Monday, January 22, 2007
Vision TV
Well, I'm going to be on TV this Wednesday on Vision TV.
Here's the press release:
Muslim women in revolt
360 Vision reports from the front line of a "feminist revolution" in Islam
In a nondescript suburb of Toronto, an unknown American woman makes history. For the first time in any mosque, anywhere, a female voice is heard leading both men and women in prayer. And 360 Vision is there.
In a special report, VisionTV's Gemini Award-nominated current affairs series documents the events leading up to this historic moment. The program airs on Wednesday Jan. 24, at 10 p.m. ET, repeating Monday, Jan. 29 at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Pamela Taylor, the freelance writer and mother of four who led the prayer, says there is a feminist revolution growing within the Muslim world, and that until women are at the front of the mosque, there will be no peace in Islam.
Taylor converted to Islam as a young adult, attracted by the beauty of its theology, its emphasis on social justice, and the many passages in the Qur'an that speak of spiritual equality between the sexes. However, while studying at the University of British Columbia, she was shocked by the segregation of men and women in her mosque.
While studying theology at Harvard, she began to question the role of women in North American mosques. She later watched another Muslim woman face death threats for leading mixed-gender prayer at a church. It was then that Taylor made up her mind: she would be the first to lead prayers in a mosque.
[Note: this is not exactly what happened, I decided that we needed to take some pressure off this other woman -- Amina Wadad -- and that if the opportunity arose I would lead prayers as well. Fortunately for me the opportunity did arise, but not of my own making, rather it was the doing of the Muslim Canadian Congress and the United Muslim Association of Etobicoke. But, that doesn't sound as good for the pr...]
The controversial move would pit her against other Muslims. Even her husband believes that women should not lead mixed congregations.
Here in Canada, a small Toronto-based group was moving in the same direction, trying to organize a woman-led prayer at a local mosque, only to be turned away. Eventually, they held the event in a backyard. Raheel Raza led the prayer.
"I hope this will open doors for many Muslim women who are on the fringe and don't have a safe space in which they can go and pray," Raza tells 360 Vision's Sadia Zaman. "Hopefully this will empower them to understand ... there is nothing in the Qur'an that says a woman can't lead prayer." Undaunted by the controversy, the Toronto group pushed ahead with plans for an event at an Etobicoke, Ont. mosque on Canada Day with Pamela Taylor.
Ottawa-based scientific researcher and consultant Sheema Khan questions the religious arguments used to support the idea of women leading prayer. Still, she acknowledges that it's time for Muslim women to step into leadership roles.
"Our mosques just don't have a place for women ... and I think that's just a metaphor for a wider issue," she tells Zaman. "The wider issue is that the Muslim community ... has not found a way to fully incorporate or use the talents of half of its community."
360 Vision is the only weekly Canadian television program that probes the intersection of spirituality and daily events. Its mandate is to give viewers a compass to help them to navigate the diverse and complex world of belief.
The half-hour weekly series features provocative documentary reports, along with further installments of "Heretics," a series of interviews with world-renowned men and women who have acted on their faith in ways that challenge traditional power structures and orthodoxies.
For more news and information on 360 Vision, please visit http://www.visiontv.ca/. ¶ 5:33 PM
Here's the press release:
Muslim women in revolt
360 Vision reports from the front line of a "feminist revolution" in Islam
In a nondescript suburb of Toronto, an unknown American woman makes history. For the first time in any mosque, anywhere, a female voice is heard leading both men and women in prayer. And 360 Vision is there.
In a special report, VisionTV's Gemini Award-nominated current affairs series documents the events leading up to this historic moment. The program airs on Wednesday Jan. 24, at 10 p.m. ET, repeating Monday, Jan. 29 at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Pamela Taylor, the freelance writer and mother of four who led the prayer, says there is a feminist revolution growing within the Muslim world, and that until women are at the front of the mosque, there will be no peace in Islam.
