Saudi oppressed women!

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


Alhamdulelah Rub ela`amen, Lord of the worlds, Creator of all creation, the All Knowing, Merciful and Compassionate and blessings and peace be upon our teacher, leader and final Messenger Mohammad Ibn Abdullah, his household and companions.


May Expand my chest and untie a knot in my tongue so that they may understand what I m saying.


Standing in the Haram Nabawi waiting to go out after <i>Salatu Zohor </i>– as I decided not even to try and access the <i>Rawda Sharifa</i>- looking at women how they are eagerly lining up, waiting with deep passion for the gate to open so that they can push their way in. At this situation I was approached by a fully covered (in black of course) Saudi woman inquiring if I was going to get in. I said no. She said why? I started explaining how I feel it is unjust to treat women the way they are treated in the <i>Masjed</i> of the best of mankind who actually left a serious<i> Wasiyah </i>(literally <i>wasiyah</i> is a will but in this position I d say recommendation) of how to well treat women. I told her they are kept behind the gate like a troop of sheep, then suddenly the gate opens which makes them push their way after waiting for a long time, and run in an effort to secure a spot in <i>Rawda Sharifa </i> to perform their <i>Salat.</i> I will not be treated like this in Masjed Radullah, leave alone behaving like this in his masjed which is a stark violation of Sunnah. His clear instructions in walking towards Masajed is to do so in serenity and slowly even if I m late for Salat. I continued but they are excused, the allocated space for women is very limited compared to that of men, not even part of the actual Rawda, and yet again, if you manage to access, you can not have a tranquil <i>Salat</i>. But women are piling over your head waiting to take the spot and perform Salat as well.


She was listening very carefully and in the middle of our conversation said took me aside to sit and be more focused. As she continued listening, after I was fully finished, she started answering, saying actually this may have been the case in the past. But now, look at how the system is organized. Sobhan Allah, she turned out to be one of the dynamic crew in charge of <i>Masjed Nabawy</i>. She took the time and effort to clear out all wrong impressions I had and to indicate how they sat, studied, identified areas of problems and developed relevant plans. To overcome those problems I actually introduced to her, which during a previous visit I meant to write comments to the officials there and leave it, it was evident that they do take visitors' comments in much consideration, work on it, and strive to address them.


To be very honest, their task is not easy specially for the <i>Rawda</i> part. The area is limited with no potential expansion - unlike outside of Haram which the government took over and demolished buildings to give more space - <i>Rawda </i>is limited and shall remain so, it can never be expanded this is coupled with an overwhelmingly increased number of users. A big challenge! For those who do not know what <i>Rawda</i> is, <i>Rawda Sharifa </i>is a part in <i>Masjed Nabawy </i>about which the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam said:


Narrated under the authority of Abu Horaira and Abi Said that the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam said: What is between my house and my pulpit is a Rawda (garden) of Riyadul Jannah (gardens of paradise) and my pulpit is located over my basin" (reported in Musnad Ahmed).


By virtue of this hadeeth, Allah granted the area between his house and his pulpit a special position to be considered one of the Jannah's gardens. Certainly, you would realize what does this mean? It means that people are very keen to access this location, perform <i>Salat</i> and make <i>dua</i>.


Although as you can see from the hadeeth, the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam did not stress or make special recommendation for such deeds, other wise, people would really strive harder. He just introduced the position and importance of the spot nothing more. In response, we feel very drawn to accessing, performing Salat and making dua. I mean just imagine how one feels to perform Salat and dua in a spot that is guaranteed to be a Rawda of Jannah. So let us get back to my conversation with this marvelous sister. She patiently explained to me according to scholars' opinion where exactly is the spot falling under this hadeeth, in response to telling her that men are allocated a larger share. She told me that on the tightest limits, according to the opinion of certain scholars, it covers between his pulpit and Aaesha's house only. However, the hadeeth said my house, and he had other houses of other wives besides Aaesha's.


Thus, this will cover a wider space. Here I realized that we women are allocated two thirds compared to only one third for men. As I looked, O I forgot to say, the sister insisted on taking me in, allowing me space and nice time to perform <i>Salat</i>. She also explained to me that in order to overcome the problem of women pushing each other to run and secure a spot, they organize a session of knowledge ahead of the scheduled time for women visit. They divide visitors by nationality, not to create more division than we already are, but rather to address them in their own language. They assign an extension worker who speaks the language of the given group including: Urdu, Persian, Turkish, Malay, English..etc They hold awareness sessions introducing to the ladies how to behave when they are inside (that was really part of my suffering I used to see much wrong and bida and not know what to do), what to say and what not to say, how to walk quietly with serenity, how to respect the place, how to give salam to the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam, and how to perform Salat quickly in order to free space for others. The extension worker also explains that they should not move before she gives them green light, because the organization system includs for each worker to lead her group according to certain order coordinated between them. Like they take each group in separately and have the others wait till the former comes out.


