Source: Fatawa Muhammadiyah, Vol. 1, Page 345
Should women, like men, say “Ameen” aloud behind the imam in Jumu‘ah or Eid prayers? Kindly explain.
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
It is well established through numerous authentic Ahadith that saying Ameen aloud behind the imam is proven. Imam Ata bin Abi Rabah even stated that about two hundred Companions (RA) practiced saying Ameen aloud.
However, despite extensive research, no narration could be found which explicitly states that women should say Ameen aloud behind the imam.
By analogy (qiyas), women should not say Ameen aloud, as their raised voices may cause fitnah.
For this very reason, when the imam makes a mistake, women have been instructed not to say SubhanAllah but rather to clap their hands.
From Sahih al-Bukhari, narrated by Hazrat Abu Hurairah (RA):
((عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ: «التَّسْبِيحُ لِلرِّجَالِ، وَالتَّصْفِيقُ لِلنِّسَاءِ»))
(Fath al-Bari, Vol. 3, p. 62)
“The Prophet ﷺ said: Saying SubhanAllah is for men, and clapping is for women.”
((كَأَنَّ مَنْعَ النِّسَاءِ مِنَ التَّسْبِيحِ... لِمَا يُخْشَى مِنَ الِافْتِتَانِ))
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Bab al-Tasfiq li al-Nisa’, Vol. 1, p. 160)
“Women were prohibited from saying SubhanAllah because they are commanded to lower their voices in prayer to avoid any possibility of fitnah. Men were prohibited from clapping because that is characteristic of women.”
◈ Women praying in congregation with men should not say Ameen aloud.
◈ Just as women were prohibited from saying SubhanAllah aloud in prayer due to fitnah, the same applies to saying Ameen aloud.
◈ Therefore, in Jumu‘ah, Eid, or any other congregational prayers, women should say Ameen quietly, not aloud.
◈ However, if a woman leads a congregation consisting of women only, then women may say Ameen aloud.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
❀ Question
Should women, like men, say “Ameen” aloud behind the imam in Jumu‘ah or Eid prayers? Kindly explain.
❀ Answer
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
It is well established through numerous authentic Ahadith that saying Ameen aloud behind the imam is proven. Imam Ata bin Abi Rabah even stated that about two hundred Companions (RA) practiced saying Ameen aloud.
However, despite extensive research, no narration could be found which explicitly states that women should say Ameen aloud behind the imam.
By analogy (qiyas), women should not say Ameen aloud, as their raised voices may cause fitnah.
For this very reason, when the imam makes a mistake, women have been instructed not to say SubhanAllah but rather to clap their hands.
✿ Supporting Hadith
From Sahih al-Bukhari, narrated by Hazrat Abu Hurairah (RA):
((عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ: «التَّسْبِيحُ لِلرِّجَالِ، وَالتَّصْفِيقُ لِلنِّسَاءِ»))
(Fath al-Bari, Vol. 3, p. 62)
“The Prophet ﷺ said: Saying SubhanAllah is for men, and clapping is for women.”
✿ Explanation from Fath al-Bari
((كَأَنَّ مَنْعَ النِّسَاءِ مِنَ التَّسْبِيحِ... لِمَا يُخْشَى مِنَ الِافْتِتَانِ))
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Bab al-Tasfiq li al-Nisa’, Vol. 1, p. 160)
“Women were prohibited from saying SubhanAllah because they are commanded to lower their voices in prayer to avoid any possibility of fitnah. Men were prohibited from clapping because that is characteristic of women.”
✿ Conclusion
◈ Women praying in congregation with men should not say Ameen aloud.
◈ Just as women were prohibited from saying SubhanAllah aloud in prayer due to fitnah, the same applies to saying Ameen aloud.
◈ Therefore, in Jumu‘ah, Eid, or any other congregational prayers, women should say Ameen quietly, not aloud.
◈ However, if a woman leads a congregation consisting of women only, then women may say Ameen aloud.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
