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First Mixed Friday Prayers Led by a Woman: Muslim Reactions to an Historical Precedent
MEMRI ^ | June 21, 2005 | Aluma Dankowitz

Posted on 06/21/2005 9:37:12 PM PDT by yoe

Introduction

On March 18, 2005, for the first time on record in the history of Islam, a woman led a mixed congregation of men and women in Friday prayers. The imam was Dr. Amina Wadud, an American Muslim of Indian origin who is professor of Islamic studies at Virginia Commonwealth University, and the author of the book The Qur'an and the Woman: Rereading the Holy Text from a Female Perspective.

The main organizer of the event was Asra Nomani, an Indian-born Muslim and an author and former Wall Street Journal reporter who initiated the Muslim Women's Freedom Tour project that educates Muslim women and encourages them to demand their rights. [1] Also behind the Friday prayers was the American Muslim organization MuslimWakeup!, which advocates a tolerant interpretation of Islam. [2] The Friday prayers were held at St. John the Divine Episcopal Church in New York City, after several mosques had refused to host it, due to threats by extremists.

The call to prayer was also performed by a woman, who in addition to setting this precedent did so with her head uncovered. The service was attended by some 100 men and women.

(Excerpt) Read more at memri.org ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: muslimwomen; vcu; women
A glimmer of hope.............
1 posted on 06/21/2005 9:37:12 PM PDT by yoe
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To: yoe

how many death-warrant fatwas shall be upon her tomorrow...


2 posted on 06/21/2005 9:39:02 PM PDT by King Prout (I'd say I missed ya, but that'd be untrue... I NEVER MISS)
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To: yoe

Moslem, Catholic, or Jewish, those PC services are not about worshipping God.


3 posted on 06/21/2005 9:40:36 PM PDT by kenavi ("Remember, your fathers sacrificed themselves without need of a messianic complex." Ariel Sharon)
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To: yoe

Stone her - save your honor!


4 posted on 06/21/2005 9:41:11 PM PDT by ncountylee
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To: King Prout

I would estimate at least 10. I hope those women have some strong CHRISTIAN bodyguards.


5 posted on 06/21/2005 9:41:46 PM PDT by Ronin (When the fox gnaws.... SMILE!!!)
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To: yoe
A glimmer of hope..........

Not for her. She's toast.

Though I'm sure the MSM will stick up for her and say that's encouraging that at least someone in the US is tolerant and that it puts us in a good light toward the rest of the world.

6 posted on 06/21/2005 9:43:45 PM PDT by VeniVidiVici (In God We Trust. All Others We Monitor.)
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To: yoe
The money paragraph:

The Friday prayers were held at St. John the Divine Episcopal Church in New York City, after several mosques had refused to host it, due to threats by extremists.

7 posted on 06/21/2005 10:01:37 PM PDT by denydenydeny
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To: yoe

Not much hope there, since the mosques had refused to let her do that, and she had to use a Christian church for the groundbreaking event. (I remember the negative reaction when I and other females read the epistles in the neighborhood Catholic church in the 1970's - but there was never any threat of violence due to it!)


8 posted on 06/21/2005 10:03:36 PM PDT by Moonmad27
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To: yoe
She's toast.

I have a couple of Muslim friends.They believe in decency {SP?}but they are quick to add most of the mosque and Muslims in the U.S. do not.

It is situation being ignored. Sooner or later it's gonna big trouble.

9 posted on 06/21/2005 10:13:56 PM PDT by lizma
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To: yoe

They let heathens use their Church? Don't the Episcopals have enough on their conscience?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1414817/posts


10 posted on 06/21/2005 11:13:05 PM PDT by claudiustg (Go Sharon! Go Bush!)
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