Mumbai: A mosque on Yari Road has taken a decision, which is being touted as a first in the city — to allow Shia women to don the role of Ulemas.
While the “Jumme ki namaz” is still read out by the Maulana at Mehfil-e-Saani-e-Zahra or the Zaib Palace mosque, as it is popularly called, there are women Ulemas or scholars, who impart knowledge about the Quran and Islamic teachings to females in the community,” a report in Times of India, a newspaper based in India said.
Maulana Baqri said that his wife offers sermons on the importance of women’s education and the role of women in Islam.
“Once you educate women, you educate a family. Once you educate a family, you educate a society. Women who sermonise offer lessons on a number of subjects — how to read Quran, how to bring up children and educate girls, and how to become better human beings by leading a righteous life. They basically preach on Islamic beliefs and the need to find a balance between ‘deen’ (knowledge of religion) aur ‘duniya’ (world),” he said.
Uzma said, “I also conduct classes on the Quran at the mosque. I teach girls and women from 5 to 15 years of age on how to pray and how to behave in the society according to Islamic rules.”
The women are also sensitised against terror outfits like Daesh. “We have been taught to send a strong message to the Daesh… that we don’t support them and that we strongly oppose their ideology,” she added.
Maulana Ather Ali of Mohammed Ali Road’s Minara Masjid, which still doesn’t allow women on the premises, welcomed the move.
“Our mosque is too small to accommodate men, leave alone women. But this is a welcome move by the Zaib Palace mosque. We already have women on the executive board of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, who deliver speeches on microphones from behind purdah,” said Maulana Ali.
Dr Zeenat Shaukat Ali, directorgeneral of the World Institute of Islamic Studies for Dialogue, Organisation of Mediation and Gender Justice (Wisdom Foundation), called it a step in the right direction.
