The occasion when a number of Abyssinians celebrated Eid with folk dancing in the Prophet’s mosque in Madinah is often mentioned when scholars speak about the role of the mosque in the life of the Muslim community. It is also cited when scholars speak about what is permissible for women in the mosque, because lady Ayesha attended that occasion. It is useful to cite what Ayesha says before we try to draw a picture of what is acceptable in this regard.
Ayesha says: “It was the occasion of Eid and people from those parts normally played with spears and shields. Either I asked the Prophet or he said to me, ‘Would you like to look at them’? I said that I would. He placed me behind him, and I put my cheek on his cheek. He said to them: ‘Let us see what you do.’ When I had enough the Prophet asked me: ‘Is this enough for you’? I answered that it was, and he told me to go.” (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.) In another version, Ayesha says that Umar reproached them, but the Prophet stopped him and told them that they need not be worried.
This incident took place when the Abyssinian delegation arrived in Madinah with Jaafar ibn Abd Al-Muttalib, who had lived there for 15 years with a number of the early Muslims, advocating the message of Islam. Jaafar arrived at the time when the Battle of Khaybar took place. In fact, he joined the Prophet at Khaybar shortly after the battle was over. That battle took place in the seventh year after the Prophet’s settlement in Madinah. At that time, Ayesha was a fully mature woman.
What we see in this incident, with the Abyssinians playing in the mosque on Eid day, gives a strong indication to provide chances for the marking of this festive occasion with decent entertainment. Women certainly may attend such activities and enjoy the shows that may be presented. We suppose that some women, of all ages, also watched the fun that was presented. If Ayesha watched them from behind the Prophet, with a number of his companions present, it stands to reason that other women must have heard of what was going on in the mosque and come to watch and enjoy the scene, just like Ayesha did. After all, Muslim women used to go to the mosque at all times of day and night, for no less than 12 different purposes. Besides, the mosque provided a clean environment and ample space where Muslims looked after their various affairs.
It is true that Ayesha stood behind the Prophet when she watched, and he covered her with his robes, but then this is required of the Prophet’s wives in particular, as part of their special status. Other Muslim women need only observe normal Islamic standards that apply to meeting with men. We stress that Islam must be taken as a whole and it cannot be taken piecemeal. While Islam encourages women to attend good occasions and celebrations, it also commands its followers to dress in a decent manner, lowering one’s gaze and avoiding areas of congestion. Its aim is to provide an atmosphere of purity and morality. All applies to the mosque in as much as it applies to a lecture theater and a public square.
Imam Al-Nawawi, who wrote a full commentary on Muslim’s anthology of authentic Hadiths, says that the Prophet insisted all women to attend the Eid prayer: “The Prophet said that the purpose is that they may ‘attend the goodness and take part in the believers’ prayers’. This means that Islam encourages that people, men and women, attend gatherings which include good things such as gatherings where the people in attendance join in a supplication to God, or the ones devoted to the glorification of God, or study groups.” This means that Islam encourages women’s participation in marking good occasions, provided that Islamic standards of morality and propriety are observed. Such occasions include, in our view, attending military parades, which demonstrate the strength of a Muslim country. Such a parade should be within the framework defined by the Qur’anic verse that requires the Muslim community to “Make ready against them whatever force you can muster.” (8: 60) Likewise, sport competitions may be included in good gatherings, as these demonstrate physical strength.
Slamah ibn Al-Akwa’, a companion of the Prophet, reports: “The Prophet passed by a group from the Aslam clan of the Ansar, who were having a match in accurate archery. He said to them: ‘Go on and aim your arches, you descendents of Ishmael. I am with this group.’ The other group held their arches and stopped aiming them. The Prophet asked them why have they stopped. They said: ‘How can we when you are with the others?’ He said: ‘Then continue; I am with both your groups’.” (Related by Al-Bukahri.)
During the Prophet’s lifetime, horse racing was a sport people enjoyed, but under Islam, this sport is not associated with betting as it is today in most countries and as it was in Arabia in pre-Islamic days. The practice in the early days of Islam was that horses prepared for such a sport would be kept slim and not allowed to be overweight. Abdullah ibn Umar reports: “The Prophet organized a race between horses that were kept slim, starting from Al-Hafya’ making their finishing line at Thaniyyat Al-Wada’, with the distance being around six or seven miles. He also organized a race between horses that were not kept slim, with the starting line at Thaniyyat Al-Wada’ and the finishing line at the Mosque of the Zurayq clan. The distance was a mile or so.” Ibn Umar was one of the participants in the race. (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.)
