Fatwa by: Shaykh Ibn Jibreen (حفظه الله)
Question:
If there is a curtain or partition in the mosque separating the men and women, does the statement of the Prophet ﷺ still apply:
“The best rows for men are the first, and the worst are the last. The best rows for women are the last, and the worst are the first.”
(Narrated by al-Bukhārī)
Or does this ruling no longer apply, making the first rows for women the best?
Answer:
The apparent reason for the last rows of women being the best is that they are further away from the men, because the more distant a woman is from the men, the more protected and dignified she will be and the farther she will be from temptation.
However, if the women’s rows are already distant from the men, or there is a wall or curtain separating them, and they rely on a loudspeaker to follow the Imam, then the stronger opinion is that the first row of women becomes the best due to its proximity to the qiblah and being in front.
And Allah knows best.
Question:
If there is a curtain or partition in the mosque separating the men and women, does the statement of the Prophet ﷺ still apply:
“The best rows for men are the first, and the worst are the last. The best rows for women are the last, and the worst are the first.”
(Narrated by al-Bukhārī)
Or does this ruling no longer apply, making the first rows for women the best?
Answer:
The apparent reason for the last rows of women being the best is that they are further away from the men, because the more distant a woman is from the men, the more protected and dignified she will be and the farther she will be from temptation.
However, if the women’s rows are already distant from the men, or there is a wall or curtain separating them, and they rely on a loudspeaker to follow the Imam, then the stronger opinion is that the first row of women becomes the best due to its proximity to the qiblah and being in front.
And Allah knows best.
