Women-Led Friday Prayer

This is for Sister Ummah,

Sister, I think you know this isn't a racist issue.  I'm black and didnt' know the sister was until someone posted pictures.  We are talking islamic tradition and the same reaction would have been given it she was nonblack.  Secondly, why would men feel insecure if she gave the khutbah?  SHE and yourself are saying this right?  You see, anytime a women does what a man normally does and a man opens and disagree with a point she makes (as he does with other men) women say he is insecure.  This is a cop out.  She is free in America to do as she wills.  I wouldn't attend her jumah.  Not because she is black(that should be a reason to support her..no?) but because the deen is preserved statically in this area (although islam is dynamic) and this is innovation.  Someone raised a good point concerning muslim female students in France standing up to the France government to keep wearing hijab.  I would think the sister would throw her weight behind and issue such as that. 

 Third, I'm muslim strong sister, I don't have to be accepted by White, nonmuslim Blacks, Muslims or anyone else.  Looking for acceptance went out in the 60's with MLKing Jr.  I study the arabic, the different branches of thought, Shia islam, sunna, while still remaining competition in the IT industry and a family man.  Being a descendant of slaves and having knowledge of Allah makes a brother deal with this soceity head on!! I'm talking over 20 years of marriage, twins in college and STILL go to jumah as an African American, dredlocked, leather jacket wearing muslim.  I'm who I am and dont care you doesn't like it; therefore I dont have burden of "being accepted" or lean heavily on "race".  Perhaps if you view a muslim matrimonial website, you'll see many "foriegn" muslim dont rely on "race" as well. 

Fourth,  since when do black women allow themselves to be marginalized, mistreated and disrespected by black men?  Muslim or not.  When?  Sure there are some brothers who misunderstand the application of islam especially in America but most have a good grasp on it.  We elevate and respect our women IF they respect us as men.  Most don't so please don't put us into the same category as some irresponsible nonmuslims.  We all know there are blessed and wise believing sisters and I'd protect and defend them.   However, for the Khutbah, I'm following the over 1400 years of tradition.  Now, do you have a problem with that?

..."The lack of respect towards this sister INDEED has to do with the fact that she is BOTH a woman and African-American.  Your attempt to deny that reality is baseless. "

  Sister Ummah, most certainly there are some who may not respect Dr. Wudud, but generally speaking, I believe most simply disagree with her fiqh position.  That includes women, African-Americans, and immigrants.  Again, in my estimation, this is not a gender or race based issue, but of a very strange fiqh position that Dr. Wudud has articulated.

  I would suggest that your insistence at playing the "race card" may only be a projection of your personal disposition.  Remember, African Americans can also be racist.

Sis Ummah-

So Prof Wadud-actually made things worse. Her actions, and the actions of her supporters (as one can tell by reading the posts), are basically emotional outlets for what they perceive as being treated as inferior Muslims compared to their Male counterparts.

I see much more discrimination from the Media today towards Muslim (men and women) than ever before. Yet, where is Prof Wadud, in the fight against the way muslims are portrayed in TV and film and on the news? I do not see her fighting for Muslims who face discrimination at the workplace because they want to pray or wear hijab.

She is not meeting congressmen and congresswomen or senators, or mayors and fighting for our civil rights.

No-she wants to fight for Women led prayers, and gay rights.....things that really are not the most important issues facing muslims post 9/11. Things that the great majority of Muslims really do not want to deal with.

You beleive in democracy, well the majority has spoken. yes women face discrimination, and yes their is racism, but that does not mean that women led prayers is supproted by the Sunnah, or that we need a new American Madhab.

We have suffered so much after 9/11-and the situation of women in Islam is getting better in America , based on the representation of women in groups like CAIR, MPAC, and hundreds of Masajid in the country---yes there is still a lot of problems and inequalities, and yes still some racism, but I think that there have been great successes-there is improvement.

But-Prof Wadud wants to use the opportunity to target Muslims, while Muslims are already being targetted. While are masajid are being targetted, people being deported, and our charities being closed, and our rights being taken away.

They are even talking about internment camps for Muslims if God-Forbid another 9/11 happens.

Please---relax, and think with your head. Prioritize, and think....Look at the arguments of the Wadud supporters--The Prophet (PBUH) is not their concern---the Sunnah is not their concern. That in itself should help you determine what is right and what is forbidden.

AA

ibn muslim wrote: She is not meeting congressmen and congresswomen or senators, or mayors and fighting for our civil rights.

Why should she fight for our civil rights when our own house is not clean???!!  Our house is dirty and we need to clean up our own internal messes and stop denying them.  Civil Rights is an issue, but basic human rights in our own households and towards our women and people of color is a Allah given issue.  One that our Ummah is denying and refusing to respect.