Taylor converted to Islam as a young adult, attracted by the beauty of its theology, its emphasis on social justice, and the many passages in the Qur'an that speak of spiritual equality between the sexes. However, while studying at the University of British Columbia, she was shocked by the segregation of men and women in her mosque.
While studying theology at Harvard, she began to question the role of women in North American mosques. She later watched another Muslim woman face death threats for leading mixed-gender prayer at a church. It was then that Taylor made up her mind: she would be the first to lead prayers in a mosque.
[Note: this is not exactly what happened, I decided that we needed to take some pressure off this other woman -- Amina Wadad -- and that if the opportunity arose I would lead prayers as well. Fortunately for me the opportunity did arise, but not of my own making, rather it was the doing of the Muslim Canadian Congress and the United Muslim Association of Etobicoke. But, that doesn't sound as good for the pr...]
The controversial move would pit her against other Muslims. Even her husband believes that women should not lead mixed congregations.
Here in Canada, a small Toronto-based group was moving in the same direction, trying to organize a woman-led prayer at a local mosque, only to be turned away. Eventually, they held the event in a backyard. Raheel Raza led the prayer.
"I hope this will open doors for many Muslim women who are on the fringe and don't have a safe space in which they can go and pray," Raza tells 360 Vision's Sadia Zaman. "Hopefully this will empower them to understand ... there is nothing in the Qur'an that says a woman can't lead prayer." Undaunted by the controversy, the Toronto group pushed ahead with plans for an event at an Etobicoke, Ont. mosque on Canada Day with Pamela Taylor.
Ottawa-based scientific researcher and consultant Sheema Khan questions the religious arguments used to support the idea of women leading prayer. Still, she acknowledges that it's time for Muslim women to step into leadership roles.
"Our mosques just don't have a place for women ... and I think that's just a metaphor for a wider issue," she tells Zaman. "The wider issue is that the Muslim community ... has not found a way to fully incorporate or use the talents of half of its community."
360 Vision is the only weekly Canadian television program that probes the intersection of spirituality and daily events. Its mandate is to give viewers a compass to help them to navigate the diverse and complex world of belief.
The half-hour weekly series features provocative documentary reports, along with further installments of "Heretics," a series of interviews with world-renowned men and women who have acted on their faith in ways that challenge traditional power structures and orthodoxies.
For more news and information on 360 Vision, please visit http://www.visiontv.ca/. ¶ 5:33 PM
Comments:
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Hi Pamela,
Sarah here from VisionTV.
I just wanted to let you and your readers know that a clip of your television premiere is on our YouTube site.
The link is: www.youtube.com/visiontvcanada.
The video should be at the top of the page.
Enjoy!
Sarah
Sarah here from VisionTV.
I just wanted to let you and your readers know that a clip of your television premiere is on our YouTube site.
The link is: www.youtube.com/visiontvcanada.
The video should be at the top of the page.
Enjoy!
Sarah
# posted by 
: 10:31 AM
: 10:31 AM
Assalamu Alaikum wa Rehmatullahi wa Baralatahu,
Sister Pamela
It is very sad to see you, who came so close to Islam than deviated so far by leading as Imam of mixed gender.You are in fact now disobeying Allah, by not following His commandment further His Last Prophet Mohammad (sws) path. Who He sent all of us to follow as guide to all mankind.
The reasoning is flawed. Why would Allah send than if we are not to follow or to change/Specially when Prophet and his companions' wives did not lead the prayers, during and after Prophet or his companions.
Don't you think if Allah wanted He would have asked Bibi Kadija (raa) to lead mixed prayers or would have set up this system. In other words you are saying Allah sent a imperfect system, and you are correcting it, Nouzbillah. In other words you are higher than Allah and His Prophet Nouzbillah. It is very shameful and unbelievable. Please repent to Allah ask for forgiveness.
