Re: Women Leading Prayer - The Deeper Issue
Using Qu'ran viewer..i was trying to search for these terms "prayer" and "mosque" to see if any relevant items will appear.
This one possibly has some relevance. It does not have any gender bias in its implication of the maintainers of the mosque (which may or may not be the same as leading ofcourse..but next bext thing i suppose):
** 9:18
The mosques of Allah shall be visited and maintained by such as believe in Allah and the Last Day, establish regular prayers, and practise regular charity, and fear none (at all) except Allah. It is they who are expected to be on true guidance.**
Feel free to look at the entire context of this Surah. It seemed to be discussing about Pagans and the sacred Mosque.
The next two verses, 9.19 and 9.20, are actually quite good:
9:19
Do ye make the giving of drink to pilgrims, or the maintenance of the Sacred Mosque, equal to (the pious service of) those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and strive with might and main in the cause of Allah? They are not comparable in the sight of Allah: and Allah guides not those who do wrong.
9:20
Those who believe, and suffer exile and strive with might and main, in Allah's cause, with their goods and their persons, have the highest rank in the sight of Allah: they are the people who will achieve (salvation).
With regards to the other POV:
** 9:108
Never stand thou forth therein. There is a mosque whose foundation was laid from the first day on piety; it is more worthy of the standing forth (for prayer) therein. In it are men who love to be purified; and Allah loveth those who make themselves pure.**
This states that 'men who love to be purified' are inside the mosque. This is not about leading prayers however. Ofcourse..women are not mentioned at all to be 'in' the mosque. Why is this exclusion made?
Any other ideas for search terms?