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Assalamu Alaikum:
I saw all of the posts on the women-led prayer thing... mostly negative, some positive... and in a way, they depressed me greatly. As a hijabi-wearing Sister, I find myself both with progressive and traditional leanings. I think that we Sisters have been sold out by many male scholars in the Islamic Ummah... our rights granted to us by Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) have been stolen by many... so in that regard, I support the Progressive Movements attempt to engage in dialogue on some sensitive issues. Are there more important issues in the Muslim world than women-led prayer?? Yes... but we all have to tackle those issues that inspire us. For some, it will be illiteracy. For others, it will be honor-killings or FGM. For some, it will be a women's role in the masjid... and topics such as women-led prayer. For me, it is domestic violence--and the abuse of the Qur'an and ahadith as justification for that violence.
Personally, I would love to attend a women's-only masjid.. with a woman Imam... and my Sisters all standing together in the main prayer hall. I prayed once with a Sister from Saudi Arabia leading the prayer... and her recitation was so amazingly beautiful, it brought tears to my eyes and renewed my desire to learn more Qur'an.
Anyway, I thought I'd post a few articles on some Amazing Muslimahs around the World...and things they are doing.
Female Imams in China... (Imams of Women-only Masjids)http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3656180.stm
Sisters in Turkey working as vaizes http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0427/p04s01-woeu.html - http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0427/p04s01-woeu.html
On the whole women's led prayer, I urge you to check out this article on the prayer because it does show that some good came of it. A muslimah who had stopped praying, has now started again. Subhan'allah.
http://www.muslimwakeup.com/main/archives/2005/03/first_fruit_of.php - http://www.muslimwakeup.com/main/archives/2005/03/first_frui t_of.php
One quote that I have to admit resonates is:
"In mixed-gender gatherings, however, none of the women�s piety, proficient recital, good form, or seasoned knowledge of every nook and cranny of prayer, matters. All women are ruled out before any of that is even considered�ruled out by gender alone. A man who doesn�t even observe proper form, his back sloppily sloped in ruku, is the default and permanent choice of imam over his wife whose prayer form is exquisite. A man whose poor qira�a makes me wince automatically assumes the mantle of imam should prayer time come upon him in a group of women, no matter how graced with skill and knowledge they are. My gangly brother at fourteen, who did not have enough sense to let his body come to full tranquility in each posture at that impatient age, took precedence as imam over my grandmother with her learning and piety, according to the traditions and customs of Islam and the widespread belief of most Muslims, because he was past puberty and so, biologically, was an adult male�meeting the first requirement, which she did not meet. "
Peace.
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