In Allah's scheme of things Allah has created men differently and women differently for a purpose. Allah does not do anything without a purpose. Different role with diferent responsibilty foe men and women. A man cannot bore a child, hence when women is in her period and pregnant giving birth to another human being she cannot lead. Besides as Prophet said Jannah is beneath the feat of mother not men. What a status, yet you want to throw away all that to lead men in prayer? It is illogical and does not make any sense. To understand further, please read articles below, written by many women and men scholars and writers:
Woman's Rights Has No Legitimacy in Islam by Yasmin Zakaria
http://icssa.org/woman_rights.html
Amina Wadud leads mixed-gender Friday prayers - scholars respond.
http://www.islamicforumeurope.com/live/ife.php?doc=articleitem&itemId=228
Female-Led Prayers: A Step Forward for Women? by Yasmin Mogahed
http://www.islamicity.com/articles/Articles.asp?ref=IC0503-2659
Women Leading Prayer - The Deeper Issue, by Yasmin Mogahed
http://www.islamicity.com/articles/Articles.asp?ref=IC0503-2659
My Life as a New Muslim by Sr. Fathima Lienberg
http://www.islaam.com/Article.aspx?id=138
The Status of Woman in Islam by Dr. Jamal A. Badawi
http://thestraightway.com/literature/0008.html
Q+A on Islam by Dr. Zakir Naik
http://drzakirnaik.com/Features/QAOnIslam/tabid/56/Default.aspx
Common Questions and Answers on Islam by Dr. Zakir Naik
http://drzakirnaik.com/pages/qanda/index.php
-----------------------------------
We can compare what other, believe, faiths and religions say and compare with Islam see which makes more sense.
Comparative studies between three main religions on subject of women (ISLAMICITY.COM):
Women in Islam Versus Women in the Judaeo-Christian Tradition - The Myth and The Reality by: Sherif Abdel Azim, Ph.D.-Queens University, Kingston, ON, Canada
Please read all titles from Introduction, Eve's Fault Part 1 to 16 Epilogue and Footnotes.
INTRODUCTION?
http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/w_islam/intro.htm
PART 1 - EVE'S FAULT
http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/w_islam/eve.htm
PART 2 - EVE'S LEGACY
http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/w_islam/evel.htm
PART 3 - SHAMEFUL DAUGHTERS
http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/w_islam/shdaut.htm
PART 4 - FEMALE EDUCATION
http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/w_islam/fmedu.htm
PART 6 - BEARING WITNESS?
http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/w_islam/witness.htm
PART 9 - WIFE'S PROPERTY?
http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/w_islam/prop.htm
PART 10 - DIVORCE?
http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/w_islam/divorce.htm
PART 11 - MOTHERS?
http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/w_islam/mothers.htm
PART 12 - FEMALE INHERITANCE?
http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/w_islam/inhrt.htm
PART 13 - PLIGHT OF WIDOWS?
http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/w_islam/widows.htm
PART 14 - POLYGAMY?
http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/w_islam/poly.htm
PART 15 - THE VEIL?
http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/w_islam/veil.htm
PART 16 - EPILOGUE
http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/w_islam/eplg.htm
FOOTNOTES
http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/w_islam/notes.htm
-----------------------------------
Dr. Israr Ahmad (Audio) Lectures
http://www.tanzeem.org/broadcast/audio/urdu/dtq2003.asp
Dr. Farhat Hashmi (Audio) Lectures
http://www.alhudapk.com/
Qand A on Islam by Dr. Zakir Naik (Audio) website.
http://www.irf.net/irf/faqonislam/index.htm
Women In Islam. Answers to Important Questions.
http://www.islamtomorrow.com/women/
Shukran Jazeelan, Wassalam
A Muslim Brother in Islam.
Post a Comment
Sister Pamela
It is very sad to see you, who came so close to Islam than deviated so far by leading as Imam of mixed gender.You are in fact now disobeying Allah, by not following His commandment further His Last Prophet Mohammad (sws) path. Who He sent all of us to follow as guide to all mankind.
The reasoning is flawed. Why would Allah send than if we are not to follow or to change/Specially when Prophet and his companions' wives did not lead the prayers, during and after Prophet or his companions.
