this post was submitted on 04 Aug 2023
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A Muslim cleric has been arrested on charges of blasphemy and hate speech in Indonesia after his decision to allow women to preach and pray beside men sparked a backlash in the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation.

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[–] SulaymanF@lemmy.world -5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Seems many people are misunderstanding the issue and bashing the religion. Islam allows women to be imams (leaders of congregations and prayers) but like conservative Judaism they can only lead groups of women in prayer. Mixed prayers of men and women are led by men.

[–] Black_Gulaman@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yeah okay, I read that as segregation based on gender.

[–] SulaymanF@lemmy.world -3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

FYI women are the ones asking for a woman-only imam.

[–] oshitwaddup@lemmy.antemeridiem.xyz 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Seems strange (understatement) to block them entirely from leading mixed gender groups. Why not give them the option to lead mixed groups if they want, or if they want a women-only group they can lead that as well?

To be clear, i'm against the sexism in the bible and any other religion as well

[–] SulaymanF@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (3 children)

You may want to ask the islam sublemmy for a longer explanation, but the idea is that people should focus on their prayer and not get distracted staring at the opposite gender. That’s why Muslim men and women form two groups when they pray; women don’t want men ogling as they bend over etc. You see the same in conservative and orthodox synagogues; men and women sit on different sides. It’s a practical consideration.

[–] RealJoL@feddit.de 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Where do I find the religious side of lemmy? I always find people talking about religious culture super interesting, even though I'm far from religious.

[–] SulaymanF@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

A lot of subreddits are still copying over to Lemmy although they’re not as big as the originals yet. For example /r/islam has 100k members but !islam@lemmy.world is very small so far.

[–] oshitwaddup@lemmy.antemeridiem.xyz 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

But men can lead mixed sessions?

[–] SulaymanF@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Someone has to be responsible, but he is standing in front leading the prayer with his back to the congregation.

[–] oshitwaddup@lemmy.antemeridiem.xyz 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

And a woman couldn't stand in front and face away?

[–] SulaymanF@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

And have the men watch her bend way over in rukoo during Salaat? No.

[–] oshitwaddup@lemmy.antemeridiem.xyz 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

and having the women and/or gay men and/or other people attracted to men watching men bend way over in rukoo during Salaat isn't an issue?

[–] SulaymanF@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

You could raise an argument about anything, but this is about practicality since you still need to pray and minimizing as much distraction as you can.

[–] poplargrove@lemmy.world -1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

You must be unfamiliar with the clothing women usually wear when praying. Its large, draping and for a pervert there is nothing to see.

If the concern really was men looking, Muhammad could have easily mandated women wear clothing that is appropriate for going for the sujood and rukhu instead of completely banning women becoming Imams for or being in mixed gender prayer.

Another simple solution is to have a screen upto the female imam's hips for when she bows down and prostrates, if we insist on the jamaah not having mixed gender.

[–] SulaymanF@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Ah, another one of those people who talks down to me about my own religion.

Go ahead and show me this mythical clothing you imagined up that is appropriate for sujood and rukoo and isn’t expensive. Muslims can pray anywhere and everywhere and now you’re talking about carrying around some kind of screen? Come on.

[–] poplargrove@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I'm an exmuslims so I have just as much exposure to Islam and muslim societies as you do.

The clothing I had in mind is a prayer gown called a "telekung" and its used by women in south-east asia. Sort of like an abaya but the headwear is long and goes below the hips. From what Ive seen of mixed gender prayers, many women wrap clothing around their hips to have the same effect for when they bow down.

Wat do women wear when they pray where you live that has you thinking it would be inappropriate if they lead?

[–] SheeEttin@lemmy.world -1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If you can't handle being around the opposite gender, that's a you problem.

[–] SulaymanF@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago

Nobody is claiming that but thanks for the strawman.

[–] poplargrove@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

That is deceptive because the origin of the ruling is written by male jurists (living with the ideas of gender from their time, a millenia ago).

It is opposed even when muslim men and women choose to have women lead, so the choice only matters when it conforms to the already held view.

[–] kamenoko@sh.itjust.works 0 points 1 year ago

Women aren't allowed to lead men in prayer but men are allowed to lead women in prayer. I love how male Muslim apologists use their own lack of personal responsibility to justify the systematic disenfranchisement of women the same way Roman Catholics and Orthodox Jews do. It's almost like messianic received religion is the core issue and less religious societies have less sexual and physical violence towards women.