This organization really had much impact on lessening the crowd and chaotic situation that was usually created inside a spot that should never be like that. The young committed lady took all the time and effort to introduce me to this well synchronized effort performed by her and her colleagues with full heart devotion, passion and patience in deep recognition and realization of the place where they serve, the people they deal with, and most importantly Islam aiming to sooth my heart and ensuring that I will not be hurt in any way during my visit. She and others take it upon themselves that we are guests in this holy place and they should do whatever is possible, even if they had to go out of their way, to make our visit as nice and easy as possible.


O for those who are non Muslims and always express deep worries about the Saudi oppressed poor woman who is not allowed to drive and obliged to cover from head to toe including her face with black only. This whole dynamic well educated crew includes no one but this type of Saudi women. They are Mash a Allah of a totally different caliber.


Actually, Allah blessed me with access to this place since over 20 years now. I saw the difference, much difference. Those women are well educated, feeling that they are serving in one of the most honorable spots in Islam. It is very evident how the management of the <i>Masjed </i>put much effort in selecting highly qualified calibers that in turn devoted time, meetings, efforts and coordinated plans to tackle and streamline all problems related to crowd and more. Did any of you even see a Jumaa Salat in Medina? That is a scene, a real one. Yet again, they spare no effort to streamline and facilitate the whole process. That is not an easy task. Those sisters have to deal with different cultures, languages, leave alone characters and personalities. Not one single time, under any kind of pressure – and that is a lot – they loose their patience, or Islamic mannerism. Sobhan Allah, you feel that they diffuse and revive the Sunnah teachings around the place. All this coupled with competence and strong capabilities still based on Islamic teachings not man made ones. You might ask how I knew they hold constant meetings and coordination.


It is evident all over the place. I mean this system is not haphazard but rather the fruit of an ongoing process including studies, meetings, problem identification, plan setting, and modification. I observed them standing monitoring the process, coordinating with each other, stressing certain points..etc. Sobhan Allah. May Allah reward them much and allow them to continue being a role model for the proper Muslim woman who does not depend on her appearance or make up for achieving her serious work. Besides the devotion and commitment, they seem to have very understanding parents or husbands for those who are married. I mean those women take shifts including night ones. Women visit to Rawda is scheduled over three times: 7 AM, 2 PM and 11 PM. Those are Ramadan timings. Having three times entails repeating the process I explained above three times. Thus, they do take shifts. O how oppressed and useless they are huh. Again and again, may Allah Reward them much, makes their task easy and inspire them always with best solution for the place and visitors throughout ameen.

[radiyah]

Bismillah


Alsalam Alaykom wa Rahmat Allah and welcome back sister Muslimah, may Allah accept from u insha'Allah.


I vistited Haram Nabawy at the begining of this year, and they were organized from that time, and very helpful and as u said they are very highly educated, but at that time the Haram would close at 9 Pm, not like now 24 hours open :) Alhamduli Allah, and the timings for women were daily from 7 Am to 2 PM, we used to stay till shrooq pray and then go have breakfast nap a bit and come back at 10 or 10:30, the rush would be less at that time, and those dedicated women would lead us and tell us where to pray exactly, and after finishing we would go at the end of The Rawda, and read Quran or pray as many Raka's as we can. Honestly the Saudi's are going through a lot of efforts to organize matters in both Mekkah and Madinah, As for myself I never blamed them much, where else in the world there can be such organizing and planning to absorb that much people in one small spot, this year at the last ten days of eid, number of Mu'tamireen reached to 3,000,000, imagine especially on the 27th night, can any1 be able to organize this sum of people in this small area, AlhamduliAllah it is by Allah's Grace and Help. Also since numbers of muslims are increasing year after year Alhamdulilah - some would say, yes others are leaving islam as well- but the percentage of those leaving are considered nothing to those embracing Islam, and even those who leave come back again, since they were brain washed that Islam is a terrorist religion. Also Alhamdulilah, King Abdullah, may Allah Aid him is going through great efforts in serving both Haram Makki and Madany, and I think by the end of year or next the building of the Jamarat throwing floors will be ending, it is increasing from 1 to 5 in order to ease on Hujaj their rituals, last time I went 2 years ago, there were already 2 floors, and there were traffic lights to show were to enter and were to leave, and you are not allowed to leave from the same place u entered, and there are policemen all the way, so no one would sneak and go from the entrance, he will be caught immediately and redirected from the other road. Even now there is a new project for making a fast railway from Mekkah to Madinah and vice versa, that will shorten the time to 30 minutes instead of 2:30 hours, AlhamduliAllah, there is much more coming and all by The Will and Grace of Allah, and the effort of the Saudi officials, may Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala assist King Abdullah to what He Loves and Accepts, Ameeeen


