Category: Articles

  In this part, Dr. Jasser Auda concludes the series with discussion of where children should line within a mosque and whether women are solely responsible for them during prayer. Also, whether mosque’s gates should be open for both men and women or dedicated for each gender is also elaborated on in this article.   Children’s status and place in mosque As for children, the observed practice during the lifetime of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was that the older among them would form separate rows. Sometimes the imam was a child like `Amr ibn Salamah in the Hadith referred to above.   Yet, this practice rarely takes place in our age; few are the children who observe prayers properly with due concentration and Khushu`. It is thus more suitable that children be accompanied by their parents in mosque or have special halls where they can be taught and guided by volunteering males and females, especially in public occasions where there are big numbers of children. In fact, to instruct children during the Prayer by adults is one of the Practices of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Ibn `Abbas narrated: One night I stood to the left of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the prayer but he caught hold of me by the hand or by the arm till...

  How men and women should line up in a mosque? This is the question discussed by Dr. Jasser Auda in this part of the series. In part 1, Dr. Auda argued that isolating women from men in mosques does not follow the practice of the Prophet nor does it conform to the design of his Mosque during his lifetime. Part 2 highlighted the advantages women acquire when they share the same mosque hall with men and, thus, be able to learn directly form the Imam.         The Hadith on the worst of rows and its meaning There is a Hadith reported by Abu Hurayrah, in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) stated that: “The best of men’s rows are the frontward ones and their worst are their rearward ones, while women’s best rows are its rearward ones and their worst are their frontward ones.”[1] Some people draw on this Hadith to prevent women from attending prayer at mosques at all, or for isolating them in separate halls. This is a strange interpretation, since the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) could have got another prayer hall built for women alone or even prevented them from performing prayers in mosques from the very beginning. Yet, he absolutely did neither. The Hadith rather asserts the preference of men’s standing in the first rows and women’s standing...

In the first part, Dr. Jasser Auda raised the question about where women prayer area should be located within the mosque and whether segregating women from men in mosques is acceptable. He listed 5 disadvantages of this practice and showed how the design of the Prophet’s Mosque was open for both males and females. In this article, an important advantage of such an open design is discussed.   Women Learnt from Imam directly As women had their share in the Prophet’s Mosque, they were able to see him as he preached. That is scientifically proven to help in maintaining attentiveness and proper communication. Some women used to directly learn the Quran from the recitation of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Um Hisham Bint al-Harith ibn Al-Nu`man said: I memorized Surat Qaf only from the mouth of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him); he would recite it in his speech every Friday.[1]   Abdullah ibn `Abbas narrated, Umu-l-Fadl heard me reciting “Wal Mursalati `Urfa” (Quran, Chapter 77). She commented, “O my son! By Allah, your recitation made me remember that it was the last Surah I heard from Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). He recited it in the Maghrib prayer. “[2]   Um Salamah, the wife of Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said, I used to hear people...