Congregrational Prayer Of Women
Q. Are women
allowed to participate in congregational prayer led by a male? if it is
allowed where they should stand? Similarly, is it allowed for women to
arrange their own congregational prayer led by a female and participated
by women exclusively? If it is allowed, what shall be the arrangement
of the rows? Please also mention whether such type of congregational prayer
can be held in the mosque or in the home. If it is possible for women
to participate in a congregational prayer held in a mosque, how should
a women observe the injunctions relating to Hijab?
(Muhammad
Hassan Chand, Karachi)
A. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) has clarified in a number of Ahadith
that it is not preferable for a women to perform prayer outside her home.
The congragational prayer has been intended for the male Muslims only
and they are not only included to perform their prayers in a congregation
but it has been made almost obligatory on them that they should perform
the prayer in a mosque and should not abandon the congregational prayer
except in a case of necessity. On the contrary, the females are always
advised by the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) to perform their prayers in their
homes so much so that the performance of prayer in an inner room has been
made more rewardable for a women then in the outside room, and performing
the prayer in the outside room has been more rewardable for her than in
a courtyard of her own house.
However, in the days of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) a large number of women
used to come to the Mosque to perform prayer behind the Holy Prophet (S.A.W)
an unparalleled merit. Since the women of those days used to observe all
the requirements of Shari'ah including those of Hijab in the days of the
Holy Prophet (S.A.W), they were not forbidden from attending the congregational
prayers. However, the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) has made it clear that it is
more advisable for them to pray in their homes.
But Sayyidna 'Umar (R.A) felt in his days that the concession given to
the women is sometime misused and it was apprehended that it would be
misused in the future even more. He was also aware of the fact that the
Holy Prophet (S.A.W) did not like the women leaving their homes for the
sake of Prayers. Keeping all this in view he issued a directive that the
women should no longer attend the congregational prayer. This directive
was completely confirmed by all the Companions of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W)
available at that time. Sayyida Aisha (R.A) opined, that had the Holy
Prophet (S.A.W) been alive in those days he would have certainly stopped
the women from attending the mosque for prayers.
It is in this context that the Muslims jurists have been unanimous on
the point that it is not advisable for women to attend the congregational
prayers in a mosque, rather most of them have taken it as a prohibited
act.
At the same time it should be kept in mind that even though the participation
of women in a congregational prayer is not advisable according to the
Shari'ah, yet, if they join a congregation at some occasion, the prayer
will be valid. In this case, they have to stand behind the rows of the
males and the Imam should have the intention that he is leading both males
and females in prayer.
Similarly, the congregation of females only is held to be 'Makrooh' by
the Muslim jurists. However, if at some occasion, the women elect to arrange
their own congregation led by women, the female Imam should stand in the
centre of the first row and not in front of the followers as the male
Imam is supposed to do. As mentioned earlier, it is not advisable for
women to pray in the mosques. However, if they elect to do so, their prayers
will be valid according to the Shari'ah. In any case, the observance of
Hijab while joining a male congregation is mandatory which cannot be dispensed
with in any way.
I hope that this will satisfy your question. I would like to emphasise
once again that the basic purpose of a Muslim, male or female, should
be to follow the dictates of shari'ah and to seek the pleasure of Allah
and not to satisfy one's own desire. The congregation of the male Muslims
has been held as a meritorious act for the simple reason that Allah almighty
has declared it meritorious for the males but the case of women is totally
different. Here, the Messanger of Allah has expressly mentioned that it
is more meritorious for a women to perform prayers in her home. Therefore,
Muslim women should not insist on going to the mosque for joining the
congregational prayers because the reward promised for a congregational
prayer shall be available for them in their homes and not in the mosque.
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