The social and development programs provided by the center give women opportunities to build lasting relationships (Qatari Press)

Doha -

More than 1,400 years ago, the companion Khawla bint Thalabah went to the Messenger of God, Muhammad, may God bless him and grant him peace, to ask him for a fatwa after a dispute with her husband. The ruling was that it was forbidden to him, but she began arguing repeatedly and seeking the Messenger’s sympathy, and she continued to pray to God to relieve her of this crisis. Until God Almighty revealed the solution to her issue, which was known as Al-Dhihar in Islam. Where the good news Messenger traveled to her, which is what Surah Al-Mujadila narrates.

Guided by the dear Islamic heritage, the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development launched a new initiative for women through a project that meets the religious, developmental and social needs of Muslim women in Qatar through study, dialogue and performing worship together in a space guided by the cultural heritage of Islam through a center called Al-Mujadala.

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, announced, on Wednesday evening, at a ceremony in the Education City of the Qatar Foundation, the launch of the project, which also targets Muslim women searching for a place that enables them to expand and enrich all aspects of life and build societies based on learning, alongside researchers and academics who... They seek a space to deliberate on contemporary historical Islamic issues, support women's scholarship, and create new and broader pathways for sharing their work.

Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser announces the inauguration of the #Al-Majadala Center and Mosque, which provides a space for Muslim women to worship, learn, and develop themselves in religious and worldly affairs. #Qatar_Marsal | #Qatar | @mozabintnasser pic.twitter.com/azry9toyBH

- Marsal Qatar (@Marsalqatar) January 31, 2024

Guiding future generations

The center also targets community leaders who seek to research and lead thought on issues that affect their communities, as women’s contributions have always been at the heart of social development and provide a space and platform to facilitate guidance for future generations, ensure the exchange of experiences and knowledge between generations, and build capacity.

Sheikha Moza bint Nasser said in her speech during the opening of the center: “It is said in philosophy that controversy is the origin of development. Here we have learned how Khawla bint Thalabah, may God be pleased with her, took controversy - and she was the best debater - as a way to embody her vision in her quest to solve her problem.”

She added: “With her initiative, Khawla bint Thalabah showed courage, personal strength, and awareness that religion is an ease in this world and not the other way around. She did not stand idly by, but rather sought and searched for a solution to the problem from within her religious system, intending to preserve God’s limits within herself and her family with reason and foresight.”

Sheikha Moza explained that the goal of the center is to shed light on the concept of justice in worship by establishing a center and a mosque that allows women to develop themselves in religious and worldly affairs from a legal perspective and a comprehensive understanding of worship so that women’s prayer centers do not remain marginalized and secluded in a remote corner, in a situation that does not befit the value of the mosque. Spiritual and religious, which makes it an unattractive environment for girls.

Appointment of Dr. Suhaira Siddiqi, Executive Director


of Al Mujadilah Women’s Center and Mosque 🕌@almujadilah_qa| #Nadeeb_Qatar| #Qatar 🇶🇦 pic.twitter.com/LXaN3Sp9dO

- Nadeeb Qatar (@NadeebQa) January 31, 2024

reason of calling

Regarding the reason for naming the center and the mosque with this name, Sheikha Moza said, “Khawla bint Thalabah is a source of inspiration for every woman who wants to be aware of her affairs and live her life with insight, so that she will be the truest expression of the Islamic perception of women and a role model for those who want to advance themselves and their society.” Within its religious, cultural and civilizational system, that is why we chose Al-Majadala as the name for the center and the mosque.”

The center will open its doors to the public during a community event on February 4th, and its scheduled programs will begin on February 6th, where women can visit the center without having to register for its programs between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily.

In addition to community programs and activities, Al-Majadala will open horizons for Islamic education and research, and the study of the Islamic religion in its historical and contemporary context. It will also represent a hub for research networks, capacity building, and intellectual exchange between scholars, practitioners, and Muslim women of all backgrounds.

Al-Majadala Research focuses on supporting research projects in 3 main areas:

  • Islamic texts, law and ethics.

  • The life of a Muslim woman.

  • Health and well-being of Muslim women.

Space for dialogue

For her part, Dr. Suhair Siddiqui, Executive Director of the Al-Majadala Center and Mosque for Women and associate professor of theology, said in a statement to Al-Jazeera Net: “We chose a name inspired by Surat Al-Majadala because it sums up the importance of what we are trying to do here at the Center and the Mosque, which aims to create a space for dialogue and conversation about... Contemporary issues based on the beauty and openness of Islam.

She stressed that the center will provide thoughtful research, relevant programs, and attractive dialogue, while continuing to expand the spaces allocated for women to grow and develop, stressing that Islam historically recognizes women and encourages them to pray together. She continued that while many new and large mosques have opened in Qatar over the years, the spaces designated for women are often overcrowded, especially in the month of Ramadan, “so we created a space designed specifically for women and architecturally designed in an open and upscale way.”

She pointed out that the center will provide many programs; Including religious, social, developmental and research, all of these programs are designed to meet the needs of Muslim women by providing opportunities for learning while ensuring that Islamic thought is the basis of all these programs.

Siddiqi explained that the social and developmental programs provided by the center give women opportunities to build lasting relationships and expand their social circle in a welcoming environment by getting to know women who face the same problems they face in their ordinary day, while development programs play a special role in strengthening Muslim women intellectually, spiritually, and emotionally. Physically, while the research programs focus on enabling women to engage in dialogue on everything related to the history of Muslim women and providing them with the scientific support they need, according to her.

Source: Al Jazeera