray at that masjid. Even if you do manage to get space for sisters there, they will still be angry.If there is another masjid nearby or a bit further, then it will be better to go there. At least let the brothers know what that masjid is like and then everyone will avoid it.This is the type of behaviour that makes people to be ashamed to be part of the masjid. If brothers can boycott that masjid, then maybe they will have a change of heart. Besides, they wanted Condoleeza Rice, who wanted bombed Muslim lands to kill thousands of innocent lives, to visit their masjid and yet do not want Muslim women to visit. "

This comment seems to be from an informed person who has pin pointed the problem to be masjid management insted of generalizing it to be a Pakistani frame of mind or muslim frame of mind in general. How many mosques are there in UK where men and women prey at the same mosque, and, how many of those mosques are governed by Pakistani management? Do we still want to generalize it as a Pakistani or muslim problem?

nope

I don't know the facts but it seems ridiculous and deplorable behavior by the mosque attendees and management. Women bashing by insecure buffoons....

I told alot of British Muslims are whacked up somehow.

I never meant to generalise the problem as a Pakistani or a Muslim problem.

Coming from a Pakistani community, I know that there are a lot of issues where our culture does not treat women right. These problems are simply brushed away - and not given any importance. Sometimes people act as if these problems don't even exist.

These problems exist in England and Pakistan, and I have seen them myself and it saddens me to think that sometimes Islam is used as a reason for this. Some people are not educated that much in Islam, so confuse their culture with Islam.

Religion vs culture is something which some of the Pakistani community has always had problems with. Those of you on this site who are Pakistani, will know what I mean by this.

I agree with you that we should try and find out as much information as we can, which is why I thought maybe someone on this site is from Blackburn and could shed further light on the issue.

The purpose of this forum is to discuss things, which is what I was hoping to do on here.

You are right Baadshah, sorry for coming a bit hard. Most of the posts seem to suggest that not allowing women praying in mosque is a general problem with muslim community and with Pakistanis in particular. While I wanted to point out that this is not the case. This problem just occured at one of the mosques in Blakburn where there are more than 25 mosques and they allow women. News article is written in such a way that it suggests it as a general problem, while it is not. At least people here should understand that.

It will be highly appreciated if someone could find other side of the story as well. May be someone from Blakburn as Baadshah suggested.

that is poor

Assalaamu alaykum,
Discouraging women from going to the masjid is not culture.

We know that some sahaba tried to stop women from coming to the masjid. The hanafi madhab is very strict when it comes to banning women from the masjid for the prayer. They have declared it as makruh-tahreemi.

You wont see women during the friday-prayers/eid prayers in countries like india/pakistan/syria and elsewhere.

However, some hanafi ulama have said its allowed and they declared this with good reasoning. Please read this fatwa of mufti muhammad ibn adam:

Women Praying at the Mosque
http://www.daruliftaa.com/question....onID=q-21225280

damn these male mosque commitees on this front.

Such attitude will keep you in the middle ages and any hope of progress would be very very bleak my friend. It is sad......that is all I have to say. You can answer me with fatwas and insults but I will ignore it as I am knowledgeable enough to know what is right and wrong and an ignorant mullah doesn't have to tell me what to do or guide me especially on this simple matter.

Very sad thing, though personally things seem to be a bit exaggerated there, a car following and throwing eggs, not very keen on believing this.

Dear brother, your argument is a fallacy and can be used against yourself.
You should check up the definition of "progress" and see what it really means. Maybe you should read some works written against modernism.

Primitive....so sad

No where in the Quran or the Hadith does it say that there should not be a seperate section for women in mosques for prayers. This is really primitive. its like the descendents of Idolitors have infiltrated the high ranks of Islam these days

Islam is the newest major religion. All muslims are the descendants of older monotheistic religions or various "Idolitor" religions.

Shoul be aqeedah not madhab. Islam is the mashab the sects can either be described as aqeedah or shareeha.

Its written in Quran & interpreted in Hadiath that women are better praying in the house rather than at a mosquee & vice versa for Men. Only exceptions are given to the Harums (Kaaba & Masjid-e-Nabvi)... women praying in Mosque is "Maqroo" as its "Maqroo" ofr men to pray at home.

Th Holy prophet has also sid that Men should pray at mosques & women at homes so that both these places can be blessed & has strongly stated not to make houses & mosques look like 'khanddar'

Lets be clear here - its the Hanafis who do not approve of Women in Mosques.

