Attendance of Women for Ṣalāt al-Tarāwīḥ in the Mosque and Performing Iʿtikāf
Adapted from: Khawātīn ka Masjid Mein Bājamāʿat Namāz Parhne ka Mas’alah by Muḥammad Ayyūb Supra
The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ led the congregation in Tarāwīḥ prayer only three nights during the entire month of Ramaḍān. Thereafter, he refrained from leading it in congregation out of concern that it might be made obligatory upon the Ummah, and neglecting it thereafter would render them sinful. He instructed the people to perform it in their homes. This remained the practice until his passing, and continued through the era of Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq رضي الله عنه. In the early period of ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه’s caliphate, the same practice continued, until he reintroduced Tarāwīḥ in congregation.
(Abū Dāwūd: 1371)
صلى ذات ليلة فى المسجد فصلى بصلاته ناس ثم صلى من القابلة فكثر الناس ثم اجتمعوا من الليلة الثالثة أو الرابعة فلم يخرج إليهم رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فلما أصبح قال قد رأيت الذى صنعتم ولم يمنعني من الخروج إليكم إلا أني خشيت أن تفرض عليكم وذلك فى رمضان
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Tahajjud, Bāb Taḥrīṣ al-Nabī ﷺ ʿalā Qiyām al-Layl, ḥadīth: 1129)
This ḥadīth shows that on the third or fourth night, the people gathered in great numbers, but the Prophet ﷺ did not come out to lead them, fearing it might become obligatory.
The Tarāwīḥ mentioned in Ramaḍān was attended by women as well. Abū Dharr رضي الله عنه narrated:
صمنا مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فلم يصل بنا حتى بقي سبع من الشهر… ثم لم يصل بنا حتى بقي ثلاث من الشهر وصلى بنا فى الثالثة ودعا أهله ونساءه فقام بنا حتى تخوفنا الفلاح… قال السحور
(Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī: 806)
This indicates that on the 27th night, the Prophet ﷺ invited his family and women to join the Tarāwīḥ congregation.
The Prophet ﷺ prayed eight rakʿāt of Tarāwīḥ and then performed Witr.
صلى بنا رسول الله فى رمضان ثمان ركعات ثم أوتر
(Ibn Khuzaymah, 2:138)
ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها said:
أن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يعتكف العشر الأواخر من رمضان حتى توفاه الله ثم اعتكف أزواجه من بعده
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb Faḍl Laylat al-Qadr, Bāb al-Iʿtikāf fī al-ʿAshr al-Awākhir, ḥadīth: 2026)
This proves that after the Prophet ﷺ, his noble wives also performed Iʿtikāf in the mosque, not at home.
ʿUmar رضي الله عنه instructed Sulaymān ibn Abī Ḥamnah رضي الله عنه to lead the women in Tarāwīḥ in a corner of the mosque during Ramaḍān.
(al-Muḥallā: 3/193, via Fiqh ʿUmar, p. 275, under “Ḥijāb”)
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
Adapted from: Khawātīn ka Masjid Mein Bājamāʿat Namāz Parhne ka Mas’alah by Muḥammad Ayyūb Supra
Historical Practice of Tarāwīḥ in the Time of the Prophet ﷺ
The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ led the congregation in Tarāwīḥ prayer only three nights during the entire month of Ramaḍān. Thereafter, he refrained from leading it in congregation out of concern that it might be made obligatory upon the Ummah, and neglecting it thereafter would render them sinful. He instructed the people to perform it in their homes. This remained the practice until his passing, and continued through the era of Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq رضي الله عنه. In the early period of ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه’s caliphate, the same practice continued, until he reintroduced Tarāwīḥ in congregation.
(Abū Dāwūd: 1371)
Narration of ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها
صلى ذات ليلة فى المسجد فصلى بصلاته ناس ثم صلى من القابلة فكثر الناس ثم اجتمعوا من الليلة الثالثة أو الرابعة فلم يخرج إليهم رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فلما أصبح قال قد رأيت الذى صنعتم ولم يمنعني من الخروج إليكم إلا أني خشيت أن تفرض عليكم وذلك فى رمضان
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Tahajjud, Bāb Taḥrīṣ al-Nabī ﷺ ʿalā Qiyām al-Layl, ḥadīth: 1129)
This ḥadīth shows that on the third or fourth night, the people gathered in great numbers, but the Prophet ﷺ did not come out to lead them, fearing it might become obligatory.
Participation of Women in Tarāwīḥ
The Tarāwīḥ mentioned in Ramaḍān was attended by women as well. Abū Dharr رضي الله عنه narrated:
صمنا مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فلم يصل بنا حتى بقي سبع من الشهر… ثم لم يصل بنا حتى بقي ثلاث من الشهر وصلى بنا فى الثالثة ودعا أهله ونساءه فقام بنا حتى تخوفنا الفلاح… قال السحور
(Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī: 806)
This indicates that on the 27th night, the Prophet ﷺ invited his family and women to join the Tarāwīḥ congregation.
Number of Rakʿāt
The Prophet ﷺ prayed eight rakʿāt of Tarāwīḥ and then performed Witr.
صلى بنا رسول الله فى رمضان ثمان ركعات ثم أوتر
(Ibn Khuzaymah, 2:138)
Women and Iʿtikāf
ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها said:
أن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يعتكف العشر الأواخر من رمضان حتى توفاه الله ثم اعتكف أزواجه من بعده
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb Faḍl Laylat al-Qadr, Bāb al-Iʿtikāf fī al-ʿAshr al-Awākhir, ḥadīth: 2026)
This proves that after the Prophet ﷺ, his noble wives also performed Iʿtikāf in the mosque, not at home.
Practice During the Era of ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه
ʿUmar رضي الله عنه instructed Sulaymān ibn Abī Ḥamnah رضي الله عنه to lead the women in Tarāwīḥ in a corner of the mosque during Ramaḍān.
(al-Muḥallā: 3/193, via Fiqh ʿUmar, p. 275, under “Ḥijāb”)
Conclusion
- It is established from the practice of the Prophet ﷺ and the Salaf al-Ṣāliḥīn that women may attend the mosque for prayer, especially in Ramaḍān for Tarāwīḥ, to engage in worship and learn religious matters.
- They are not obligated to come for every prayer.
- The practice of the Mothers of the Believers indicates that women’s Iʿtikāf should be in the mosque, not at home.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
