Article from the New York Times

[kerewin21 2]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/25/us/25muslim.html

[Meriem_DZ 37]

Thanks for sharing this article, Sharon.

Meriem

[Together4ever 1]

Thanks for sharing this!

[AInfante-Saraireh 0]

nice article

[~*Dorothy*~ 2]

Very interesting article...thanks for sharing Sharon...

Dorothy

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Interestingly enough, such a "wall" or barrier between men and women is also standard in Orthodox Jewish synagogues. It's called the mechitza. The same rule applies at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem -- there are separate areas for men and women to pray.

But don't hold your breath for the New York Times to do an article about that.

[UmmSqueakster 54]

I find it somewhat amusing that issues like this keep making headlines in major newspapers, but then again, I guess I should be thankful that it's something other than "OMG teh terrorists!1!11!!!"

These issues are debated almost daily in masjids across the country. I should know, I've been an instigator on quite a few occasions My current masjid has men and women in the same room, with only a symbolic 3 panel divider that barrely covers 1/5 of the room. That way, sisters who want some privacy can sit by that, while the rest of us can spread out and see the khatib. However, even on eid when the masjid is stuffed to the gills, there is always a few feet of space between the men's lines and the women's lines. I sure as heck would never feel comfortable interspercing myself with male worshipers and having someone check out my behind in rukuh.

btw, I'm stealing your signature thingy w_o_m. Good idea.

Edited June 25, 2006 by rahma

[kerewin21 2]

Interestingly enough, such a "wall" or barrier between men and women is also standard in Orthodox Jewish synagogues. It's called the mechitza. The same rule applies at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem -- there are separate areas for men and women to pray.

At all the orthodox ceremonies I've been to, the wall has been down the middle, rather than between front and back as in the mosque in the article. Does anyone know if the divider is usually between front and back or between the sides in most mosques? At the only mosque non-muslims can enter in Morocco, there is a second floor in the back for the women (with an ESCALATOR, way cool!)

Up until the last century, women were in the back or on a second level at synagogues, and that has since changed. I was just wondering if the same change has occured in mosques.

[Together4ever 1]

btw, I'm stealing your signature thingy w_o_m. Good idea.

Ditto that, if you don't mind.

[MrsAmera 41]

At our mosque there is a seperate section for women - it's just a little space in the back. A lot of the women are older so there are benches for them. Honestly, I still have a hard time with the seperation issue. If I were praying next to men, I wouldn't feel uncomfortable, nor would I be unable to concentrate. If someone is looking at my a$$ then that's between them and Allah (pbuh). They know what they are doing wrong and so does Allah (phuh), and I wouldn't be the one to judge. When I'm in Morocco I feel differently. I see the seperation everywhere, deal with it, and accept it. But when I'm here, in my country, where I grew up, and it's so totally not a norm it's hard. When my husband has a hard time with the notion of me "mingling" with men he doesn't understand that they think of it different. At work or at school they aren't talking to me because they like me - discussion with members of the opposite sex is an inevitable part of life. If I were confined to speak only with women I might go crazy!! This isn't because I like the "attention" or anything but not interacting is like missing out on half of the world! Just my opinion...

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Interestingly enough, such a "wall" or barrier between men and women is also standard in Orthodox Jewish synagogues. It's called the mechitza. The same rule applies at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem -- there are separate areas for men and women to pray.

At all the orthodox ceremonies I've been to, the wall has been down the middle, rather than between front and back as in the mosque in the article. Does anyone know if the divider is usually between front and back or between the sides in most mosques? At the only mosque non-muslims can enter in Morocco, there is a second floor in the back for the women (with an ESCALATOR, way cool!)

Up until the last century, women were in the back or on a second level at synagogues, and that has since changed. I was just wondering if the same change has occured in mosques.

In the mosques I've seen, the women's area was at the back (near the doors) or on a second level, as you noticed.

There has been a similar debate within the Jewish community over the barriers in the synagogues. Reform Jews say they're not necessary, claiming that they stifle women's participation, and are a symbol of women being relegated to an inferior status. Orthodox Jews say the mechitza is required to keep the presence of women from "disturbing" male worshipers. The controversy has many striking parallels to the American Muslims' "divide" over the wall in the mosque.

But, predictably, you don't see one mention of that fact in the New York Times. Hmmmm.... I think I'm getting the message -- Qur'anic separation of the sexes = BAD. But Talmudic separation of the sexes = not newsworthy.