March 16, 2005

Storm in a Mug - Moslem Women leading prayers?

A storm is brewing in the Islamic world over Dr. Amina Wadud's leading the Friday prayer in a New York mosque. I heard her speaking and I did not find her offering any explanation (religious or otherwise) as to why she is stirring an unneeded controversy in this TIME and PLACE!

Here is a half-witted statement from the "organizers" shedding light by saying "this event is about Muslim women reclaiming their rightful place in Islam"
What ?? I guess Moslem women's list of demands is nearing the bottom of the list!

My point is:- Moslem women's struggle IS to re-claim what Islam has originally given them, and what deep rooted social traditions have taken from them in some countries.
e.g. Inheritance, right to manage her own money, and run her own business, freedom to marry & divorce whoever and whenever, freedom to refuse her husband's taking on another wife whthout her consent, right to have her husband or brother fully cover all her financial needs from their own money ..
NB. Islam gave women more rights than "western" women enjoyed until only 50 years ago, and in many countries until today.

- I understand why the Friday speech and prayer is led by a man, and if you think it's racist, please point me to where I can find the name of the last woman that held the Pope position, and the name of the church where the sermon is led by a nun. And as far as I know female Rabbis are hard to find!

- I would be more than willing to change my view if anyone can tell me how this woman's leading the Friday prayer will serve Islam better in New York and all over the world.

- All they managed to do is stir unnecessary controversy about a trivial issue, and in the process stamp Moslems with gender discrimination, and giving room for some dumb ass to come out and scream his stupid lungs about how this is against Islam and how that prayer will not be accepted!

Please have mercy on Islam, all of us women and men need to first apply Islam in our daily life, be merciful, humble, forgiving, charitable, loving, working hard .. Then the world will see Islam for what it truly is, a religion of peace and love, some over zealous and badly timed actions like this one are setting us back many years.
One final note: I am not even a religions person, I am just one angry Moslem right now!
OnePissedArab 1PA

3 comments:

BB said...

Totally agree. Can you imagine how embarassing it would be that the female imam has to take one week off every month during her period. I know, lets give muslims a week off prayers that week!

Honestly I feel so liberated that a bunch of feminists have hijacked a mosque... yeah right... like u said there are some CORE rights, and leading prayers isnt one of them.

Sheltox said...

Have you read Ali Guma's (The mufti) opinion?
http://www.alarabiya.net/Article.aspx?v=11294

choclosteve said...

You asked a reader to point out a Chrisrian female preacher. There are many, but they are not of the Catholic faith. The Catholic faith is very sexist, but the majority of Christians are not Catholics, just as the majority of Moslems are not Shias. I would not point out the worst practices or beliefs of moslems as representing the characteristics of all moslems, and I think the same should be done in attempting to understand christians. I believe the Koran has some good things to say about some christians who crossed paths with your prophet and/or his companions. We all need to work on our own paths, and pointing our fingers at someone else is taking focus and energy away from our own work.