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Reclaiming the Mosque: The Role of Women in Islam's House of Worship
বিশ্বের অন্যতম বৃহত্তম মুসলিম জনগোষ্ঠী হওয়া সত্ত্বেও বাংলাদেশে নারীদের ইসলামসম্মত অধিকারগুলোর বাস্তবায়ন খুব কম। মসজিদে নামাজ আদায় ও মসজিদকেন্দ্রিক বিভিন্ন সামাজিক ও দ্বীনি দায়িত্ব পালনে পুরুষদের পাশাপাশি নারীদের অংশগ্রহণের অধিকার বাংলাদেশে বলতে গেলে নেই, কেড়ে নেওয়া হয়েছে।
অথচ ইসলামের সোনালী যুগে তাকালে আমরা দেখতে পায়, মসজিদে নারীদের অবাধ যাতায়াতের সুযোগ ছিল। প্রাণাধিক প্রিয় রাসূল সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়াসাল্লামের ইমামতিত্বে মসজিদে নববীতে নারী-পুরুষ মিলে একই ফ্লোরে নামাজ আদায় করতেন।
’রিক্লেইমিং দ্যা মস্ক: মসজিদে নারীদের উপস্থিতি’ শীর্ষক বইটিতে ড. জাসের আওদা ইসলামের সোনালী যুগের সেই চিত্রটি দলীল-প্রমাণের সাহায্যে তুলে ধরেছেন। নারীদেরকে মসজিদে যেতে না দেওয়ার পক্ষে যেসব ফিকহী ব্যাখ্যা সমাজে প্রচলিত রয়েছে, সেগুলোর সীমাবদ্ধতা তিনি একে একে খণ্ডন করে দেখিয়ে দিয়েছেন। প্রিয় রাসূল সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়াসাল্লামের যুগে মসজিদে নারীদের যে অবস্থান ও ভূমিকা ছিলো, তা পুনঃপ্রতিষ্ঠা তথা রিক্লেইম করার মাধ্যমে ইসলামী আদর্শকে পুনরুজ্জীবিত করার একটি আহ্বান হলো এই বই।
অথচ ইসলামের সোনালী যুগে তাকালে আমরা দেখতে পায়, মসজিদে নারীদের অবাধ যাতায়াতের সুযোগ ছিল। প্রাণাধিক প্রিয় রাসূল সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়াসাল্লামের ইমামতিত্বে মসজিদে নববীতে নারী-পুরুষ মিলে একই ফ্লোরে নামাজ আদায় করতেন।
’রিক্লেইমিং দ্যা মস্ক: মসজিদে নারীদের উপস্থিতি’ শীর্ষক বইটিতে ড. জাসের আওদা ইসলামের সোনালী যুগের সেই চিত্রটি দলীল-প্রমাণের সাহায্যে তুলে ধরেছেন। নারীদেরকে মসজিদে যেতে না দেওয়ার পক্ষে যেসব ফিকহী ব্যাখ্যা সমাজে প্রচলিত রয়েছে, সেগুলোর সীমাবদ্ধতা তিনি একে একে খণ্ডন করে দেখিয়ে দিয়েছেন। প্রিয় রাসূল সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়াসাল্লামের যুগে মসজিদে নারীদের যে অবস্থান ও ভূমিকা ছিলো, তা পুনঃপ্রতিষ্ঠা তথা রিক্লেইম করার মাধ্যমে ইসলামী আদর্শকে পুনরুজ্জীবিত করার একটি আহ্বান হলো এই বই।
- GenresIslamWomensNonfiction
110 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 6, 2018
7 people are currently reading
216 people want to read
About the author
Jasser Auda
21 books30 followersProfessor Jasser Auda is a founding member and Head of the Dawah Committee at the International Union of Muslim Scholars, a member of the European Council for Fatwa and Research, and teaches and supervises research on Maqasid Al-Shariah at the Faculty of Islamic Studies in Doha. He has a PhD in the Philosophy of Islamic law from the University of Wales, UK, and a PhD in systems analysis from the University of Waterloo, Canada, and a M.Jur. thesis on the Maqasid/purposes of the Shariah from the Islamic American University. Early in his life, he had studied Fiqh, Usul, hadith, Sunnah, and memorized the Quran in the halaqas of the Azhar Mosque in Cairo. He was previously a founding Director of the Maqasid Center in the Philosophy of Islamic Law in London, a founding Deputy Director of the Center for Islamic Legislation and Ethics in Doha, and a professor in the Faculty of Law, Alexandria University, Egypt, Islamic Fiqh Academy of India, American University in Sharjah, University of Waterloo, Canada. He lectured on Islam and its law and ethics in dozens of universities and institutes around the world, and wrote a number of books, some of which were translated to fifteen languages.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 14, 2021
Great summary of Fiqh Questions abt women in mosques
Concise, clear, and a quick and easy read . Highly recommend! Pass this book out to every masjid board. And imam
Concise, clear, and a quick and easy read . Highly recommend! Pass this book out to every masjid board. And imam
July 19, 2018
This is a small book with an excellent overview of the major issues related to Muslim women and their relationship with places of worship in Islam. The book also goes beyond this main theme to cover other background topics such as what it means to call something “Islamic". In addition, it touches on some controversial issues concerning women in Islam such as child marriage and women leadership. The book is divided into 20 short chapters, each answering one question. Some of the questions being answered are "On what basis do some Muslims prevent women from entering mosques?", "Can women lecture men in the mosque? " and "Is women's leadership forbidden by hadith?", etc.
