The Complete Shariah Ruling on the Virtue of Women’s Rows in Salah
Source: Fatawa Arkan-e-Islam
What is the Shariah ruling regarding the rows of women in prayer? Is it always that the first row of women is the worst and the last row is the best, or does this apply only when men and women are praying together without a partition?
Alhamdulillah, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā ba‘d!
When men and women are praying in the same place, without any partition or separate arrangement, then in such a case the last row of women is considered better than their first row.
This is based on the statement of the Prophet ﷺ:
«وَخَيْرُ صُفُوفِ النِّسَاءِ آخِرُهَا، وَشَرُّهَا أَوَّلُهَا»
(Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Salah, Bab Taswiyat al-Sufuf… Hadith: 440)
"The best rows for women are the last ones, and the worst of them are the first ones."
The reason is that the last rows are farther away from men, while the front rows are closer to them. Therefore, in consideration of modesty and precaution, the back rows are given preference in such a setup.
However, if there is a separate arrangement for women to perform Salah — as is common in most mosques today, where there is a designated section with complete separation from men — then in such a case, the first row of women will be the best, just as the first row is best for men.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
Source: Fatawa Arkan-e-Islam
Question
What is the Shariah ruling regarding the rows of women in prayer? Is it always that the first row of women is the worst and the last row is the best, or does this apply only when men and women are praying together without a partition?
Answer
Alhamdulillah, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā ba‘d!
When men and women are praying in the same place, without any partition or separate arrangement, then in such a case the last row of women is considered better than their first row.
This is based on the statement of the Prophet ﷺ:
«وَخَيْرُ صُفُوفِ النِّسَاءِ آخِرُهَا، وَشَرُّهَا أَوَّلُهَا»
(Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Salah, Bab Taswiyat al-Sufuf… Hadith: 440)
"The best rows for women are the last ones, and the worst of them are the first ones."
The reason is that the last rows are farther away from men, while the front rows are closer to them. Therefore, in consideration of modesty and precaution, the back rows are given preference in such a setup.
However, if there is a separate arrangement for women to perform Salah — as is common in most mosques today, where there is a designated section with complete separation from men — then in such a case, the first row of women will be the best, just as the first row is best for men.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
