and Satan. Thus, they now clamor and scheme so that women and men may stand on an equal footing in the office, in the marketplace, and in everything. By Allah, I testify that such people are betraying their religion and the Muslims, for it is incumbent upon a Muslim to receive his teachings from the Book of Allah, the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and the guidance of the righteous predecessors. When we consider the teachings of the All-Wise Lawgiver, we find that He employs every means to keep women apart from men. Thus, after concluding the prayer, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would remain in his place of prayer until the women had departed (1), so as to prevent intermingling. This was despite the fact that the people of that time were purer than people in our own time and stronger in faith, as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “The best of people are my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them.” (2)

His statement, “if there is something there”: thamma means “there.” It is pronounced thamma, not thumma. Allah, Most High, says: “And when you look there...” [al-Insan: 20]. How many people err in this and say thumma, with a u-vowel. Yet thumma, with a u-vowel, is a conjunction, not an adverb of place.

It is disliked for them to stand between pillars if the pillars break up the rows.

His statement, “It is disliked for them to stand,” means the standing of those praying behind the imam.

His statement, “between the pillars,” means between the columns.

His statement, “if they break up the rows”: the author stipulates that the rows must be interrupted for it to be disliked.

What constitutes such an interruption? Some scholars defined it as three cubits. They said: if a pillar is three cubits wide, it breaks up the row; anything less than that does not break up the row.