By: OnIslam & Newspapers
Source: http://www.onislam.net/
A decision by leaders of France’s biggest Islamic center to dedicate separate room for Muslim women for prayer has aroused anger of some women, who demand a right to pray alongside men.
“To give them more comfort, we have granted women a large room – not in the basement, but in the mezzanine,” a spokesman for the Great Mosque in Paris told Le Figaro, The Local reported.
“All the women are satisfied. Of course they can’t see the imam, but they couldn’t before either, because they were behind a curtain,”
The decision to accommodate the growing number of female Muslim worshippers in separate rooms has been issued earlier this month.
According to the fresh ruling, genders must be separated during prayers at the Great mosque in Paris.
Before the ruling, women used to pray in the main communal prayer room behind the men concealed behind a curtain.
The new decision to dedicate a separate room for female worshippers was welcomed by several Muslim women.
“I come on average five times a week and this new room is big, intimate, and we are within the mosque – that’s the most important thing,” a woman called Ilham told French television TF1.
Yet, the new service has one negative thing from the women’s point of view
“The only negative thing is that we have to pass in front of the men’s ablution room,” said Siham, aged 34.
During the days of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), men and women used to pray together in the mosque, with men taking first lines behind the imam, followed by children and women.
Prophet Muhammad did not make or ask his Companions to have a curtain or wall between the lines of men and women.
The wisdom of separating men and women during prayers nowadays is to protect Muslims, both men and women, from any distracting ideas or evil suggestions that the devil may whisper into their hearts.
This is especially between men and women, in order to keep their hearts pure and sincere and busy only with Prayer.
For the same reason, the mixing between men and women in general has special rules in Islam.
Opposition
Despite being welcomed by many Muslims, the new separate room for female worshippers at the Great mosque of Paris was opposed by some women.
“Moving the women is unjustifiable. We want to talk about this decision,” said Hanane Karimi, the spokesperson for the opposing women.
Rejecting the rule, some female worshippers have argued their right to pray in the main communal prayer room.
A week ago, the attempt of dozens of opposing women to enter the main prayer room of the mosque was foiled after they were prevented by mosque’s security men and other worshippers.
“They were the victims of a violent outburst” during their attempted entry, Karimi noted.
Women’s foiled attempt to enter the mosque followed several requests to the rector of the Great Mosque to allow them to pray in the main hall.
The women’s position was much criticized by members of France’s Muslim community, considering there objection as a “campaign operated by some extremists”.
“The mosque allows the faithful to pray calmly. It’s not a place of controversy and discord,” said Abdallah Zekri, President of the National Observatory against Islamophobia.
France is home to a Muslim minority of six millions, Europe’s largest.
Muslims and their customs and traditions have been under the spotlight in recent years in France.
In October 2012, a poll by Ifop’s opinion department found that almost half of French see Muslims as a threat to their national identity.
The poll also found that most French see Islam is playing too influential role in their society.