What is your view on 1. A woman leading congretional prayers of men and women. 2. A woman leading congretional prayers of only women
Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,
As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa
Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)
One of our
brothers/sisters has asked this question:
Dear brother Burhan
1. A woman
leading congretional prayers of men and women.
2. A woman leading
congretional prayers of only women
Can men and women pray in the same "saf"
Regards and best wishes
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Answer:
Women leading prayers
In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help
and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and
whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness
that there is no one (no idol, no person,
no grave, no prophet, no
imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone,
and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of
His Messengers.
Your
Qeustion: What is your view on:
1. A
woman leading congretional prayers of men and women
Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33
Surah Ahzaab verse 36:
It does not behove a
believing man and a believing woman that when Allah and His Messenger have
given their decision in a matter, they should exercise an option in that matter
of theirs. For whoever disobeys Allah
and His Messenger, has indeed strayed
into manifest error.
Dear and Beloved Brother, when Allah and His
Messenger (saws) have given their decision in any matter, it does not behove
and befit one who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day that they should
have an opposite ‘view’ or option in that matter! Thus ‘our’ view regarding a woman leading a
congregational prayer of men and women is exactly the same as that declared by
Allah and His Messenger (saws) and the same as would be for:
- Men
being commanded to wear the ‘hijaab’ like the women!
- Women
being required to pay the ‘mehr’ in marriage!
- Men
commanded to mourn his deceased wife for a period of four months and ten
days!
- A
man imitating a woman in appearance, clothing, manners, etc.!
- A
woman being chosen to lead the believers as a ‘head of state’!
- Only
women being drafted in the muslim army and sent to fight the enemy in
battle while the men sit at home!
- Etc.
etc.
Allah Subhanah is the Lord Creator of everything in
existence, and He it is who gave each amongst His creation its unique nature. Allah and His Messenger (saws) did not
command, nor encourage, nor permit the believing woman to lead the
congregational prayers of men and women together, and it does not behove and
befit one who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day to allow, encourage,
or permit something which Allah and His Messenger (saws) have not endorsed.
Your
Question: What is your view on
2. A
woman leading congretional prayers of only women
Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 2.58
Hadrat Aishah (r.a.) used to lead the
women in salah and stand with the women in the middle of the first row. Umm
Salamah (r.a.) would also do so. The Prophet (saws) appointed Waraqah to go and
make the adhan for her while he (saws) instructed her to lead the women of her
household in the obligatory prayers.
The Messenger of Allah (saws) allowed and permitted
the women to lead congregational prayers of women; thus it is absolutely
permissible for a woman to lead other women in congregational prayers.
Your
Question: Can men and women pray in the same "saf"
Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 2.63a
The positioning of the young and the
women
The Messenger of Allah (saws) placed
the men in front rows, then the rows of the young boys behind the men, and the
rows of the women behind the young boys.
Related by Ahmad and Abu Dawud.
Sahih Muslim Hadith 881 Narrated by Abu Hurayrah
The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: “The
best rows for men are the first rows, and the worst one the last ones; and the
best rows for women are the last ones and the worst ones for them are the first
ones.”
Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 1.116
'Abdullah ibn Ghanam related that the
noble companion of the Messenger of Allah (saws), Abu Musa al-Ash'ari (r.a.) gathered together his people saying, " O
Tribe of Ash'ari, gather together, and gather your women and children to teach
them how the Messenger of Allah (saws) prayed with us in Madinah." They all gathered to watch him perform
ablution. After it, he waited until the sun had just passed the meridian and
there was some shade, and then he made the adhan. He put the men in the row closest to him, the
children in a row behind the men, and the women in a row behind the children.
Whenever the Messenger of Allah (saws) lead the
believers in congregational prayer, he would command the men to form rows
immediately behind him, the youth behind the men, and the women behind the
youth. Never ever did he (saws) lead the
prayers with men and women in the same rows, and any who wishes to follow the
Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) should practice the same.
If one trusts,
obeys, and follows the guidance
and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of never ever being
misled; but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger
(saws), one can be assured of being led
astray.
Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due
to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only
Source of Strength.
Your brother and well
wisher in Islam,
Burhan