Friday Prayer Led by Dr. Amina Wadud @ NYC

[RB]

This item is located at:
http://www.muslimwakeup.com/events/a...y_prayer_l.php


On Friday, March 18, 2005, Dr. Amina Wadud, professor of Islamic studies at Virginia Commonwealth University, will be the first woman to lead a public, mixed-gender Friday prayer. She will also deliver the Friday sermon. Dr. Wadud, the author of the groundbreaking book Qur'an and Woman: Rereading the Sacred Text from a Woman's Perspective, is an esteemed scholar of Islam who affirms the right of Muslim women to be prayer leaders. It is a generally held view in the Muslim world and in the American Muslim community that women cannot lead mixed-gender prayer. This custom is pervasive and goes unchallenged. Research from the Qur'an and the customs of Prophet Muhammad demonstrate that there is no prohibition precluding women from leading mixed-gender prayer and, further, that Prophet Muhammad approved the practice of women leading mixed-gender prayer. Over the centuries, Muslim women have lost their place as intellectual and spiritual leaders.

On March 18, 2005 Muslim women will reclaim their right to be spiritual equals and leaders. Women will move from the space tradition has relegated them in the back of the mosque and pray in the front rows.

Our effort will be part of a broader campaign to create communities in that rise to the highest principles of Islam's teachings on tolerance, justice, equity, and compassion. In the 7th century, the Prophet Muhammad built a model community in the city of Medina, earning it a place in history as "the City of Illumination" because of its progressive values. In the 21st century, we are committed to creating modern day "Cities of Light" in that value inclusion and women's rights.

About Dr. Amina Wadud

Amina Wadud is an Islamic studies professor in the department of philosophy and religious studies at Virginia Commonwealth University. She is nationally and internationally known for her ground breaking book Qur'an and Women: Rereading the Sacred Text from a Woman's Perspective, the first interpretive reading of the Qur'an by a woman. Dr. Wadud seeks to validate the female voice in the Qur'an and bring it out of the shadows. Dr. Wadud will deliver the sermon and lead the prayer.

Background:

The Muslim Women's Freedom Tour educates and empowers Muslim women to reclaim their God-given right to lead self-determined lives.

In 2004, we took on the issue of Muslim women gaining access to space and voice in American mosques where they have traditionally been banned or relegated to isolated areas of the mosque. On June 4, 2004, a group of seven Muslim women marched to the mosque in Morgantown, W.V., to reclaim the right of women to use the front door and the main hall of mosques; as in many mosques in the United States, women had been told to take a back door and pray in a secluded balcony. Our historic march was the shot heard around the world. Images and reports from the march swept across the globe, and we have documented a positive shift in the participation of Muslim women in mosques and communities globally as a result of the march and the dialogue it sparked.

This year we are affirming the right of women to be spiritual leaders, including imams, or prayer leaders. In a historic Friday prayer on March 18, 2005, in New York City, women will go from the back of the mosque to the front of the mosque.


Jumah Agenda

1:00 pm
-- 1st Call to Prayer, Welcome, Zikr, Worship
-- 2nd Call to Prayer
-- Jumah Sermon (Dr. Wadud)
-- Jumah Prayer (Dr. Wadud)
-- Solitary Prayer/Meditation
-- Fellowship with reception



This item is located at:
http://www.muslimwakeup.com/events/a...y_prayer_l.php

[RB]

Mossiba Kobra
la hawla wa lakouwata illa bi ALLAH

[moroccanchica]

Thx for that RB

[Khalidz]

Wa mosiba hadi... Allah y hdeena...ameen

[Ghazala]

I always thought that women could lead other women in prayer. However, we should not recite aloud. As for mixed sermons led by women - I think that isn't correct but Allah wa 3lam. BTW - Houda, I have no daleel on it (as usual)

[HOUDA-K]

Jum’muah Mubarak all,

~G~ you’re correct

This discourse is going round all the Islamic forums and yahoo groups, it’s unbelievable.

My input is on here and so is Tihad’s if you want to take a read with the daleel {{ }}

http://www.algeria.com/forums/showth...?threadid=7623

[Ghazala]

I have to say I always learn from my Pops He usually knows the daleel (in Arabic) & I tend to turn to him or other relatives with queries.

I know it sounds snotty but at the end of the day, many English language sites do not contain correct translations as some of the sense is lost from Arabic (what with it being a much richer language). I don't want to end up following the wrong path.

BTW - I am speaking generally & not about contributions on here or Alg.com (as a lot of ppl who post can speak/write Arabic)

I miss Tihad