Suddenly ‘mingling’ becomes a dirty word
Dr. Yousuf Al-Ahmed is a professor of Islamic jurisprudence at Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University in Riyadh.
Recently he suggested that the Grand Mosque in Makkah be demolished as it stands now and rebuilt to prevent the mingling of men and women.
Speaking to the press, Dr. Al-Ahmed elaborated: “Mingling of sexes is not allowed in the Grand Mosque and outside the mosque according to the Shariah. There are two types of mingling of sexes; mingling that takes place casually in the passages and at the Jamrat in Mina; and permanent mingling that takes place during tawaf causing congestion and harm to women.
“This engineering solution will give women privacy and keep them away from cameras that project them and show them on satellite channels. Is it not the right of women not to battle with men during tawaf? Is it not their right to have one or two floors to perform tawaf and what is wrong in reconstructing the mosque for this purpose?”
In view of some of the more outrageous fatwas being issued lately, this suggestion borders on the extreme. While it was summarily dismissed by Dr. Muhammad Al-Sahli, imam and khateeb at Al-Jowhara Mosque in Makkah, the simple fact that a professor at a religious university can issue such a statement about the mingling of men and women in the holiest place of worship to Muslims is an affront to those of us who use the premises to bring us closer to Allah. It is indeed offensive to assume that men who come to perform their religious duties at the Grand Mosque have other motives.
What is also inherently dangerous is that when a religious scholar and a university professor issues such statements, he is unwittingly encouraging the extremist elements among students and in our society to band together against what they perceive as the decay of Islamic mores, and some may choose to take matters into their own hands. Over the past two decades, this country had witnessed the evil and violent effects of extremism, and such edicts tend to increase further polarization.
Would such statements prompt other scholars to call for further segregation? Would the national airline be targeted by a suggestion that there should be segregation of sexes in the flights? Would hospitals and nurses come under fire for catering to both sexes? Would restaurants and shopping malls be the next to follow?
Social scientists argue that segregation often leads to the breaking down of respect between the sexes, instead of the desired opposite effect.
Preposterous as it may seem, such pronouncements from supposedly learned scholars could lead to a perilous divide within our society. University officials should take swift action and publicly censure this professor to discourage other scholars from following or endorsing his way of thinking.
Along the same lines, a surprise move by the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry has left many of us worried about the absurd depths some minds have sunk to. In a news report recently, it was stated that the chamber has decided to designate different arrival and leaving times for its male and female employees to ensure they do not mix on arrival and departure.
A decision by the chamber’s board last week stated that the working hours for women employees will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., while their male counterparts are to come at 8.30 a.m. and leave at 4.30 p.m. Before this, all employees used to come to work at 9 a.m. and leave at 5 p.m. “By this new change in working hours, men and women will not mix on arrival or departure when they have to sign in and sign off,” said the JCCI.
Now what if a husband and wife work together at the chamber? And does the board consider all the men working there to be lecherous and have lust in their hearts as they stumble in sleepy-eyed and sign in to work? Did the women working there ask for it, or was it one of those high-handed decrees? And indeed if there are some annoying Romeos among the males, shouldn’t they simply be singled out and booted out for good? Just what is the message that the board is trying to pass on to the community?
Makes me wonder when mingling has sunk to such pits.
— For comments, e-mail me at talmaeena@aol.com
Comments
AJAZ
Mar 20, 2010 14:24
Report abuseNISHTHAR IDROOS
Mar 20, 2010 14:30
Report abuseTHOMAS BOWMAN
Mar 20, 2010 20:35
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Denver/Colorado