COPENHAGEN: History was made in Copenhagen last week after two female imams led the Friday prayer of Scandinavia's first female-led mosque. A little over 60 women were present in the Mariam mosque where Sherin Khankan and Saliha Marie Fetteh shared the ceremony. Khankan made the opening speech and sang the azaan, while Fetteh delivered a khutbah on "women and Islam in a modern world".
Conventional mosques discourage women from praying inside the premises, and even if a women's section is provided, they are small and can only be accessed through back entrances. However, in the recently opened mosque, rows of women of all faiths who were invited to participate in the opening ceremony, bowed and touched their foreheads to the ground; a mark of respect. The institution has been six months in the making and there is still a lot to be done. Khankan said, "We're still in process of learning. We're on a journey and we've only taken the first step." She said one of the mosque's main objectives was "to challenge patriarchal structures within religious institutions. Islam has been male-dominated, women are still not equal in Catholicism and Judaism, and were only ordainedin the Protestant faith in 1948." She said it also wanted to challenge the "patriarchal interpretations" of the Qu'ran, tackle the growing face of Islamophobia and promote Islamic progressive values. Khankan said, "It is possible to change patriarchal structures but it's a long journey and we have met opposition. But we decided not to focus on the opposition and instead speak about all the people who support us. We've had very positive reactions to the mosque, from Pakistan, Iran, Europe, Turkeyu, Arab countries."
Fetteh and Khankan's mosque has already see five weddings, with three others lined up. These include the frowned upon inter-religious marriages. It has its own six page parriage charter with four key principles: polygamy is not an option, women have the right to divorce, a marriage will be annulled if psychological or physical violence is committed, and, in the event of a divorce, women will have equal rights over any children. Khankan said there "was no valid religious criticism of us, we are on safe theological ground." She did however, face issues from family and friends who weren't too keen on her becoming an imam. "Not my parents, they have been so supportive. My father is a feminist icon. I wouldn't now be talking about female imams without my father, who always told me I could do anything."
Female imams have long existed but mostly in China (19th Century) and South Africa (1995). The Women's Mosque of America opened in Los Angeles last year. American-Islamic scholar Amina Wadud led mixed Friday prayers in Oxford in 2008 in the UK. "This movement in Denmark is part of a greater worldwide movement. I hope we can inspire women in other countries, and we hope to be inspired by them." Khankan added, "We represent a modernist, spiritual approach to Islam. We are seeking to create an alternative voice, without delegitimising others, We want the Mariam mosque to be a place where everyone can come, and we can flourish together."
