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:

Assalamu Alaykum!

Is it true that women do not have to go to the mosque, but men HAVE to?

A friend of mine told me that it is ok for women if they do not go to the mosque, but the men have to attend.

Thank you!

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Women mosques

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 none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Performing the obligatory prayers in congregation in the mosques is a Sunnah Mu'akkadah (absolutely preferred Sunnah) of the Messenger of Allah (saws) for the believing males of the Ummah.

Ibn 'Umar reports that the Prophet (saws) said: "Prayer in congregation is superior to a prayer performed individually by twenty-seven degrees."

Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

It would obviously be preferred and best that the believing men to offer their obligatory prayers in congregation with the believers in the Mosques; and if that is not possible for a valid reason, then the next best thing is to offer it in congregation with the believers wherever one is; and if even that is not possible, the absolute last legal option is to offer it alone.

Although the believing women are not prevented to offer their prayers in the mosques in congregation, their prayers in their homes are better and more meritorious than their prayer in the mosques.

Umm Humaid as-Sa'diyah came to the Messenger of Allah(saws) and said: "O Messenger of Allah, I love to pray with you." The Prophet(saws) said: "I am aware of that, but your salah in your residence is better for you than your salah in your people's mosque. And your salah in your people's mosque is better than your salah in the [larger] congregational Mosque."

Related by Ahmad and at-Tabarani

Abu Hurairah relates that the Prophet (saws) said: "Do not keep the slave girls of Allah (believing women) from going to the mosques of Allah. And they are to go out unperfumed."

Ibn 'Umar reports that the Prophet (saws) said: "Do not prevent the women from going to the mosques, although their houses are better for them."

Related by Ahmad and Abu Dawud.

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