Inviting Ladies To A ‘New Masjid Site’

June 13, 2025

Inviting Ladies To A New Masjid Site – A Fitnah, Not Just A Bid’ah!

QUESTION: The following are points shared which I received. Kindly advise according to the Shariat of this new bidaah we are witnessing, and correct me if I am wrong in calling it a bidaah. Shukran jazeelun!

  1. A new Musjid is to be built in a Musim community/area.
  2. Approval for this Musjid has been received after many years.
  3. Ladies of the community and surroundings are invited on a certain day, at 10:00 to noon for the following:
    • See where the Musjid will be built.
    • Touch the blessed soil.
    • Ask questions and make Dua.
    • Refreshments will be served.
  4. Sent by the ‘Shurah committee’.

Answer: Indeed, this is not only a Bid’ah, but a terrible Fitnah! Forget Shuraa’ committees, even scholars nowadays have a modern approach to many Deeni aspects! Just ask yourself the following questions:

  1. The first Masjid built by Nabi (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was Masjid-e-Quba. One can’t imagine the joy Nabi (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) must have experienced when establishing this Masjid. Did Nabi (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) invite the Sahaabiyaat (Radhiyallahu anhunna) to the ‘new site’, and answer their questions and let them make Du’a? Did he call them to ‘touch the blessed soil’ and serve them refreshments?
  2. Muslim women are NOT allowed to attend the Masjid for Fardh Salaah, then how can they be called to see the site of a Masjid?
  3. If any Sahaabiyah (Radhiyallahu anha), or any of the wives of Nabi (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) or any of the Sahaabah (Radhiyallahu anhum) the likes of Hazrat Umar, Hazrat Ibn Mas’ood, etc. (Radhiyallahu anhum) were alive today, would they have approved and allow their womenfolk to attend such a tour to a Masjid site – even if this is a ladies only event, or have strict times for ladies and men to avoid intermingling?
  4. Instead of the community asking the ladies and even the men to make individual Du’as, especially since they are blessed with the approval of a Masjid to be built in their community, how is this venture and call of theirs showing gratitude to this approval which we understand took a few years? Gratitude should be made for this boon, instead of arranging for an event not endorsed in the Shari’ah. This is ingratitude!

LET US FURTHER EXAMINE THIS IN THE FOLLOWING POINTS:

  1. The strength of every building depends on the foundation. From your writing, we understand the foundation has not even started and the call is already made for ladies to come gallivant there. What are they going to see? How many are really going to take heed and lesson? How many will be more interested in the refreshments, in parading with their styled and fashionable and latest Abaayas and other anti-Sunnah dressings? Thus, even before the actual digging of the foundation of the Masjid, the ‘foundation’ and ‘site’ are already getting weaker, spiritually and Islamically, by this Fitnah-call! The foundations and site of the Masjid are supposed to be that of Taqwa! Rather, this sight at the site will turn out to be that of immodesty and anti-Qur’anic!
  2. Allah Ta’ala Himself praises the Foundation of Masjid-e-Quba which was built on Taqwa! Thus, inviting ladies to parade at the site of a Masjid goes against the grain of a Taqwa-friendly foundation of any Masjid!
  3. The opposite to Masjid-e-Quba that was built by the Munaafiqeen is termed as Masjid-e-Dhiraar, in the Qur’an Majeed. We should ask ourselves as to which Masjid we would like our Masaajid to be referenced as, as per the Qur’anic Aayaat. And arranging anti-Taqwa activities even prior to the laying of the first brick, is already heading towards a Masjid-e-Dhiraar results!
  4. The ‘Masjid’ of every Muslim female, is her house. And that too, her room. And that too, the darkest corner of her room! Her making Ibaadat and performing Salaah there is equal to a man’s attending the Masjid. Hence, there is absolutely NO NEED for a woman to leave her home and go tour the site of a Masjid where men are supposed to read Salaah!
  5. The site of any building, even a Masjid or a Madrasah, is that of dust, digging, holes, sand, stone, rubble, cement, builders, machines, etc. What job does a Muslim woman have at such a site? And then, in the name of a Masjid? Shaitaan has fooled us by dangling a carrot in the name of a ‘Masjid’ in front of our heads to steer women right into such a site – whether the actual digging/building has started or not. If the digging/building has started, then it is a construction site. If not, then it is still a vacant site. In any case, what job does a woman have at such a site?
  6. Is this another opportunity for pop up stalls and turning a Masjid or the Masjid site into some fare type atmosphere? Will other communities not eventually go many steps further to vie with the other, and start introducing pop up stalls, and many other stalls, games, braais, etc. turning the entire Masjid foundation into a Souk atmosphere, thereby stripping it off Taqwa, contrary to the Praises of the Qur’an Majeed lauded to Masjid-e-Quba.
  7. Place your hand on your heart and honestly answer this question, “Would Hazrat Aisha (Radhiyallahu anha) have allowed, attended or encouraged this so-called ladies only event?”.
  8. Even if it states ‘ladies only’, or ‘strict times’ for ladies and men to avoid intermingling, the above still remains. What job does a woman have at a Masjid site? Is this call and invite of theirs in the name of a Masjid backed by any solid Shari’i backing?

The contribution, Du’as and efforts ALL Muslim women of ALL communities can do for their local Masjid is to ensure their menfolk, especially the lazy and sleepy ones, are in the Saffs for Fajr Jamaat. Added to that, ALL Salaahs with Jamaat should be attended by men, backed by the encouragements and support of the womenfolk. After all, behind every punctual Musalli, is an encouraging pious Muslim woman! And pious women perform Salaah at home, not at the Masjid! This is the Genuine, Islamic and Taqwa-friendly contributions any wife, mother, sister and daughter can contribute for her local Masjid. Added to that, obviously while remaining at home, she is encouraged to make Du’a for her local and ALL Masaajid. But there is no Islamic sense and undoubtedly FITNAH for her to go to a Masjid site, as discussed above.