Scholar calls for new women-only floors in Grand Mosque
Published: Mar 18, 2010 02:10 Updated: Mar 18, 2010 14:14
JEDDAH: A professor of Islamic jurisprudence at Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University in Riyadh has called for the construction of extra floors just for women at the Grand Mosque in Makkah in order to prevent them from mingling with men during tawaf (circling of the Holy Kaaba) and prayers.
"Mingling of sexes is not allowed in the Grand Mosque and outside the mosque according to the Shariah," Dr. Yousuf Al-Ahmed told Arab News.
"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," Al-Ahmed told Arab News.
Al-Ahmed called for the building of separate floors for women after demolishing the expansions carried out during the Ottoman era and the rule of King Saud, adding that it would create more room for the increasing number of pilgrims who come for Haj and Umrah.
"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," he asked.
Al-Ahmed asked Arab News not to publish his statement before sending him the report by email. But he did not provide an email address through SMS and switched his mobile phone off. Arab News has a recording of his statement.
The university professor had earlier expressed the same views during a talk show aired by Al-Bidaya satellite channel. His statement is also now available on Youtube.
Dr. Muhammad Al-Sahli, imam and khateeb at Al-Jowhara Mosque in Makkah, did not support the idea saying it would not be practical. "Preventing the reason is one of the principles of Islam and here comes the issue of mingling that causes temptations. But we should be realistic as allocating separate places for women comes close to our imagination but would not serve the interest," he said.
Al-Sahli said the number of women coming to the Grand Mosque is much less than that of men. "If we create a separate area for women in the mataf (circling area) it would reduce the mosque's space. The present status is much better," he said, adding that women can now pray at places far away from men.
Saleh Al-Shamrani, another scholar, refused to comment on the issue and left the matter to the Council of Senior Islamic Scholars to decide.

Comments
AZKSA
Mar 18, 2010 14:58
Report abuseSIMRAN KHAN
Mar 18, 2010 14:59
Report abuseis there any limit to these religious mens paranoia??!!
DR. M. ABDULRAHMAN
Mar 18, 2010 15:02
Report abuseIMRAN
Mar 18, 2010 15:04
Report abuseKAGB_2050@YAHOO.COM
Mar 18, 2010 15:06
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