The first all-female mosque in the U.S. opens in Los Angeles

Last week, the first all-female mosque in the United States opened its doors in Los Angeles.

It was M. Hasna Maznavi's dream to start her own mosque, she told ABC News, especially after she read the Koran and felt that what was being taught in the mosques she visited was not in line with the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. "I want to garner the untapped potential of Muslim women not only for the Muslim community, but to empower all women of the world," Maznavi said. "God does not change the condition of people until people change themselves."

The Women's Mosque is open to all visitors, and was packed last Friday when it held a Jumu'ah congregational prayer and Khutbah public sermon, both led by Edina Lekovic. "Being surrounded by women in an environment created for women created a special spiritual charge I won't ever forget," she said. "One of my friends said she couldn't stop her tears through the whole thing."

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