Arts and Culture

The Incumbent Encumbrance

Nikhat Rasheed, Canada, Saturday 19 January 2008

In my previous piece, I raised the issue of the rights women have been given by Islam and how their violation is in fact scarring the Muslim community. The issue of modesty that is chanted from the pulpits is a collective responsibility of both observant men and women and must be professed as such.

Following on from there, the other issue I took great exception to that cool Ramadaan morning after spending the night in prayer was the inability to raise my hand and challenge the speaker who described non-hijab wearing women as ‘naked’. With three exceptions that I have been to or heard of (please correct me if I am mistaken) Masjids in the Greater Toronto Area exclude women from common congregational space. Note the word ‘common’ that means shared, as opposed to being holed up somewhere we cannot be sensed.

Do I oppose standing behind the men to pray? Absolutely not. Do I oppose having a barrier a couple of feet high if the women in the Masjid demand it for modesty? Absolutely not. We need to accommodate everyone’s needs and uphold the specified traditions. However, what I am opposed to as a woman is that most times, my presence cannot even be felt by the Imam. I am enclosed behind walls in another quarter or on another floor altogether, often in a filthy environment, sometimes behind dark-glass walls if the Masjid administration is feeling charitable. As a woman, I often do not exist.

I cannot ask a question or seek clarification of a speech. I understand the length of any lecture can restrict the Q&A session but our aforementioned preacher that morning apparently spoke for an hour (our acquaintances in the Masjid confirmed that). Surely men and women can be given ten minutes to ask questions so that the speaker can clarify his viewpoint? Isn't the point of a lecture to communicate ideas to the listeners? As any communications specialist with tell you, the most ineffective type of conversation is a one-sided one. Even our relationship with Allah, though limited verbally, is a two-sided one. We ask, we beg, we pray and He responds. Surely a clarification of ideas isn't a bad thing? Surely, these preachers can stand up to questioning?

From my understanding of Islam, asking questions was always encouraged in the Prophet Muhammad's (Peace be upon him) time and has traditionally become an accepted part of lecturing. This practice was taught and encouraged without any discretion except that there was a code of conduct: respect for the speaker and the questioner, as well as a truthful, honourable purpose behind asking the question i.e. trying to understand Islam as opposed to merely trying to confuse the speaker or get him to demonstrate his incompetence in some manner. However, as a woman, I have no possible way to be able to ask a speaker at a Masjid a question, let alone most times, I cannot even identify him to ask him something afterwards because I haven’t laid eyes on him.

This brings me to the thoughts whirling in my head, what I would like to share with the Muslim community. We reside in a democratic country. We use our vote to bring in or throw out parties that don't represent our political interests. Islam and democracy are compatible philosophies since decision-making through Shura or consultation is a cornerstone of Islamic practice.

Yet, we have no system on which to make decisions, consult or vote on the Imams who preach to us and who represent us publicly. There is no congregation-preacher review unlike the student-review of professors in institutes of higher education. We cannot ask questions during lectures or speeches, particularly as women. There is no national database of Imams, where we can read up on their backgrounds, qualifications or public statements. We cannot accurately judge their competence even though it is incumbent on us. A narration collected by Imam Tirmidhi in his Saheeh states "This deen is a very important matter so be cautious as to whom you take it (religious knowledge) from." To be an Imam is a matter of great responsibility that has to be discharged honourably.

What if a congregation feels a preacher’s remarks are out of line and don’t represent the faithful? Under an Islamic government, even if an important person such as a Caliph is found by his people as being unsuitable, he can be replaced. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) was accountable to Allah and to his congregation; he answered questions and gave explanations, and lived an exemplar public and private life about which we know volumes. Yet we know almost nothing publicly about the men who preach to us from the pulpits. Where is the accountability of our own preachers?

This is not to say that all Imams are unaccountable. I know of a few exceptions. I write with a spiritual love for those Imams and scholars who truly impart inspirational knowledge about Islam. Their sermons inspire us to be better people, to be kind and honest, to treat people with dignity and respect, to be responsible. But no Muslim Canadian who has honestly listened to our preachers can say that all of them encourage us positively to be better Muslims. We’re more likely to feel like hell’s destinees.

So what can we do? To begin with, Muslims have to own up to the responsibility to accurately represent Islam. Instead of pointing fingers at everyone else, we need to stop talking the talk and begin to walk the walk. We have to acknowledge our weaknesses in fulfilling the rights of people, our neighbours and families (also known as Huqooq-ul-ibaad). It is an accepted concept in Islam that while Allah being All-Merciful, All-Gracious may choose to forgive our errors towards Him (Huqooq-ul-Allah, the rights of Allah), He will not forgive the transgressions that we have made against people. The oppressor has to be forgiven by the victim. The leader has to be accountable to his people. Those who have the power to influence people have to use it wisely. Those who are focused on studying Islam have to do it justice and take a holistic approach to it.

Further, we need more to take a more evaluative approach and implement some safeguards to ensure the accountability of our preachers. These can include communications and interpersonal relationship workshops Imams, annual congregation-preacher reviews, weekly Friday sermon evaluation or comment form or processes, and creating a national database of Imams. These are practical steps that we can take to safeguard our Islam against corruption but that means rising to the occasion and recognizing our own culpability.

The Islam I know is a champion of human and civil rights. The Islam I love preaches responsibility, compassion, respect, generosity, inclusiveness, neighbourliness. The Islam I cherish gives everyone a choice and doesn’t preach compulsion and conformity for the sake of it, rather obedience and devotion for the sake of Allah. Whatever’s happened to the Muslims? It is time to take stock of ourselves and reclaim our faith.