Women in Britain’s First Muslim Mosques: Hidden from History, but Not Without Influence

Abstract

Two of the earliest Muslim communities in Britain evolved around the first mosques in Liverpool and Woking (both—1889). The history of these early British Muslims is being recovered but little is known about the women (usually converts) in these communities. This article will draw upon original findings from archival research, to examine ‘leadership’ that women in these communities undertook and their influence in shaping their nascent British Muslim communities. The practical, theological and philosophical negotiations around gender roles, female leadership, and veiling and the social contexts within which they took place are examined. By uncovering historical responses to issues that remain topical in British Muslim communities, this article provides historical grounding for contemporary debates about female Muslim leadership in British Muslim communities.

Religious Authority in Women’s Mosque (Ummul Mukminin Mosque at Universitas Islam Bandung)

“…The mosque, primarily a place of prayer, has been a spiritual, educational, cultural, social, and administrative institution in Muslim cultures since the time of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) fourteen centuries ago. [22], [30] Mosques have served as a focal point for a variety of activities, including imparting religious and general knowledge to men, women, and children, [31] sheltering and feeding the needy, and hosting social events like weddings. Furthermore, the mosque has served as a resting area for warinjured troops and travelers, as well as a venue for talks with foreign representatives and the announcement of major decisions and athletic events.…”