Its not abt the approval or disapproval... its wat is stated... there are ppl of every walk of life all over the world... do u now that there are 72 sects in Islam today... even the Holy prophet said that out of these ONLY 1 is on the right path... think abt it...and personally saying (sorry if any women gets offended) women GOSSIP the most all over the world...they cant seem to keeps things to themselves... Last year in Pakistan it happened that women in Ramdhan came to pray tarawi... all arrangements were made... everything went smoothly but later ppl ound out that there were women praying their own tarawi after a women Immam.. thats just absurd...

I'm not saying that wat the ppl did to the sister was OK or thumbs-up to them.. just that we all should take steps is a particular direction aftetr having complete knowledge of that...

Now the truth is coming out. Some people even on this board think, even in year 2006, that women are not allowed to pray in mosques. They are referring to fatwas and gossip/news from Pakistan and what not to prove their point. My teacher used to say, "The Prophet came to change the 'Baddu Budbukht's" culture and we have chosen to follow the same culture that the Prophet came to change. Stone age mentality indeed. Didn't they hate women so much that they burried baby girls alive? Don't our people feel ashamed when a female child is born. They don't physically burry them but mentally they burry their confidence and self-esteem by making them feel inferior all the time. "Baddu Budbukht" remembered, Islam and common sense forgotten. No fatwa or argument can make me believe that women can't pray in the mosque. If there is a fatwa then this is the time to change it, time to use our common sense and revive the flexibility and acceptance that once made Islam a universal religion.

Excellent post!

All mosques in the ME ( in the Gulf countries atleast) have women's sections and women do come out in large numbers for Taraweeh. If there was a ruling against this, they wouldnt be allowed.

People have different views on this subject - lets not generalize but also dont assume that your view is THE correct one.

Those ppl were IDIOTS...v r worse then them.... they didnt had sects..they didnt had Sunni/Shia Muslim clashes...they werent chased by Christians & Hindus.. we on the other hand welcome our enemies with open arms... Holy Porphet said that aany NON-MUSLIM cannot & can never be ur friend.. wat do u think u can read the Quaran & know wat it says... wake up slimeball... a layman cant understand wats written in the Quran... but v always go to the way that is easier for us...why should v bear hardships... u hav no IDEA how much religious JEWS or ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS are...

in belguim all the marrocon mosques have different acces to the mosques for men and women

Pls tone down your language - no one is a "slimeball" here!

Where exactly did the prophet said that? I have never heard of it before. Why can'y you read the quran and know what it says. It was meant to be read and understood. How religious or non-religious other people are not anyone's business. You shall go to your grave and answer for your deeds and so shall they dont concern yourself with others.

Agreed, the Holy prophet could never say a thing like that, He is the most peaceful person in the history of this earth, why would he say things like that? From what b0wld said, doesnt that make the Popes speach correct! think befpre ypu speak!

laisul khabru kal moainatin
"The holy Prophet s.a.w"

This hadeeth means 'Things that you have heard are not as concrete as things that you have seen and been proved. Such little things have big big meanings my Friend!

I dont think the Prophet PBUH said this but there is an Ayah in Quraan - pls see this link and try and understand the context.

http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/...aEAskTheScholar

thanks Mig. please, folks, respect the Holy book. there are way too many debates on here where passing references are made to verses in the Quran, without specific citations provided. either take the time to provide specific ayat numbers or refrain from saying things like its in the Quran as it only leads to misinformation and you really don't want to be in a position where you're unwittingly creating a fallacy attributed to the Quran.

lmfao!!! did they go back to their houses and get eggs and then searched for the sisters to throw eggs at em....or were the guys carrying eggs to Jummah prayer? i believe its been exagerated.

the men might have ridiculed them but c'mon that eggs part just doesnt make sense!

This post has nothing to do with the topic under discussion. Please wait for a relevant post to spread fitna in the world

thats a very 'jahil' thing that i've heard. where did u read that?? any proof?



it is said that men should not only pray in the mosque but also pray in the house (i.e. the sunats or nafils.) ofcourse i cannot present any written proof on this rightnow. but living in saudi arabia for 16 years and thats what they believe and do. also every mosque there has a seperate prayin area specially for the women.

shameful and pathetic.

When the women folk during muhammed times prayed with men in the masjid al haram, when ayesha the prophet's wife has led men into battle we get these useless men shouting at sisters who simply want to pray in the mosque?


Britian suprisingly needs to catch up with the khaleejis in the middle east. We had women praying in the mosques. These fools should travel abit more.