Controversy as woman to lead prayers (From Oxford Mail)

Controversy as woman to lead prayers

6:00am Thursday 16th October 2008

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Islamic prayers will be led by a woman at Oxford's Muslim Education Centre (Meco) tomorrow.

It is thought to be the first time a woman has acted as Imam to a mixed congregation anywhere in the UK.

Meco chairman Dr Taj Hargey invited Prof Amina Wadud to lead the service as part of a two-day conference on Islam and feminism.

When Prof Wadud led a similar service in New York, in 2005, three mosques refused to host it.

A museum which had planned to act as host pulled out after receiving a bomb threat.

She also received personal death threats.

Habib Ahmad, 72, of Littlehay Road, a former trustee at the Madina Mosque in Stanley Road, said: "Women are most welcome at prayers, providing they follow the Imam, who is always — in our law — male, never a female. Women are not allowed to lead the prayer, not anywhere in the world."

He believed there would be protests outside the centre in Banbury Road. Prayers start at 1pm.

Mr Ahmad said: "It is quite unusual and unreligious and it is not acceptable."

Dr Hargey said he did not regard the decision as controversial, but as "historic and pioneering" and believed there was evidence that women led prayers in the time of Prophet Mohammed.

He said: "We believe we are actually resurrecting the original practices of Islam. The most learned should lead the prayer, and Prof Wadud, in terms of her knowledge of the Koran and Islam, exceeds anyone I know here in Oxford.

"Every time someone does something new they get extreme views and threats. We don't take this lightly, but what we are saying to those Muslims who object to a women leading prayers is we ask them very respectfully not to attend."

Among those who will be attending is Dr Khadiga Safwat, from St Clements.

She said: "What difference does it make if a woman leads the prayers or not? This should not be an issue. What is happening now is not Islamic, it is to do with tradition. There were women judges in the ninth century, women leading armies, why not leading prayer?"

But Meco member Akbar Hyderabadi, of Kidlington, said he would stay at home.

He said: "I am a moderate Muslim, neither a closed book nor a free thinker but I am not in favour of this.

"I believe Prophet Mohammed would not have approved of this and I believe it is taking liberties with religion."

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