'Symbolic moment' as first US all-female mosque is opened

Tired of feeling excluded from worship by strict gender rules, two Muslim women have opened their own mosque, where only women are allowed.

The Women's Mosque of America in downtown LA, thought to be the first of its kind in the US, says it seeks to "empower Muslim women and girls and better the Muslim and American communities at large."

Its founders, comedy writer Hasna Maznavi and lawyer Sana Muttalib, want to encourage women to participate in all areas of life at the place of worship. The call to prayer and sermon will be delivered by women, which is very unusual, particularly for Friday prayers, which are considered the most important in the week.

"I want every woman to experience what it feels like to learn from a female religious authority in the mosque," Maznavi said.

The mosque's website states that "a major part of uplifting the Muslim Ummah [community] is to harness the potential of the whole Ummah, including Muslim women, who make up more than half of the community.

"We believe that the Women's Mosque of America, which creates a community for women by women, will play an important role in strengthening the Ummah by increasing women's access to Islamic knowledge, encouraging female participation in mosques, and fostering female leaders and scholars for the benefit of the entire Ummah."

The mosque opened for the first time on Friday, with Muslim activist Edina Lekovic giving the sermon. "This is a hugely important, symbolic moment," she said, according to the Wall Street Journal.

"It's American Muslim women organizing and creating a space for their own spiritual nourishment by and for themselves."

During her first sermon, Lekovic told around 150 of those gathered: "We have a right and responsibility to our faith."

The initiative has already gained support from hundreds on social media, many of whom have praised the mosque for welcoming women from all Muslim sects and perspectives.

However, others have been more cautious. Sam Pierstorff, a Muslim professor who describes himself as a "full-time feminist" tweeted: "After reading the FAQs @WomensMosque, I feel both proud and sadly left out. Probably the same way women have felt for years."

Muslim American scholar Furhan Zubairi responded to the opening with an article posted online. He questioned the use of a woman delivering the Friday sermon, writing: "This is something that has no precedent in history or tradition. The issue of precedence isn't something that should be taken lightly.

"The objectives and goals behind the idea are definitely noble and highly encouraged. Sisters should be empowered, inspired have access to scholarship and be in leadership positions. They should have spaces where they feel safe, welcomed and respected," Zubairi continued. However, he suggested that "These same objectives can be achieved by working with existing institutions."

"Most of the major Islamic Centers in SoCal are very accommodating. There are knowledgeable, powerful and inspiring female speakers, women led programs, gatherings and qiyāms, and women serving on masjid boards even as presidents," Zubairi said.

"There's been a lot of progress in the past several years to empower women and increase their involvement in local institutions. Of course there's a lot more to be done."