The Quest of a Curious Muslim

The Quest of a Curious Muslim — Page 36

WHY IS THERE SEGREGATION AT ISLAMIC EVENTS? 36 At the New Year’s celebration in Berlin, a “safe zone” was set up for women only, due to a large number of sexual assaults reported in the past. 18 The world’s first women-only music festival was held in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 2018 due to reports of sexual abuse at previous festivals. 19 Women-only ride-sharing apps are becoming more and more popular, and are becoming the norm, as women feel safer with other women during rides. 20 Women- only office spaces are also becoming increasingly popular, and in demand in the business world. 21 These trends demonstrate that they are only going to grow in the future. This is just the beginning. Allah says in the Holy Quran: “O Prophet! Tell thy wives and thy daughters and the women of the believers that they should draw close to them portions of their loose outer coverings. That is nearer that they may thus be distinguished and not molested. And Allah is Most Forgiving, Merciful” (33:60). Hence, an essential goal of purdah in Islam is to safeguard women from being molested, harassed or assaulted. Segregated spaces have the same purpose. The Promised Messiah as