Dr. Auda's writings enjoy both clarity and scholarly depth. I recommend this book to both men and women particularily those activley involved in Muslim institutions.
Dr. Auda's writings enjoy both clarity and scholarly depth. I recommend this book to both men and women particularily those activley involved in Muslim institutions.
August 31, 2021
"Reclaiming the Mosque" by Jasser Auda was a refreshingly pleasant read after some of the more painful Muslamic/women's studies academic reads.
At 134 pages, the book itself is concise, with extremely accessible language, and is a quick and easy read.
Auda covers the topic of "women and the masjid" fairly comprehensively, though perhaps too simplistically for the more scholarly or academically inclined. Most of the book is done quite well - he brings up specific ahadith as evidence of women's participation in the masjid and breaking down misconceptions and cultural beliefs on the matter.
I felt rather vindicated to find narrations such as that of "the most beautiful woman in the masjid," and of how Allah rebuked the men who came to catch a glimpse of her (without ever blaming the woman!) - I've written about it myself years ago.
I did have some issues with a couple of points; I felt that Auda had a rather reductionist take on certain topics (such as women leading men in salah). He also unnecessarily brought up the "age of A'isha" debate, and the naaqisaat 'aql hadith, rejecting certain authentic ahadith in Sahih al-Bukhari entirely based upon his own (rather weak, I felt) reasoning.
Nonetheless, this was an otherwise excellent read that I very much enjoyed. I recommend it as a handy resource, though with the caveat of encouraging further research and study on the issues I mentioned above.
(Also: I *love* the cover image of Dr Heba Raouf teaching an Islamic class to both men and women in the Sultan Hassan masjid in Cairo, Egypt!)
At 134 pages, the book itself is concise, with extremely accessible language, and is a quick and easy read.
Auda covers the topic of "women and the masjid" fairly comprehensively, though perhaps too simplistically for the more scholarly or academically inclined. Most of the book is done quite well - he brings up specific ahadith as evidence of women's participation in the masjid and breaking down misconceptions and cultural beliefs on the matter.
I felt rather vindicated to find narrations such as that of "the most beautiful woman in the masjid," and of how Allah rebuked the men who came to catch a glimpse of her (without ever blaming the woman!) - I've written about it myself years ago.
I did have some issues with a couple of points; I felt that Auda had a rather reductionist take on certain topics (such as women leading men in salah). He also unnecessarily brought up the "age of A'isha" debate, and the naaqisaat 'aql hadith, rejecting certain authentic ahadith in Sahih al-Bukhari entirely based upon his own (rather weak, I felt) reasoning.
Nonetheless, this was an otherwise excellent read that I very much enjoyed. I recommend it as a handy resource, though with the caveat of encouraging further research and study on the issues I mentioned above.
(Also: I *love* the cover image of Dr Heba Raouf teaching an Islamic class to both men and women in the Sultan Hassan masjid in Cairo, Egypt!)
September 5, 2021
This was a very quick and beneficial read. Jasser Auda discusses some of the issues faced by women in masajid, and then, using evidence from the sunnah/hadith, insists upon the necessity of giving women their rightful place in the masjid.
I love how hadiths were incorporated into every chapter of this book; it shows that the author really researched this and promotes the respect to the prophetic tradition as opposed to liberal/progressive views that usually assert their own views whether the sunnah contradicts them or not.
Two things I'd be cautious of:
1- The author is critical of several narrations, including those narrated by Bukhari, and I don't have much knowledge to affirm or deny the legitimacy of these criticisms. I'd suggest you're just cautious of his claims regarding these.
