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BOOK REVIEW

LET MUSLIM WOMEN PRAY IN MOSQUES

Ziya Us Salam’s latest book — Women In Masjid — A Quest For I have myself offered prayers in the
different mosques of Srinagar. But as
Justice carries in its fold an abundance of facts related to the rights I have mentioned earlier, these are
of women in Islam, writes humra quraishi some of those exceptional places. The
sad reality is that in a great majority of
mosques in the country, women are
ven before I read this latest Though women have an equal right not really allowed nor encouraged to
book by the well-known in Islam to enter mosques for offering enter mosques to pray.
New Delhi-based journalist prayers, but the reality is that in our It’s about time that these rights
and author Ziya Us Salam, country social taboos and ignorance given to a woman in Islam are brought
I was sitting in awe and and patriarchal holds hold sway, and out and focused on and with that more
E respect of his very writing come in way. Of course even here and more women are encouraged to
prowess. The magnitude and reach exceptions hold out in the Kashmir pray in the mosque. In fact, this book is
of his works is impressive. In the last Valley and also in certain locales of laced with historicalcum religious facts
two years he has authored at least five South India there are separate sections and a whole range of incidents which
books, published by the best known in the mosque reserved for the women go on to show that women have all the
publishing houses, focusing on the to pray…In fact, on several occasions rights to enter the mosque to pray. This
various aspects to Islam and
its followers. And three of his
books –Of Saffron Flags and
Skull Caps, Till Talaq Do Us Though women
Part, Lynch Files are of im- have an equal
mense significance today, in
our present day communally right in Islam to
surcharged political scenar- enter mosques
io; what, with the right-wing
political lobbies poisoning for offering
the very atmosphere, spread- prayers, but
ing hate propaganda against
the ‘other’. in our country
Ziya Us Salam’s latest social taboos
book — Women In Masjid —
A Quest For Justice carries and ignorance
in its fold an abundance of hold sway
facts and information related
to the very fundamental
rights of the woman in Islam. book narrates to the readers
And one of these rights is that “Prophet Muhammad
her right to go to a mosque clearly permitted women to
to offer prayers. To quote — enter mosque. It is a per-
“Islam does not discriminate mission well respected in
between men and women. mosques across West Asia,
The Quran promises as much reward Europe and America. Yet, in an over-
for roza (fast), a Haj or an act of charity WOMEN IN MASJID whelmingly majority of mosques in
for a woman as a man. At nearly 60 A QUEST FOR India, women are virtually barred from
places, it asks both men and women JUSTICE entry. No explicit ban, just a tacit one.”
to establish prayer, as opposed to BY ZIYA US SALAM It is time that Islam is portrayed in
Bloomsbury
merely offering prayer. Establishing 190 PP; 499 its truest essence. And Ziya Us Salam
prayer, scholars agree, is done through does so, through his writings.
congregation. Men do it by praying in
mosques. But what about women?” LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM

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