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:

Once I was getting ready for Maghrib Prayers, as I could not reach Masjid well in time. My mother and wife requested me for Jamaat. Is it O.K. that solo man can lead females prayers. Please advise.

Jaza Kallah

(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:

Make congregation with family

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.

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 2.53

Topic: Consitution of a congregation

One person with the ‘imam’ would constitute a congregation, even if the other person is a child or a woman.

Ibn 'Abbas says: "I stayed with my Aunt Maimunah and the Prophet (saws) got up to pray during the night. I got up to pray with him and stood on his left and the Prophet (saws) took me by my hand and put me on his right side."

Your Question: ….I could not reach Masjid well in time. My mother and wife requested me for Jamaat. Is it O.K. that solo man can lead females prayers.

Although it is absolutely preferred that the believing men offer their obligatory prayers in congregation with the believers in the Masjid, if for any reason one is unable to attend the congregation at the Masjid, there is absolutely no harm if a ‘solo’ man were to form a congregation with his womenfolk.

Thus when leading one’s wife and mother in congregational prayer, the man should lead as the ‘imam’ and the two women would offer their prayers in the row directly behind him in congregation.

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