present in a congregation (for Ṣalāĥ) then the rows will be arranged like this; the male row first, then the children’s row, then the eunuchs’ row and then the women’s row.’

(Durr-e-Mukhtār, vol. 2, pp. 377; Baĥār-e-Sharī’at part 3, pp. 133)

Even whilst veiled, Islamic sisters should refrain from attending the public gatherings where men and women mix together. Regarding this, my master A’lā Ḥaḍrat رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه stated: What better public gathering is there than in a Masjid and what better Satr [i.e. veil] is there (than in the Masjid during Ṣalāĥ) where men have their backs facing women (in Ṣalāĥ), they (i.e. men) cannot face them and are also commanded to refrain from standing up after the Salām until the women have left (the Masjid). However, in the beginning, scholars initially stated some precautionary conditions but when irreligiousness spread (and the sins of unveiling became widespread) they totally prohibited it (i.e. the presence of women in Masājid). (Fatāwā Razawiyyaĥ, vol. 22, pp. 229)

My master A’lā Ḥaḍrat, Imām-e-Aĥl-e-Sunnat, Maulānā Shāĥ Imām Aḥmad Razā Khān عَـلَيْهِ رَحْمَةُ الـرَّحْمٰن stated on another occasion: Mother of believers Sayyidatunā ‘Āishaĥ Ṣiddīqaĥ رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَـالٰی عَـنْهَا said in her times: If the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم had seen the things that women do today then he صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would surely have prohibited them from attending the Masjid, just like the women of Banī Isrāīl were prohibited. Gradually, scholars began to prohibit the attendance of women in Masājid from the second generation of Muslims (Tābi’īn). Initially, they prohibited young women and later they prohibited the elderly women as well. Initially, they were only prohibited in the daytime but later they were prohibited even in the night; eventually, there was a total prohibition for all women at all times.

Were the women of that generation indecent, singers, dancers and shameless? And are women today pious? Or was the number of