First Mosque Exclusive For Muslim Women in USA Opens In L.A.

Two women have established the first Muslim women-only mosque in Los Angeles, and the entire United States for that matter.

M. Hasna Maznavi, a filmmaker, and Sana Muttalib, an attorney, are behind the Women's Mosque of America which, they said, aims "to uplift the Muslim community by empowering women and girls through more direct access to Islamic scholarship and leadership opportunities."

While women's mosques exist in other countries including China, the Women's Mosque of America is believed to be the first in the U.S.

The mosque will welcome women and children but not men.

Last Jan. 30, the mosque's first Jumma'a or Friday prayer was held at the Pico Union Project in Downtown Los Angeles, which hosts six different religious groups. Director Edina Lekovic of the Muslim Public Affairs Council led the mosque's first khutbah, or sermon.

"We are honored to be the first Muslim group to join this wonderful multi-faith effort toward peace and understanding between the Abrahamic faiths," said the announcement on its website.

Maznavi and Sana Muttalib said they sought to strengthen the Muslim community with the establishment of the women's mosque.

"We believe that the Women's Mosque of America can play an important role in strengthening the Muslim community at large by increasing women's access to Islamic knowledge, encouraging female participation in existing mosques and fostering Islamic leadership and scholarship -- both within and outside of the Muslim community," they told the Huffington Post.

They added that the mosque will "provide an atmosphere in which Muslim women are surrounded by their peers and feel comfortable exploring more active leadership roles in a safe space."

According to the group, the Women's Mosque of America is exclusive to women and children, including boys 12 years old and below.

"While men are not allowed to participate in the Friday Jumma'a prayer services, we welcome men to support our mission by participating as volunteers, planning committee members, and board members," it said.

Dress code is not enforced among its attendees. "We encourage all women to enter the mosque in the type and style of clothing in which they feel comfortable. Because we seek to create a welcoming and supportive environment, we ask that all of our congregants respect the decisions made by their sisters in Islam," the group said.

With concerns that the mosque may divide the Muslim community, the group said on the contrary, "the Women's Mosque of America seeks to complement existing mosques and Muslim organizations, and we plan to work with Muslim institutions all over the country to improve the spiritual experience for Muslim women everywhere."

Muslim American scholar Furhan Zubairi wrote that "there's nothing wrong with having a Women's Mosque of America."

"Historically, there have been all women's mosques in places such as China as centers of learning, spirituality, gathering and worship. What is problematic is doing something that has no legal precedent," he said.