MWA-Grand Mosque Equal Access Project
      
     
       
        
     Muslimah Writers Alliance Joins Activists Seeking 
      Preservation of Women's Prayer Area at Makkah's 
      Grand Mosque
        
          
        
       
      
     
     WASHINGTON, DC - Aug. 31, 2006 (MWANET & News Sources)  Recent 
      reports outlining a plan by religious leaders in Saudi Arabia to eliminate a 
      segregated prayer area designated for female worshipers in Makkah's 
      Grand Mosque, is discriminatory and must be reversed.

      Aishah Schwartz, Founder and Director of Muslimah Writers Alliance (MWA), 
      a Washington, DC-based, internationally comprised organization of aspiring 
      and established Muslim women writers, is calling upon the world-wide 
      Muslim community to let King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, Custodian of the Two 
      Holy Mosques, know that a decision such as the one proposed in Makkah, is 
      unacceptable.

      "At no other time in history, either before or after the time of the Prophet 
      Mohammad (peace and blessings be upon him) have women been 
      relegated to lesser advantageous positions within the masjid.

      "The proposed plan is no more acceptable today than it would have been 
      when the teachings of Islam began to be delivered over 1400 years ago," 
      Ms. Schwartz stated.
      
      The small section (left) represented by Muslim women dressed in traditional 
      black abaya's (outer covering) is representative of the space currently alloted 
      women for praying in the inner circle of the mosque at Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
      
      
     
     The Grand Mosque is one of the few places in Saudi Arabia where, despite the strict interpretation of Islam imposed upon its society, male and 
      female worshippers are allowed to intermingle

      At present, women can pray in the immediate vicinity (sahn) of the Ka'ba, a cube-shaped structure inside the mosque.  

      It is within the most inner sanctum of the masjid that Muslims make tawaf, or a circular walk around the Ka'ba, completed in seven passages.  
      Muslims perform tawaf  at various times, i.e., in greeting the masjid upon arrival in Makkah, prior to performing Umrah and as a part of the Hajj 
      pilgrimage.  

      Just outside the open area where the tawaf is made, Muslims also gather to offer prayers (or duas) before or upon completion of the tawaf, or, 
      for example, at any other time of day when the five daily prayers are offered.

      Citing the limited size of the open area in the masjid's center, the all-male committee overseeing the holy site has proposed to place women in 
      a distant section of the masjid, thereby preserving the key space exclusively for men.

      Osama al-Bar, head of the Institute for Haj Research, is quoted as saying, "The area is very small and so crowded. So we decided to get 
      women out of the sahn [Kaaba area] to a better place where they can see the Kaaba and have more space.

      "Some women thought it wasn't good, but from our point of view it will be better for them ... We can sit with them and explain to them what the 
      decision is."

      The decision is not final, he said, and could be reversed.

      "Get women out!?  Reversal of this decision must be our mission until, by the grace of Almighty Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, it is achieved," 
      declared Ms. Schwartz.

      Your voice counts, let it be heard today, insha'Allah!  HERE'S HOW!

      1.        Contact the following offices asking them to convey the message to King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques of 
      Saudi Arabia, in polite, but absolute terms, that you are opposed to the proposed "relocation" of  women, or eliminate the space alloted for 
      women, to pray in the open area of Makka's Grand Mosque!
      
     
     .     The Islamic Affairs Department at the Embassy of Saudi Arabia
          Email: [log in to unmask]

      .      Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia
          601 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W.
          Washington, DC  20037
          Phone: (202)342-3800
          Information Office (202) 337-4076
          Email: [log in to unmask]

          CLICK HERE FOR WORLD-WIDE LISTING OF SAUDI EMBASSIES

      .      Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
          Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Da'wah and Guidance
          Riyadh 11232
          Tel: 473 0401
          Contact Page: http://www.al-islam.com/contactUs.asp?l=eng

      .      Ministry of Hajj
          Omar bin Al-Khatab Street, Riyadh 11183
          Tel: 402 2200 / 402 2212 Fax: 402 2555  
          Contact Page: http://www.hajinformation.com/main/m79.htm

      .      The Organization of The Islamic Conference
           PO Box: 178
           Jeddah-21411
           Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
           Tel: 966 6900001, fax: 966 2751953
           Email: [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], or [log in to unmask]
      
     
     2.       Share with the members of these organizations the link to the booklet, "Women Friendly Mosques and Community Centers: 
      Working Together to Reclaim Our Heritage" - http://www.womeninislam.org/Mosque.pdf - published by the Islamic Social Services 
      Association of Canada and Women In Islam, Inc. of New York.  This project, originally published in November of 2005 was also acknowledged 
      as being supported by The Muslim American Society, and can also be shared in local communities, insha'Allah.


        EXCERPT: The argument against women sharing the main prayer hall is based on the principle of guarding against corruption (dar' al-mafasid). The 
        principle states that "whatever leads to haram is haram." The principle, though not widely accepted by Islamic jurists, has been extensively used to limit 
        Muslim actions that are otherwise lawful under shari'ah. It was invoked by some jurists to reject the use of radio, TV, the press, and other inventions 
        because these have also been used to promote corrupt practices. Indeed many good practices and devices could be declared unlawful, including the 
        use of internet and democratic governments.

        Preventing women from exercising established rights, or undertake moral duties and social obligations, cannot be justified on the basis of "guarding 
        against corruption." The prevention of corruption argument was used at an early stage, but was rejected by eminent Muslim scholars. Abdullah bin 
        Umar rejected this same argument against preventing women from going to the masjid at night to guard against potential corruption:

        Ibn Umar reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: 'Do not deprive women of their share of the mosques, when they seek 
        permission from you. (Sahih Muslim Book 4, Number 891)


      3.       Sign the Petition and send the link across the globe!  (http://www.petitiononline.com/gmea4w/petition.html)

      May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala grant success to our endeavors.  Jazakallahu khayran for your support.
      
     
     -------------------------
      Established in 2006, MWA is an internationally-based organization with a Mission to inspire Muslim women to collaborate with one another for
      the sake of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala and the common good of the Muslim Ummah, in addition to supporting one another in fulfilling their aspirations
      to become established writers.  Applying Islamic principles, boundless enthusiasm, experience and resourcefulness to every project embraced,
      MWA members are dedicated to one another's success.
      --------------------------
      
     
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      1745 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Suite 147
      Washington, DC 20006
      Fax & Voicemail: 1-866-405-5981

      On the web:
      http://www.muslimahwritersalliance.com
      http://mwawomenmakinghistory.blogspot.com
      http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Muslimah_Writers_Alliance
      http://www.sisteraishah.com
      http://aishahsjourney.blogspot.com
      http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sisters4Dawah

      The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said, "One who helps a fellow Muslim in removing his (or her) difficulty in this world, Allah will remove the formers distress on the Day of Judgment.
      He who helps to remove the hardship of another, will have his difficulties removed by Allah in this world and in the Hereafter. One who covers the shortcomings of another Muslim, will have his
      faults covered up in this world and the next by Allah. Allah continues to help a servant so long as he goes on helping his own brother (or sister)." (Muslim)
      
     
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      In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
     
      Muslimah Writers Alliance Announces
     
     
          

     

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