2- Several times he emphasized a worry over the nonMuslims' perceptions of Islam/Muslims as a reason for adequately including women in the masjid. We should give women their rightful place in the masjids, but NOT with the intention of providing a good image to nonMuslims - I don’t think any of our actions should have this as a reason or motivation.
However this is a great book overall and I especially appreciated that the selected hadiths show insight into the structure/organization of the Prophet's Mosque during his lifetime, as well as the several narrations that show that women were always an integral part of it.
I love how hadiths were incorporated into every chapter of this book; it shows that the author really researched this and promotes the respect to the prophetic tradition as opposed to liberal/progressive views that usually assert their own views whether the sunnah contradicts them or not.
Two things I'd be cautious of:
1- The author is critical of several narrations, including those narrated by Bukhari, and I don't have much knowledge to affirm or deny the legitimacy of these criticisms. I'd suggest you're just cautious of his claims regarding these.
2- Several times he emphasized a worry over the nonMuslims' perceptions of Islam/Muslims as a reason for adequately including women in the masjid. We should give women their rightful place in the masjids, but NOT with the intention of providing a good image to nonMuslims - I don’t think any of our actions should have this as a reason or motivation.
However this is a great book overall and I especially appreciated that the selected hadiths show insight into the structure/organization of the Prophet's Mosque during his lifetime, as well as the several narrations that show that women were always an integral part of it.
September 1, 2019
The first book that I've completed during summer holiday.
It reminds me again on why Prof Dr Jasser Auda is one of the important scholars in this contemporary world that we're living in. Rarely you see a male scholar emphasizes on women's issues. But he did it in his own way. And when I said that, I meant this book and some of his talks on women's issues.
Reclaiming the Mosque discusses about many topics on women in the light of Quran and Sunnah. I would say this book is simple to read and understand as there is small amount of academical phrases or jargons that he used. And of course, he still presents his ideas and debates based on Quran, hadith or some scholars views.
So the references are reliable and it does not merely comes from his opinions.
Some of the important issues that were discussed in this book includes:
1. Are women allowed to go to the Masjid?
Eventhough this issue might not seem important in this country as we allow women to go masjid, however, in certain countries, the men didnt allow women to go to Masjid due to 'religious purpose' when there is no clear hadith or practise of the Prophet that disallow women to come to the house of Allah.
Besides, Dr. Jasser Auda also clarifies certain hadith about the preference of women to pray at home in which the hadith was taken out of context by several Muslim scholars. So I applaud him for his efforts.
2. Are women allowed to lead the prayer with male presence? The discussion of hadith in this area quite interesting too.
3. Are women allowed to give talk or tazkirah to the male audience? (loving the cover of this book by the way, it is actually a photo of Dr. Heba Raouf teaching at Sultan Hassan Mosque, Cairo)
4. Does menstruation prohibits women from entering mosques, reading Quran or performing tawaf?
All of these important women issues were discussed in this book and I highly encouraged everyone to read it!
It reminds me again on why Prof Dr Jasser Auda is one of the important scholars in this contemporary world that we're living in. Rarely you see a male scholar emphasizes on women's issues. But he did it in his own way. And when I said that, I meant this book and some of his talks on women's issues.
Reclaiming the Mosque discusses about many topics on women in the light of Quran and Sunnah. I would say this book is simple to read and understand as there is small amount of academical phrases or jargons that he used. And of course, he still presents his ideas and debates based on Quran, hadith or some scholars views.
So the references are reliable and it does not merely comes from his opinions.
Some of the important issues that were discussed in this book includes:
1. Are women allowed to go to the Masjid?
Eventhough this issue might not seem important in this country as we allow women to go masjid, however, in certain countries, the men didnt allow women to go to Masjid due to 'religious purpose' when there is no clear hadith or practise of the Prophet that disallow women to come to the house of Allah.
Besides, Dr. Jasser Auda also clarifies certain hadith about the preference of women to pray at home in which the hadith was taken out of context by several Muslim scholars. So I applaud him for his efforts.
2. Are women allowed to lead the prayer with male presence? The discussion of hadith in this area quite interesting too.
3. Are women allowed to give talk or tazkirah to the male audience? (loving the cover of this book by the way, it is actually a photo of Dr. Heba Raouf teaching at Sultan Hassan Mosque, Cairo)
4. Does menstruation prohibits women from entering mosques, reading Quran or performing tawaf?
All of these important women issues were discussed in this book and I highly encouraged everyone to read it!
May 26, 2019
This is perhaps one of the most NB books I've read all year. May Allah be pleased with its author.