http://www.saudirailexpansion.com/SaudiRai...&parent=421








http://www.ojqji.net/vb/showthread.php?t=20152


Wasalam Alaykom wa Rahmat Allah wa Barakatuh

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


Jazaki Allah khairan katheeran sister Radiyah for complimenting and enriching the topic as usual. My aim was not to focus on the Saudi governmental efforts which can not be really denied, i m intending to elaborate on another post. But I wanted to tell western people to relax and stay confident that we muslim women are not suffering under the face cover, we are working, achieving, and being an important part of the community.

[radiyah]

Bismillah


Jazaky mithluh sister. Yes u r correct and I am aware of what u r trying to clear about Saudi women, I just wanted to add these points since u talked about Haram Madany, and the effort that is going there, we cannot deny that all that is under the supervision of the saudi officials. Anyways if u c I am off topic we can start a new thread. :)


Salam

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


No no I just wanted to stress the focal point.

[radiyah]

Bismillah


:)

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


Equally in harmony with the whole surrounding, even those sisters in charge of the honor of cleaning up Masjed Nabawy. Sobhan Allah, the cleaning activity is constant, ongoing and instant. They are closely monitoring any drop of water, rooming around between women who are sitting waiting for Salat with a plastic bag in their hands to pick up any tissue or other garbage. I was standing aside waiting for Maghreb Adhan and noticed one of the Indonesian sisters in charge of this section, nicely and calmly trying to tell visiting women not to use this area for Wudu, as they are not supposed to use the containers we drink from or the floor. Some of them were convinced, others were not, because they want to avoid having to go out of the Masjed for Wudu renewal. Even in such stressful situations, with her limited knowledge of Arabic, she did not loose her serenity and tranquility, I felt that she fully realizes where she is serving, the blessed time of Ramadan, rulings of Sawm, and who is the original founder of the place. I felt that she brings to her mind while dealing with visitors, how would the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam would handle the situation, had him be in. Not only that she did her job constantly without any complain, because it is inevitable that water will spill every now and then specially before Maghreb when everyone is filling cups and giving others or keeping them on the floor. She wipes it immediately keeping the Masjed in the best condition all the time. But she goes out of her way, some of the visitors who have difficulty in accessing water containers due to being obstructed with crowd would just hand her the container, whatever the container is, she would nicely fill it up for them and hand it back. Sobhan Allah, I observed other sisters working like her, all adopted the same approach, attitude and behaviour. Mash a Allah certainly winners, for having the chance to be there, work, endure such circumstances and yet maintain the attitude that must be maintained specially as part of Sawm mannerism.


Human elements in Mecca were no less observant of Islamic mannerism and kind treatment of people with all the toughness associated with task under the circumstances over crowdedness, tension, visitors anxious to secure a spot to perform Salat, visitors loosing their temper – although they shouldn’t, visitors Sobhan Allah tend to forget why they are there, where are they, of course not all of them, some of them even loose their sense of khushou, they even increase the burden over those in charge by arguing, and sometimes not cooperative. But they spare no effort and time to streamline this impossible large crowd and avoid street blockages or human accidents. In this again, proper Islamic teachings are well observed and you feel that those in charge are actually happy and content with being there for those visitors who are named guests of ArRhman Sobhanhu wa Ta`ala.


Certainly, the Saudi government is carrying out amazing efforts, however, what I really want to focus on is how the human element is Mash a Allah aware of where they are, what they should do. I mean the Saudi government did not tell this young Indonasian, Pakistani..etc how to treat and adopt patience with those visitors. Certainly the Saudi government did not tell them to always maintain a smile on their faces no matter what the situation is. Sobhan Allah. May Allah Increase them in piety and Puts all this in the balance of their good deeds. ameen.

[radiyah]

Bismillah


Ameen