How Have Some Scholars Misinterpreted The Mosque In Relation To Women's Involvement In Islam?

Unlike the Christian church, the mosque is not the focal point of Muslim religious practice. This has led to misunderstanding by scholars who think that because women do not take a primary role in the mosque that they are less involved in the religion. In Islam, the focus of worship is often in the home. Women may worship and study in private as well as in public settings, including mosques. Frequently footage of mosques in the news media simply doesn't show the women who are present during prayer.

Rules in mosques vary. Women may pray in a group behind the men, or in a separate room. Some mosques don't allow women. Although women are not always visible in the mosque, it does not mean that they are less involved in religious practice than men. Visibility in a public mosque or school is not necessarily an indicator of how much one participates in the religion.