Patna mosque to open its doors for women this Ramzan

The Khanquah Munemia and Masjid, the famous Sufi centre at Mitan Ghaat in Patna City locality, has decided to create this facility for the women and have already begun the preparations for the holy month expected to begin from May 6.

In a first, women in Patna will have an opportunity to attend the Taraweeh Ki Dua, the special prayers performed at a mosque during the month of Ramzan, the month of special prayers and recitation of Holy Quran,

AtPatna’s Mitan Ghaat mosque, women namazees will have an exclusive corner for the prayers and recitation of the Quran during the month of Ramzan. (HT Photo)

The Khanquah Munemia and Masjid, the famous Sufi centre at Mitan Ghaat in Patna City locality, has decided to create this facility for the women and have already begun the preparations for the holy month expected to begin from May 6.

At the Mitan Ghaat mosque, women namazees will not only have an exclusive corner for the prayers and recitation of the Quran, but there will also be an exclusive Haafiz, an expert on the Quran, for them.

The mosque authority said, the women will also have an exclusive zone for Wazu, a kind of ritualistic purification or ablution before the formal prayers, which forms an important part of ritual purity in Islam.

This mosque is different from the several other mosques dotting the state capital in several ways. It contains tombs of Sufi saints and scholars, Mulla Mitan and Hazrat Makhdoom Munem Pak. While the Khanqauah is popular worldwide for its huge collection of manuscripts and books on Sufism attracting a large number of visitors of different faith and religion, the mosque too attracts non- Muslim devotees in large numbers.

“In the coming months, this Khanquah will turn into a University on Sufism. We have a plan to promote harmony between communities and also highlight the shared culture of this country through this Sufi study centre. At the same time, we are also aware of the expectations and aspirations of women in our community and want them to feel what Islam has for them,” Hazrat Syed Shah Shamimuddin Ahmad Munemi, Sajjada Nashin (administrative head) of the Khanquah, said.

Muenmi said, after few deliberations and discussions among members, it has been decided to make special arrangements for the women to attend the Taraweeh Ki Dua at the mosque this Ramzan. “We are planning to create this facility on the first floor of the mosque while the ground floor will be dedicated to men,” he said.

According to Munemi, there is a lot of confusions about women’s entry into mosque among both the believers and non-believers. “Let me clarify that women’s entry into mosque is not banned at all. There have been certain myths about it, which still rules minds of several believers. This is why one would hardly see women offering Namaaz at any mosque in the city or in any other part of the state,” he said.

To make the things more clear and explicit, the Mitan Ghaat mosque, he said, has planned this special facility for women for the Taraweeh Ki Dua. Any woman may attend it during the Ramzan, he said.

Siddiqui Saheb, a teacher from Oriental College, Patna City, said women were welcome even on regular days. “But making special arrangements for them were not possible because there’s space constraint,” he said

Akhtari Beghum, a city based social activist, while welcoming the initiative, said it would support and promote Muslim women’s rights. “Women need such kind of arrangements, ambience and promotions to visit the home of Allah quite often to offer prayers,” she said.