Leading Women in Prayer by a Man: Guidelines and Rulings

Authored by: Shaykh Mubashar Ahmad Rabbani (Hafizahullah)

Question:

Can a man lead women in congregational prayer? If so, how should the rows be arranged? Should women form a row behind the male Imam, or should men form a row directly behind the Imam, followed by women?

Answer:

Yes, a man can lead women in prayer. Women are required to form their rows behind the male Imam and should not stand beside him or in the same row. This ruling is based on clear evidence from the Sunnah.

Evidence from Hadith

  1. The Position of Women Behind Men in Prayer:

    Abdullah ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنهما) narrated:

    "I prayed alongside the Prophet (ﷺ), and Aisha (رضي الله عنها) prayed behind us."
    [Sunan an-Nasa’i, Book on Leadership in Prayer, Chapter on the Position of the Imam When a Boy and a Woman Are Present, Hadith 805]
  2. The Placement of a Woman When Praying with a Male Imam:

    Anas (رضي الله عنه) reported:

    "The Prophet (ﷺ) led me and my mother or aunt in prayer. He made me stand on his right side and the woman behind us."
    [Sahih Muslim, Book of Mosques and Places of Prayer: Chapter on the Permissibility of Offering Voluntary Prayers in Congregation, Hadith 660; Sunan Abi Dawood, Book of Prayer: Chapter on How Two Men Should Pray Together, Hadith 609]

Scholarly Explanation

Imam Ash-Shawkani (رحمه الله) states:

"Both of these Hadiths indicate that if the Imam has one male and one female follower, the male should stand on the right of the Imam, and the female should stand behind them. She should not stand in the same row as the men, to avoid any potential fitnah."
[Nayl al-Awtar, 3/204]

From the above Ahadith, it is evident that:
  1. If there is a male follower, women should form their row behind the men.
  2. If the Imam is leading only women, it is still permissible for them to form rows behind him.

Leading Only Women

Regarding the permissibility of a man leading a congregation consisting solely of women, Nawab Siddiq Hasan Khan (رحمه الله) states:

"There is no disagreement that women may pray behind men when other men are also present. The difference of opinion arises when a man is leading a congregation consisting solely of women. Those who claim it is not permissible must provide evidence to support their view."
[Al-Rawdah al-Nadiyyah, 1/119]

Supporting Evidence

  1. Jabir (رضي الله عنه) Leading Women:

    Jabir (رضي الله عنه) once led women in prayer in his home, and the Prophet (ﷺ) remained silent upon learning of it. This silence is understood as approval, which validates the practice.
    [Musnad Abi Ya'la, Hadith 1795]

    Shaykh Mustafa Abdul Qadir Ata has authenticated this narration, and Al-Haythami graded its chain as Hasan (good).
  2. A Slave Leading Aisha (رضي الله عنها):

    In Sahih Bukhari and other collections, it is reported that Aisha (رضي الله عنها) had her slave, Dhakwan, lead her in congregational prayer. This further supports the permissibility of men leading women in prayer.
For additional details, refer to:
[Bidayat al-Mujtahid, 1/107]

Conclusion

  • A man can lead women in prayer, and the women must form rows behind him.
  • This applies regardless of whether there are other men present or not.
  • The permissibility is well-established through Hadith and scholarly consensus, and the arrangement ensures modesty and avoids fitnah.
May Allah grant us the ability to perform prayers according to the Sunnah.
Ameen.
 
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