More and more women offer namaz at Lucknow mosque

The historic Asafi Imambara mosque in Lucknow is rewriting tradition.

A small ''revolutionary'' step taken by a group of young Shia women -- offering namaz at the mosque -- on August 15, is catching on.

Starting with a turn-out of 100 women, the namaz now attracts more than 300 women. And the last two Fridays (September 26 and October 3) drew such crowds that the make-shift enclosure marked for women was teeming with people, forcing a few to return to their homes.

Yet several others are being encouraged to follow suit. Burqa-clad Rizwana Husain, who runs a boutique in the heart of the city, is among those who plan to make a beginning during the Ramzan month. ''That's the most auspicious time to start something new,'' says the 35-year-old woman.

Young housewife Homa Zaidi, who did most of her schooling in American schools, is also planning to take time off her busy schedule to offer her Friday namaz at the 213-year-old mosque.

''It's time we demanded better representation in bodies like the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board and the Milli Council,'' said Dukhtaran-e-Zainabi general secretary Saleha Qazim.

Saleha's outfit is named after the Prophet's granddaughter, and has been spreading awareness on such issues. An MA in Sanskrit, the 38-year-old woman said, ''The Board has just one woman and the Milli Council none at all.''

The ''revolution'' enjoys the blessings of renowned Shia cleric and Board vice-president Maulana Kalbe Sadiq and his nephew Maulana Kalbe Jawaad. The latter shot into prominence for leading the recent agitation, asking the government to lift the 20-year-old ban on Azaadari processions during Mohurrum.

Jawaad, who stays mostly in Iran, is currently in Lucknow and has been giving encouraging sermons to women during the Friday prayers.

A section of Sunni moulvis, however, has failed to understand the move. "What is the problem if the women offer their Friday namaz at homes?'' remarked an angry Maulana Mohammad Wali Farouqi. ''Alternatively, let them go to mosques every day and eventually create law and order problems.''

Such dogmatic views, however, do not deter 18-year-old Sadaf Rizvi, a student of Lucknow's elitist Avadh Girls Degree College who took the lead in motivating women to offer prayers at the mosque.

''Those who think we are breaking the traditional purdah, must see for themselves that there is a totally veiled enclosure for women,'' she said. What irks her most, however, is the ''typical male chauvinism'' that comes in their way more than any Islamic tenet.

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