◈ Ruling on Women Leading Prayer – With Proofs from Hadith and Statements of the Companions ◈
Source: Fatawa Muhammadiyyah, Vol. 1, Page 417
Can a woman lead prayer (Imamat)?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā ba‘d:
A woman may lead other women in prayer (Imamat) while standing in the middle of their row. There is no doubt about the permissibility of this. The practice is supported by authentic Ahadith and the statements of Companions and Tabi‘een.
Narrated in Sunan Abi Dawood:
عن أُمِّ وَرَقَةَ...
Umm Waraqah bint ʿAbdullah رضي الله عنها had memorized the Qur’an. She requested permission from the Prophet ﷺ to appoint a Mu’adhdhin in her house. The Prophet ﷺ granted permission, appointed a caller to prayer, and instructed her to lead her household in prayer.
ʿAbd al-Rahmān ibn Khalād said: “I saw her Mu’adhdhin, he was an old man.”
[Sunan Abi Dawood: Vol. 1, p. 94–95, Baab Imāmat al-Nisā’]
In Irwā’ al-Ghalīl (Vol. 2, p. 255–256), Shaykh al-Albānī explains:
عن حجيرة قالت: أمتنا أم سلمة قائمة وسط النساء
Ḥujayrah reported: Umm Salamah رضي الله عنها led us in prayer, standing in the middle of the women.
[Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah: Vol. 3, p. 83, Baab al-Mar’ah Tu’umm al-Nisā’]
عن الشعبي، قال: تؤم المرأة النساء في صلاة رمضان، تقوم معهن في صفهن
Imam al-Shaʿbī said: A woman may lead other women in prayer during Ramadan, and she should stand among them in the row.
[Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah: Vol. 3, p. 83]
قال: لا بأس أن تؤم النساء تقوم معهن في الصف
There is no harm in a woman leading women in prayer, as long as she stands among them in the row.
[Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah: Same Reference]
❖
Based on the above Ahadith, Athar, and scholarly analysis:
✔ A woman’s Imamat for women is unquestionably permissible.
✔ She must stand in the middle of the row, not in front.
✔ This practice is affirmed by authentic Hadith, the actions of the Mothers of the Believers, and respected Tabi‘een.
علیہ الفتویٰ، وبه یفتیٰ
ھٰذا ما عندي، واللّٰه أعلم بالصواب
Source: Fatawa Muhammadiyyah, Vol. 1, Page 417❖ Question:
Can a woman lead prayer (Imamat)?
❖ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā ba‘d:
A woman may lead other women in prayer (Imamat) while standing in the middle of their row. There is no doubt about the permissibility of this. The practice is supported by authentic Ahadith and the statements of Companions and Tabi‘een.
✿ Evidences and Narrations
➊ Hadith of Umm Waraqah رضي الله عنها
Narrated in Sunan Abi Dawood:
عن أُمِّ وَرَقَةَ...
Umm Waraqah bint ʿAbdullah رضي الله عنها had memorized the Qur’an. She requested permission from the Prophet ﷺ to appoint a Mu’adhdhin in her house. The Prophet ﷺ granted permission, appointed a caller to prayer, and instructed her to lead her household in prayer.
ʿAbd al-Rahmān ibn Khalād said: “I saw her Mu’adhdhin, he was an old man.”
[Sunan Abi Dawood: Vol. 1, p. 94–95, Baab Imāmat al-Nisā’]
✦ Authentication by Shaykh al-Albānī رحمه الله:
In Irwā’ al-Ghalīl (Vol. 2, p. 255–256), Shaykh al-Albānī explains:
- Though ʿAbd al-Rahmān ibn Khalād is majhool (unknown), he is paired with Laylā bint Mālik, who is not majhool.
- Together, they strengthen the chain.
- Therefore, the Hadith is Hasan (sound).
➋ Imamat of Umm Salamah رضي الله عنها
عن حجيرة قالت: أمتنا أم سلمة قائمة وسط النساء
Ḥujayrah reported: Umm Salamah رضي الله عنها led us in prayer, standing in the middle of the women.
[Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah: Vol. 3, p. 83, Baab al-Mar’ah Tu’umm al-Nisā’]
➌ Statement of the Tabi‘i, Imam ʿĀmir al-Shaʿbī رحمه الله
عن الشعبي، قال: تؤم المرأة النساء في صلاة رمضان، تقوم معهن في صفهن
Imam al-Shaʿbī said: A woman may lead other women in prayer during Ramadan, and she should stand among them in the row.
[Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah: Vol. 3, p. 83]
➍ Statement of Ḥumayd ibn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān رحمه الله
قال: لا بأس أن تؤم النساء تقوم معهن في الصف
There is no harm in a woman leading women in prayer, as long as she stands among them in the row.
[Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah: Same Reference]
❖ 
Summary and Ruling:
Based on the above Ahadith, Athar, and scholarly analysis:
✔ A woman’s Imamat for women is unquestionably permissible.
✔ She must stand in the middle of the row, not in front.
✔ This practice is affirmed by authentic Hadith, the actions of the Mothers of the Believers, and respected Tabi‘een.
علیہ الفتویٰ، وبه یفتیٰ
ھٰذا ما عندي، واللّٰه أعلم بالصواب
