masjid

The First Women’s Mosque: An Interview with its Founders

The Women’s Mosque of America, founded by M. Hasna Maznavi and Sana Muttalib, held its very first Friday prayer a little over a week ago on January 30. Edina Lekovic, from the Muslim Public Affairs Council, gave the khutbah, or Friday sermon and its theme centered on “spiritual nourishment.” Lekovic…

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Marginalization, Isolation & The Women’s Mosque

If you’re upset at the concept of women creating their own space, then you truly have no idea how marginalized, isolated and emotionally, psychologically and spiritually abused many women are in our community – because of our community. If you’re angry, I hope you’re even more angered when you hear of…

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Capturing “beautiful,” “adequate,” and “pathetic” women’s spaces: An Interview with Hind Makki

<< From the Altmuslimah archives >> The Tumblr blog “Side Entrance” describes itself as a collection of images “from mosques around the world, showcasing women’s sacred spaces, in relation to men’s spaces,” showing ”the beautiful, the adequate and the pathetic.” Sarah Farrukh talks to project founder and community activist Hind Makki about the significance of the collection and its implications for mosque reform.

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Out of sight, out of touch: Women’s struggle to be heard in the mosque

Two Muslim women enter a mosque (no, this isn’t the opener of a lame joke).
Both sisters join the prayer, enjoying the Imam’s melodious recitation over the loud speaker – the only communication they have with the walled off men’s prayer area where the Iman stands, leading the prayer. They kneel down and touch their foreheads to the ground. Some time passes and one sister begins to wonder why the prostration, typically no more than 10 to 30 seconds, is now in its second minute. She had enjoyed the extra time to fit in some much needed supplication, but two minutes?

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