Don't you think if Allah wanted He would have asked Bibi Kadija (raa) to lead mixed prayers or would have set up this system. In other words you are saying Allah sent a imperfect system, and you are correcting it, Nouzbillah. In other words you are higher than Allah and His Prophet Nouzbillah. It is very shameful and unbelievable. Please repent to Allah ask for forgiveness.
In Allah's scheme of things Allah has created men differently and women differently for a purpose. Allah does not do anything without a purpose. Different role with diferent responsibilty foe men and women. A man cannot bore a child, hence when women is in her period and pregnant giving birth to another human being she cannot lead. Besides as Prophet said Jannah is beneath the feat of mother not men. What a status, yet you want to throw away all that to lead men in prayer? It is illogical and does not make any sense. To understand further, please read articles below, written by many women and men scholars and writers:
Woman's Rights Has No Legitimacy in Islam by Yasmin Zakaria
http://icssa.org/woman_rights.html
Amina Wadud leads mixed-gender Friday prayers - scholars respond.
http://www.islamicforumeurope.com/live/ife.php?doc=articleitem&itemId=228
Female-Led Prayers: A Step Forward for Women? by Yasmin Mogahed
http://www.islamicity.com/articles/Articles.asp?ref=IC0503-2659
Women Leading Prayer - The Deeper Issue, by Yasmin Mogahed
http://www.islamicity.com/articles/Articles.asp?ref=IC0503-2659
My Life as a New Muslim by Sr. Fathima Lienberg
http://www.islaam.com/Article.aspx?id=138
The Status of Woman in Islam by Dr. Jamal A. Badawi
http://thestraightway.com/literature/0008.html
Q+A on Islam by Dr. Zakir Naik
http://drzakirnaik.com/Features/QAOnIslam/tabid/56/Default.aspx
Common Questions and Answers on Islam by Dr. Zakir Naik
http://drzakirnaik.com/pages/qanda/index.php
-----------------------------------
We can compare what other, believe, faiths and religions say and compare with Islam see which makes more sense.
Comparative studies between three main religions on subject of women (ISLAMICITY.COM):
Women in Islam Versus Women in the Judaeo-Christian Tradition - The Myth and The Reality by: Sherif Abdel Azim, Ph.D.-Queens University, Kingston, ON, Canada
Please read all titles from Introduction, Eve's Fault Part 1 to 16 Epilogue and Footnotes.
INTRODUCTION?
http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/w_islam/intro.htm
PART 1 - EVE'S FAULT
http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/w_islam/eve.htm
PART 2 - EVE'S LEGACY
http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/w_islam/evel.htm
PART 3 - SHAMEFUL DAUGHTERS
http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/w_islam/shdaut.htm
PART 4 - FEMALE EDUCATION
http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/w_islam/fmedu.htm
PART 6 - BEARING WITNESS?
http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/w_islam/witness.htm
PART 9 - WIFE'S PROPERTY?
http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/w_islam/prop.htm
PART 10 - DIVORCE?
http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/w_islam/divorce.htm
PART 11 - MOTHERS?
http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/w_islam/mothers.htm
PART 12 - FEMALE INHERITANCE?
http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/w_islam/inhrt.htm
PART 13 - PLIGHT OF WIDOWS?
http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/w_islam/widows.htm
PART 14 - POLYGAMY?
http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/w_islam/poly.htm
PART 15 - THE VEIL?
http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/w_islam/veil.htm
PART 16 - EPILOGUE
http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/w_islam/eplg.htm
FOOTNOTES
http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/w_islam/notes.htm
-----------------------------------
Dr. Israr Ahmad (Audio) Lectures
http://www.tanzeem.org/broadcast/audio/urdu/dtq2003.asp
Dr. Farhat Hashmi (Audio) Lectures
http://www.alhudapk.com/
Qand A on Islam by Dr. Zakir Naik (Audio) website.
http://www.irf.net/irf/faqonislam/index.htm
Women In Islam. Answers to Important Questions.
http://www.islamtomorrow.com/women/
Shukran Jazeelan, Wassalam
A Muslim Brother in Islam.
# posted by : 1:20 AM
: 1:20 AM<< Home
