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

What is your view on

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

(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 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:

1. Men being commanded to wear the ‘hijaab’ like the women!
2. Women being required to pay the ‘mehr’ in marriage!
3. Men commanded to mourn his deceased wife for a period of four months and ten days!
4. A man imitating a woman in appearance, clothing, manners, etc.!
5. A woman being chosen to lead the believers as a ‘head of state’!
6. Only women being drafted in the muslim army and sent to fight the enemy in battle while the men sit at home!
7. 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