After two decades, the Sunenhri Masjid (Golden Mosque) of Peshawar has opened its doors for women, allowing them to offer Friday prayers. The ancient mosque was laid in 1964 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s provincial capital Peshawar.
Zarmena Khan, 55, resides near the Sunehari Masjid located at busy sand narrow streets of Peshawar. Zarmena while sharing her experience said that when she was young, she used to frequently visit the Sunehari Masjid with her spouse to offer prayers. “We had offered regular prayers in the mosque until mid-1990s but then the practice was abandoned following the wave of terrorism.”
She recalled how there used to be a separate portion where women could offer prayers five times a day. "We used to listen to sermons and participate equally in the mosque activities.” Zarmeena said she was now old and unaware of the news that the mosque was reopened. “It’s been decades since I last visited the mosque but if it’s re-opened, then I will surely visit it to see how its looks like now. I will relive those beautiful memories of the past," she says.
The beautiful mosque was constructed during the era of Mughal empire. During that period, thousands of mosques, parks and castles were constructed and Golden Mosque is one of them.
When contacted, Maulana Muhammad Ismail, the Naib Khateeb of Sunehari Masjid said that “the entry of the women worshippers was banned some 25 years ago, when the law and order situation badly affected the region but mow the situation in the province has improved significantly. H said the launch of successful military operations made it possible for the local authorities to reopen the mosque for women.
The Naib Khateeb said that women can now offer congregational prayers at Sunehri Masjid. While expressing his opinion on the roles of mosques in Islam, he said “the mosques are houses of religious worship, hubs for social events, welfare services, charitable activities, and political engagement. I think its Islam that support gender equality at mosque too and allow women to practice religion freely.”
The local administration in Peshawar has also displayed a banner on the main entrance of the gate that says that women worshipers should go upstairs to offer Friday prayers in the mosque.
Madeeha Ihsan, is an MPhil scholar residing in the busiest town of Peshawar. She was excited to go to the mosque and said that “I have offered congregation prayers in Masjid-al-Haram & Masjid-al-Nabawi, but praying in a mosque in my hometown, where I've never seen any women makes me quite excited"
Madeeha at first was not believing that Sunehri Masjid has been opened for women worshippers, but after visiting the mosque to verify the news, she said “I found it true when I visited the mosque, as a banner was displayed. I am so grateful to those, who made it possible for women to experience prayers in congregation”.
Golden Mosque is among the biggest mosques of the city facilitating 6,000 worshipers. However, local administration announced that for now, 150 females would be able to offer Friday prayers. The people from Peshawar have been welcoming this decision.
Zarmena Khan, 55, resides near the Sunehari Masjid located at busy sand narrow streets of Peshawar. Zarmena while sharing her experience said that when she was young, she used to frequently visit the Sunehari Masjid with her spouse to offer prayers. “We had offered regular prayers in the mosque until mid-1990s but then the practice was abandoned following the wave of terrorism.”
She recalled how there used to be a separate portion where women could offer prayers five times a day. "We used to listen to sermons and participate equally in the mosque activities.” Zarmeena said she was now old and unaware of the news that the mosque was reopened. “It’s been decades since I last visited the mosque but if it’s re-opened, then I will surely visit it to see how its looks like now. I will relive those beautiful memories of the past," she says.
The beautiful mosque was constructed during the era of Mughal empire. During that period, thousands of mosques, parks and castles were constructed and Golden Mosque is one of them.
When contacted, Maulana Muhammad Ismail, the Naib Khateeb of Sunehari Masjid said that “the entry of the women worshippers was banned some 25 years ago, when the law and order situation badly affected the region but mow the situation in the province has improved significantly. H said the launch of successful military operations made it possible for the local authorities to reopen the mosque for women.
The Naib Khateeb said that women can now offer congregational prayers at Sunehri Masjid. While expressing his opinion on the roles of mosques in Islam, he said “the mosques are houses of religious worship, hubs for social events, welfare services, charitable activities, and political engagement. I think its Islam that support gender equality at mosque too and allow women to practice religion freely.”
The local administration in Peshawar has also displayed a banner on the main entrance of the gate that says that women worshipers should go upstairs to offer Friday prayers in the mosque.
Madeeha Ihsan, is an MPhil scholar residing in the busiest town of Peshawar. She was excited to go to the mosque and said that “I have offered congregation prayers in Masjid-al-Haram & Masjid-al-Nabawi, but praying in a mosque in my hometown, where I've never seen any women makes me quite excited"
Madeeha at first was not believing that Sunehri Masjid has been opened for women worshippers, but after visiting the mosque to verify the news, she said “I found it true when I visited the mosque, as a banner was displayed. I am so grateful to those, who made it possible for women to experience prayers in congregation”.
Golden Mosque is among the biggest mosques of the city facilitating 6,000 worshipers. However, local administration announced that for now, 150 females would be able to offer Friday prayers. The people from Peshawar have been welcoming this decision.