Last Straw...

In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful,

All praise is due to Allah, who sent us deen of Islam,

Narrated Ibn Umar: The Prophet (p.b.u.h) said, "Allow women to go to the Mosques at night." (Bukhari Volume 2, Book 13, Number 22)

Ibn 'Umar reported: Grant permission to women for going to the mosque in the night. His son who was called Waqid said: Then they would make mischief. He (the narrator) said: He thumped his (son's) chest and said: I am narrating to you the hadith of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him), and you say: No! (Sahih Muslim Book 004, Number 0890)

Last night, after the tafseer, I asked to the Imam, "Wives of Muhammad ibn Abdullah (PBUH) used to come for i'tkaf, why do you stop women in Jamah Masjid?". Answer was that this is the age of fitnah, so we should stop women from coming to masjid. No kidding. Fitnah is here alright, but not sure if it is the women, or men, or both. May be we should prohibit people without beard from coming to the masjid, or lets check their background to see if they are commiting any sins. Allah told the Prophet (PBUH) that you are not their manager, and he understood. I guess Allah have made these scholars, the manager of Fitnah, and allowed them to overturn his order by their opinion.

If we look at the hadith above, ibn Umar (RA) who was the best emulating companion of the sunnah thumping his own son, and his son is presenting the same argument. Now, we don't have Ibn Umar who can stand up and thump the chest of this Imam, and say "Are you above the last prophet? Do you have authority to overturn the command of the one who Allah has asked us to obey?"  I tried to thump the chest of Imam yesterday, but I have no support. Everyone is a coward or scared to loose their club membership in this private organization. I don't blame them, because this world seems to be all that matters to them, and I don't mind being outcasted at the expense of following Ibn Umar. I only wish to see him and meet him, so i can kiss his hands for him having the courage to thump his son.

For me this was the last straw. I overlooked all the faults in the leadership of our community, but a direct disobedience of the command of the Prophet (PBUH) is the last straw on my back. That is it! That is it! That is it! I know they will not listen to me or anyone who brings the signs of Allah to them. The traditions of their forefather are more dearer to them then the command of the prophet and the companions.

When I came home, I thought may be it is not so bad in the small cage upstairs for women, so I ask my wife, and she attested that, she can't even see Imam or ask him any question, or challenge him. She told me further that she has been trying to reach Imam to discuss my son's progress, for days now but everytime she comes close to the door of the masjid, some men will block her and point to the corner leading to the prison for women. I wish I was there. How dare these men prohibit women from entering the house of Allah? Don't women have right to Allah's house?

Interestingly, the same Imam wonders why our societies are going down the drain. Well, brother, if you imprison the teachers of the Ummah (women), and discourage them from coming to Masjid, who will teach the young generation. Men are too busy, making tea and serving biryani in the masjid. They don't go home and train the women, so if anything, changing time ask us to encorouge women to come to Masjid to reduce the fitnah.

So, if the fitnah is the motive to overturn Islamic rulings, why not stop the iftar dinners, where people gossip and women come in large numbers without hijab. I certainly will not host Iftar in this masjid this year. Probably look for a more deserving Masjid, where women have at least some rights.

Or, how about prohibiting women on Eid, because there is more fitnah on Eid day in Islamic Center of Orlando then any other street on USA. Flirting and invitations are flying for men to look at the young ladies standing 20 feet away from jamat of men. Even women are ashamed looking at this scene on Eid day.

Then, I asked the second Imam of the masjid about my suggestion that trustee asked a while ago and I provided. He told me that Shura is already established. I was surprised. So was he, since Imams were not part of the selection. I did not receive any reponse. The trustee didn't even told him, just posted on the board. There was no announcement. There was no public meeting. So, I guess Islamic center of Orlando is not a muslim jamaat, but a business entity who is owned by four trustees. You know what. That is fine. I will consider it as a private charity organization from now, and pray to Allah to remove the status of the masjid from that building and take away the blessings a masjid should have. It is not a masjid, it is a meeting place for some men who happen to be born to Muslims.

My back is borken now. Anywhere, my wife and mother is not welcome, and the Prophet is insulted, I don't want anything to do with it. I love them too much to see this everyday. I will have to find a masjid where Islam is practiced, and not where traditions are worshiped. I am sure that they are not interested in any suggestion or opinions from me, because they have already figured out the deen, and they are on the right path, so anytime I bring up a question, a man in white beard will wave me off. I rest my case from here and moving on to more important tasks at hand of increasing my taqwa, and speading the word of Islam. Pray for my guidance.

If I am wrong on this, May Allah punish me for it, but if I am right, May Allah take away all the blessings from this Masjid, and dry up the resources like water is missing from desert. 

JazakAllah Khairin

A follower of Ibn Umar, 
AbuArman Jumani