The Islamic tradition is largely un-read. Even people now that are studying in ‘madrasahs’, studying at Shar’ia colleges do not go deeply into this tradition. This is simply a fact. One of the things – I’ll give you one example. When I wrote a paper on female prayer, because this was an issue a few years ago, years ago when I was a student in Mauritania, I remembered in a book that Ibn Ayman from the Malaki madhab considered female prayers was permissible, and I remember as a twenty-one year old student underlining that; and I actually went back to the book and found my underlining of that statement. When I studied the prayer issue, I was so stuck by the fact that not only was it debated early on, but there were multiple opinions. Imam Tabari considered it permissible for women to lead the prayer if they were more qualified than men – to lead men in prayer. Ibn Taymiyah himself permitted women to lead men in prayer if they were illiterate and she was literate. He just said that she should lead from the back because she might distract the men if she was leading from the front. Ibn Taymiyeh! Permitting a woman to lead men in prayer!
Are we manipulating existing Islamic gender roles?
Do you believe it’s important to distinguish between small details (such as women leading prayer), which our past generations thought to be pointless?
Re: Hamza Yusuf: Permissible For Women To Lead Men In Prayer
With due respect to Sheikh Hamza Yusuf , will he pray behind a woman.
P.S I have no issue with a woman being imam of prayer at her own home for her own family/clan. I have read some ahadees about permissibility of this practice.
Re: Hamza Yusuf: Permissible For Women To Lead Men In Prayer
With due respect to Sheikh Hamza Yusuf , will he pray behind a woman.
P.S I have no issue with a woman being imam of prayer at her own home for her own family/clan. I have read some ahadees about permissibility of this practice.
Re: Hamza Yusuf: Permissible For Women To Lead Men In Prayer
Don't know how true is this but from what I have heard from scholars about having a female leading the prayers as an Imam at a mosque state the following reasons the first one being what Gaia mentioned about causing distraction. Secondly what would explain her absence to the strangers or non-mehram in prayers when she is having her menstrual period. It is something very personal and that would mean announcing that the leading prayer Imama is on a period break.
I don't remember the name of the scholar who said this though and neither am I sure about the ruling on Imamat in detail but this argument does make sense.
Also what about na-mehram and mehram issue ?
Women can lead women in prayers but men..i doubt that
Re: Hamza Yusuf: Permissible For Women To Lead Men In Prayer
Don't know the reasons I have heard from scholars of having a female leading the prayers as an Imam at a mosque is the one like Gaia mentioned causing distraction. Secondly what would explain her absence to the strangers or non-mehram in prayers when she is having her menstrual period. It is something very personal and that would mean announcing that the leading prayer Imama is on a period break.
I don't remember the name of the scholar who said this though and neither am I sure about the ruling on Imamat in detail.
maybe guys need to make peace with her being a woman?
I don't have opinion, I would prefer to go where there is male imam.. But I really want to know.
Re: Hamza Yusuf: Permissible For Women To Lead Men In Prayer
yeah.. there is no such mixed prayer.. right.
You know this whole thing started.. in home type mosque where men and women were in same area.
I think rule was broken there…before it even comes to she imam.
Re: Hamza Yusuf: Permissible For Women To Lead Men In Prayer
A simple question. For 1400 years the Muslim world has believed that women can not lead men in prayers. The Holy Prophet nor any of the Sahaba followed a woman in prayer. Not even when Hazart Aisha led the rest of the Sahaba in prayers. So I guess all that history is wrong but we are right today.
And when we are right we are right by misquoting a hadis on its wording and nature. We opening ignore intent to fit our needs. Not only that we do so quoting a Jurist school of thought that died out nearly 1000 if not more years ago.
More importantly nobody during those 1400 years ever thought hey....we are not following the words of the Holy Prophet.
Re: Hamza Yusuf: Permissible For Women To Lead Men In Prayer
Narrated through Jabir Ibn Abdullah:** "A woman may not lead a man in Prayer, nor may a Bedouin lead a believer of the Muhajirun or a corrupt person lead a committed Muslim in Prayer." **
Abu Huraira said: The best rows for men are the first rows, and the worst ones the last ones, and the best rows for women are the last ones and the worst ones for them are the first ones.
However, would it be acceptable for a woman to lead prayer from the back, IF she had the most knowledge of Islam within that community?
Re: Hamza Yusuf: Permissible For Women To Lead Men In Prayer
A simple question. For 1400 years the Muslim world has believed that women can not lead men in prayers. The Holy Prophet nor any of the Sahaba followed a woman in prayer. Not even when Hazart Aisha led the rest of the Sahaba in prayers. So I guess all that history is wrong but we are right today.
Bring out the camels guys, cut off your electricity, break your TV, PC, Fridge etc and buy caves. Turns out we are to do things EXACTLY like they did 1400 years ago.