November 23, 2025
a short and sweet yet informative book that i managed to sweep through in one day !
this is a very useful and accessible resource about the role of women in mosques, and it also debunks a lot of problematic concerns aimed at deteriorating women's rights to frequent the mosque. i think this book should be recommended to both muslims and non-muslims alike, i really appreciate the hadiths and classical scholarly opinions included here + the debunking of weak hadiths that some use to justify restricting women. i also learned about some of the scholars who argued that women could lead men in prayer.
im not sure why the author brought up the issue of aisha's age + women being the majority in hell hadith though, it has nothing to do with the topic at hand and i didn't exactly agree with the conclusions he came to, nevertheless the book is still a good and comprehensive resource and i appreciate that references are cited, strengthening it in an academic sense.
this is a very useful and accessible resource about the role of women in mosques, and it also debunks a lot of problematic concerns aimed at deteriorating women's rights to frequent the mosque. i think this book should be recommended to both muslims and non-muslims alike, i really appreciate the hadiths and classical scholarly opinions included here + the debunking of weak hadiths that some use to justify restricting women. i also learned about some of the scholars who argued that women could lead men in prayer.
im not sure why the author brought up the issue of aisha's age + women being the majority in hell hadith though, it has nothing to do with the topic at hand and i didn't exactly agree with the conclusions he came to, nevertheless the book is still a good and comprehensive resource and i appreciate that references are cited, strengthening it in an academic sense.
September 12, 2024
It’s a great book addressing a serious flaw in our community and a critical call to fix this problem. However the book is more a collection of essays, as the author himself explains, rather than a a book based on thorough research.
September 17, 2021
Loved the book! Also, there's something about the cover that feels so awfully inspiring.
The content of the book is divided into 20 short, concise & easy to digest chapters which addressed vital questions regarding Muslim women in mosques.
Feels really happy and hopeful with the current present & future of Muslim women in society. I know it in my bones that Islam is never oppresive and I'm glad with the amount of authentic hadith(s) & ayat from the Qur'an that shaykh Auda embedded as proof for the arguments brought forth feels like things are being put back or returned to its rightful place.
Definitely recommend this book to all!
The content of the book is divided into 20 short, concise & easy to digest chapters which addressed vital questions regarding Muslim women in mosques.
Feels really happy and hopeful with the current present & future of Muslim women in society. I know it in my bones that Islam is never oppresive and I'm glad with the amount of authentic hadith(s) & ayat from the Qur'an that shaykh Auda embedded as proof for the arguments brought forth feels like things are being put back or returned to its rightful place.
Definitely recommend this book to all!
November 23, 2019
Amazing! Every Muslim woman who believes that the mosque is the place where men should pray and that women have little to no place in it because "praying at home is better" *needs* to read this.
It would also be great if every mosque board who spread this attitude read this but I am a firm believer of empowering ourselves with the knowledge first because it is only then that the attitudes in the community will start changing.
This book goes hand in hand with Sheikh Akram Nadwi's book on "Ibn Ḥazm on the lawfulness of women attending prayers in the mosque".
Merged review:
Amazing! Every Muslim woman who believes that the mosque is the place where men should pray and that women have little to no place in it because "praying at home is better" *needs* to read this.
It would also be great if every mosque board who spread this attitude read this but I am a firm believer of empowering ourselves with the knowledge first because it is only then that the attitudes in the community will start changing.
This book goes hand in hand with Sheikh Akram Nadwi's book on "Ibn Ḥazm on the lawfulness of women attending prayers in the mosque".
It would also be great if every mosque board who spread this attitude read this but I am a firm believer of empowering ourselves with the knowledge first because it is only then that the attitudes in the community will start changing.
This book goes hand in hand with Sheikh Akram Nadwi's book on "Ibn Ḥazm on the lawfulness of women attending prayers in the mosque".
Merged review:
Amazing! Every Muslim woman who believes that the mosque is the place where men should pray and that women have little to no place in it because "praying at home is better" *needs* to read this.
It would also be great if every mosque board who spread this attitude read this but I am a firm believer of empowering ourselves with the knowledge first because it is only then that the attitudes in the community will start changing.
This book goes hand in hand with Sheikh Akram Nadwi's book on "Ibn Ḥazm on the lawfulness of women attending prayers in the mosque".
July 29, 2020
Simple to read. A book that challenges the popular hadiths that seem to limit women's permission to participate in mosque life, with other hadiths which have no doubt, been hidden from us by scholars wanting to push a certain patriarchal narrative.
May 31, 2021
A convincing historical case for greater female involvement and welcome in the mosque space
July 1, 2021
مهم جدا جدا جدا
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews