JEDDAH: Women’s work in Tawafa (pilgrim establishments) and Mutawwifa (volunteers working for Tawafa) is not new, but nothing has been done so far to allow them a formal role, says Faten Hussein, who has documented her experience in the field of service to pilgrims in her book.
“Women in Makkah have been working in Tawafa for hundreds of years ago, supporting and helping men, serving the elderly, health care, social, religious and cultural awareness, which contributed to excellent services for women at that time,” she said.
However, the number of women in Tawafa has come down now, to the extent that they have almost disappeared from the scene, she said. “This has made it inconvenient for elderly women to perform Umrah with comfort.”
Faten pointed out that the most prominent difficulties faced by any Mutawwifa are the failure of the recognition to their work, and the lack of a unified action plan for all institutions. “My experience with Tawafa was successful, and I have documented it in a book; to prove the women’s efficiency if she they are given job opportunities, in accordance with the values and teachings of Islam.”
Faten said that there are significant efforts in some of the Tawafa institutions for the development of women’s work. Unfortunately, there is no system that formally allows women to work in this field, although the decision was recently released in the regulations on the boards of the institutions by appointing two roles for women. But after the election ended, the roles were only assigned to men,” she added.
Faten has participated in international forums and written numerous articles related to social changes and related problems and issues.
“Women in Makkah have been working in Tawafa for hundreds of years ago, supporting and helping men, serving the elderly, health care, social, religious and cultural awareness, which contributed to excellent services for women at that time,” she said.
However, the number of women in Tawafa has come down now, to the extent that they have almost disappeared from the scene, she said. “This has made it inconvenient for elderly women to perform Umrah with comfort.”
Faten pointed out that the most prominent difficulties faced by any Mutawwifa are the failure of the recognition to their work, and the lack of a unified action plan for all institutions. “My experience with Tawafa was successful, and I have documented it in a book; to prove the women’s efficiency if she they are given job opportunities, in accordance with the values and teachings of Islam.”
Faten said that there are significant efforts in some of the Tawafa institutions for the development of women’s work. Unfortunately, there is no system that formally allows women to work in this field, although the decision was recently released in the regulations on the boards of the institutions by appointing two roles for women. But after the election ended, the roles were only assigned to men,” she added.
Faten has participated in international forums and written numerous articles related to social changes and related problems and issues.
