Islamic Scholar Opens Doors To First Gay-Friendly Mosque In South Africa

According to a BBC report, Dr. Taj Hargey, a
professor at Oxford University’s Muslim
Educational Centre has completed the ‘Open
Mosque’ which welcomes not only gay
Muslims, but also invites women to pray
alongside men, and even to lead pray

muslim scholar has opened the doors to what is
believed to be the world’s only gay-friendly mosque
in Cape Town, South Africa.
open mosque
According to a BBC report, Dr. Taj Hargey, a professor at
Oxford University’s Muslim Educational Centre has
completed the ‘Open Mosque’ which welcomes not only gay
Muslims, but also invites women to pray alongside men,
and even to lead prayers.
The opening of the mosque has been condemned by many
in Cape Town’s Muslim community with one Muslim group
unsuccessfully attempting to block the opening of the
mosque.
Dr. Hargey has said that he hoped the mosque would
symbolize the open nature of Islam during the times of
Prophet Muhammed, who is said to have allowed prominent
women like one of his wives, Khadijah to lead prayers.
"This idea of female invisibility is an innovation that came
after Muhammad, unfortunately it has become entrenched,"
said Dr. Hargey.
Although South Africa’s body for Islamic groups, the
Muslim Judicial Council (MJC), says it is investigating
members’ concerns of the Open Mosque, several members
of Cape Town’s large Muslim community have openly
criticized the mosque and even labeled the Dr. Hargey an
“unbeliever”.
Still, Dr. Hargey hopes the mosque will counter growing
Islamic radicalism, and looks forward to the future.