A Womans Right To Pray At The Mataf
After I returned to Saudi after summer vacation and I learned that there are proposals to change the "womens prayer area" at the Ka'abah itself. This of course is for the 'benefit' of women to protect them and give them required seclusion and privacy. Aren't all changes for women that limits them in one way or another 'for them' at least in the minds of men that decide such rules and regulations? For some reason a selection of men when discussing crowding issues at the ka'abah decided that the best choice of action was to further limit women and their segregated prayer area at the mataf. This again as a way to 'protect' women.Not one woman sat on this panel nor has one womans voice been heard. For if it had, they would notice a trend among women when it comes to their desire of protection at the kaa'bah isn't about television cameras, or the crowded area of the Mataf. But it is rather about the harsh treatment and utter haram actions when it comes to women visiting Allah's house. Women are harassed by 'officials' be it men or women at the ka'abah, to veil, to pray in a certain area, to walk a certain path, to separate from men even if they are related. Allah's house where neither man nor woman owns, has more privileges to or has a greater right over. A house where all stand equal before Allah for their act of visiting, their intentions for doing so and the hardships that they man endured for getting there.
This is a very common attitude within Saudi Arabia. If there is a social problem the woman are the first ones to be limited as a means to 'protect them'. If men are harassing women as they seek the only available exercise, walking, the women are told not to go out anymore. If a man approaches a woman in a sexual way as she is out and about in a market seeking ingredients for the families meal, it is she that will be limited further in her movement. If women drive they may go off and do wrong things, or Saudi men might go into a sexual frenzy and attack them all. In order to 'protect' the women simply don't allow them to drive. This is a trend that seeks to control a, what is seen as weaker, population of society and avoids actually dealing with the issue at hand in a positive way that protects, rather than limits, society.
While the officials tend to hire "large women" seeking to intimidate the women they are limiting within the Ka'abah there will be women this will not work with. My husband laughed over the idea that they would be able to do this with African women who are going to pray where they want to. I responded it would be interesting to see them try to tell me where to go. They have tried it, I usually ignore them or yell at them to leave me alone. I don't get pushed around easily, especially when I'm at the Ka'abah for I have as much right to that space as any other Muslim there. I'm not doing anything haram so don't annoy me when I've come to Allah's house. This is the one place in this world I should be able to find safety and security. I should not have a thought in my mind of how to deal with such people who seek to harass me because there job tells them to.
The idea that women are going to be told to pray in a certain area away from the mataf as a way to 'protect' them is outrageous. Please don't try to pacify Muslim women all over the world by telling us "you'll have more room, you'll like it better, its to protect you". We aren't stupid and can recognize a limitation when we see it. We, Muslim women, have been forced to accommodate the wants of man for far too long, all on the premise it is 'better' for us. It is time that it stops, and time for men to learn to coexist along with us to face their problems head on and deal with them properly. Instead of taking an easy route and denying women and never dealing with the issues at hand.
Yes there are over crowding issues at the ka'abah but the question is what is best for EVERY Muslim who goes to the ka'abah in order to help aid the situation. It won't be totally rectified because of the number of Muslims in the world and their ability to visit the Ka'abah. Not allowing women in the mataf certainly won't correct the over crowding issue, nor will it really aid in it. The only thing that is done is shifting women from one area to another but at the same time denying women the right to pray in the mataf area. When that doesn't work, and it won't, what will be suggested next? Women only days? Denying women altogether? When will the limitations of women and their right as well as their obligations to live this diyn stop?
I would suggest that no woman at the ka'abah follow any regulations that limits them in such a way. When Umar r.a. tried to regulate the woman's dowry in a way which wasn't right, it was one single woman who stood up and corrected him. He had the ability to listen to her one single voice and refrain from doing so. Imagine if we banded together in a larger unified voice and opposed such limitations. I believe that the authorities who may be inclined to accept this proposal have the ability to listen to us and refuse it. Do not allow them to take our rights away from us on this one. Pray at the Mataf when you see your sisters, pray with them, pray where you have the right to.
posted by Nzingha at
08:00
