First Women only Mosque in America

Some people are upset that M. Hasna Maznavi and Sana Muttalib, together with other women, organized the first mosque for Muslim women in America. These are upset because they viewed this as a bida, an innovation. Some called it a deviation and some termed it a Western conspiracy to destroy Islam within. 

The idea of a women's mosque is creating waves in Southern California, and the discussion has begun about its relevance and usefulness. The Women's mosque of America defines its objective in the following words: 

"The Women's Mosque of America seeks to uplift the Muslim community by empowering women and girls through more direct access to Islamic scholarship and leadership opportunities. The Women's Mosque of America will provide a safe space for women to feel welcome, respected, and actively engaged within the Muslim Ummah. It will complement existing mosques, offering opportunities for women to grow, learn, and gain inspiration to spread throughout their respective communities."

On Friday, January 30, 2015, the Women's Mosque of America provided a women-led Friday jumma'a service for women and children (including boys 12 and under). Currently, they plan to provide this service once a month in Southern California. In addition, the Women's Mosque of America plans to offer programming, events, and classes open to both men and women, aiming to increase community access to female Muslim scholars and female perspectives on Islamic knowledge and spirituality.

However, this does not convince skeptics, who call such a move an innovation and a deviation. Well, if it is bida or deviation, then it was the Prophet of Islam and messenger of Allah, who himself introduced this some 6 years after five daily prayers were made obligatory in the 15th year of his mission and in the second year after the construction of what is now known as Masjid Quba and Masjid Nabavi. Based on the statements of Prophet Muhammad, it can be asserted that the women's mosque was the third masjid in Medina. 

It is reported in Masnad Abu Dawood, a book of ahadith (statement and actions of the Prophet) included in the six most authentic books on the subject by Sunni scholars of the subject that the Prophet gave one of his companions, Umm Waraqah, the permission to stay in Medina to lead prayers for her family and domestic helpers, men included, when she had gone to him offering nursing services to Muslims in the forthcoming Battle of Badr.

Umm Waraqah was a single woman who remained unmarried until her death. She was very wealthy and resourceful. She was one of the scribes of the Quran as well as an avid student of the Holy Scripture. Her knowledge of the Quran, coupled with her piety, was well known to the Prophet and his companions. She never married, as she devoted her life to studying the Quran. She recited the Quran beautifully and had memorized it.

It is reported that one day she came to the Prophet seeking permission to establish a mosque in her home, complete with proper facilities for a call to prayer as well as regular five daily prayers for her family, friends, and other relatives. The Prophet blessed her and permitted her to lead the prayers. Thus, she became the first known Imam in a mosque that she started in her home.

It is reported that Ummah Waraqah continued to lead the prayers during the Caliphates of the first and second Caliphs of Islam. Not many details are available about the activities carried out in her home-turned mosque. What is known is that she donated the entire property to the service of Islam. 

No statement from the Prophet prevents women from organizing their mosques, leading the five daily prayers, or running their own religious institutions. Some people justify their opposition to a women's mosque based on the advice that the Prophet told a few Muslim women to pray in the darkest corner of their homes. This was intended to advise those who had asked him based on their particular circumstances, and this statement cannot be seen as a general principle, as he is reported to have said, "don't prevent women from coming to the masajid" even if you would prefer them to pray at home. The presence of women in mosques is a well-established practice in Islam. 

Some people suggest that if women want to come to the mosque, they should accompany their husbands. This excludes unmarried women who do not have a male family member to care for them. The divine commandment to establish mosques applies to both men and women, as the Creator has advised both to establish prayer. 

No statement of the Prophet says that women cannot give a khutbah (sermon). The Prophet outlined the rights and duties that everyone should observe when visiting mosques, and these are similar for both.

Another example that sheds light on the issue of equality between men and women is that some people suggest women should not wear perfume to the mosque. However, a statement attributed to the Prophet indicates that he was extremely fond of perfume and encouraged people to wear it in public places, including houses of worship. This statement does not exclude women. How can one deny women the opportunity to follow this example of the Prophet? Those who say that fragrance-wearing women would distract men in their worship perhaps lose the essence of the faith and place undue importance on the notion of male exclusivity. Islam is a faith not created to favor men or women and focus only on the level of iman (faith) of either of them. If some men are unable to control their carnal desires, then they have to work on their thoughts and actions rather than denying religious equality to others. To say that women do not have desires and feelings is to defy the laws of the Creator.