Why Muslim women and men sit separately in mosques

By SHAMIM SAAD

Muslims do not mix in mosques because it is the nature of men to be attracted to women and whenever they see a female, they may think immorally about them. Haji Nsereko Mutumba, the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) spokesperson, says: “Some men have a high libido and cannot control themselves when they see a woman.

So sitting separately in a mosque helps men control themselves and focus on worshipping God,” he said.

He adds that the arrangement gives women privacy and makes them feel more comfortable and do whatever they like without any man looking at them.

The head of Rabiha Islamic Children School in Bombo, Sheikh Suleiman Ssozi, said the sitting arrangement enables breastfeeding mothers to do so comfortably without men looking at them.

“Imagine a woman breastfeeding her baby with men in the surrounding, would any red-blooded man not stare at her? So, to give women peace of mind, they are separated from the men,” he explained.

He added that the reason for going to a mosque is to worship Allah and that if men and women sit together, temptation will distract them from prayer.

The head of Dawa at Kibuli Mosque, Sheikh Nuuhu Muzata, says Muslims sit separately in mosques because Allah commanded them to do so.

Some Muslims approached gave their views about the subject

Adam Mukongo(Businessman)
Muslims sit separately in mosques because men can easily get tempted by women thus failing to concentrate during the prayers.

Nambi Shamilah (Student)
Women just need their privacy because some of them breastfeed their babies in mosques.

Ramathan Khalil (Builder)
We sit separately in mosques when praying because men can easily get tempted by women and end up asking them for love, which might eventually ruin their marriages.

Hadijah Muhammad (Student)
It is because if a man touches a woman, he can easily nullify her ablution. This may force her to perform the ablution once again and in the process, time may be wasted.

Jumah Saidi (Driver)
It is because they want Muslims to focus on prayers and be pure when praying to Allah (God).