Ruling on Women Leading or Holding Congregational and Eid Prayers

❀ Question ❀​

Is it permissible for women to perform the Eid prayer separately, and can they hold congregational prayers among themselves?

✔ Ruling on Congregational Prayers for Women

It is permissible for women to pray in congregation with a female imam, provided the imam does not stand ahead of the rows. Instead, she should stand in the middle of the row.

✔ Ruling on Women Holding Eid Prayer Separately

The case of Eid prayer is different. It is not permissible and is against the Sunnah for women to hold a separate Eid prayer. There is no precedent for this from the Prophet ﷺ, his Companions, or the righteous predecessors (Salaf as-Ṣāliḥīn).

On the contrary, it is emphasized in the Sunnah that women should attend the Eid congregation in the Eid prayer ground (ʿEidgāh) along with the men. Even menstruating women are instructed to attend the gathering for supplication and takbīrāt, though they should stay away from the prayer area itself.

❀ Reference for Further Study​

For more detail, refer to:
📘 Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Book of Eid Prayers (Kitāb al-ʿĪdayn)
📘 Fatāwā Ghaznawiyyah, p. 47

❀ Summary ❀​

◉ Women may perform congregational prayers among themselves with a female imam, who must stand within the row.
It is not Sunnah for women to hold a separate Eid prayer.
◉ Women should join the Eid congregation, and even menstruating women may attend for duʿāʾ and takbīr, while remaining outside the prayer area.

📌 Following the established Sunnah ensures the correctness and unity of worship in Islam.
 
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