❖ Introduction
This excerpt is taken from the book "Khawateen Ka Masjid Mein Jama'at Say Namaz Parhnay Ka Masla" authored by Muhammad Ayub Supara.
الحمد لله رب العالمين والصلاة والسلام على النبى الكريم وعلى آله وأصحابه أجمعين ومن تبعهم بإحسان إلى يوم الدين
The obligation of Salah is established through the Qur’an and Hadith. Allah says:
﴿فَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ ۚ إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَابًا مَّوْقُوتًا﴾
(An-Nisa: 103)
"Establish the prayer; indeed, the prayer is a prescribed obligation on the believers at appointed times."
❖ The Obligation and Importance of Salah
Abdullah bin Umar رضي الله عنهما narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"Islam is built upon five pillars..."
(Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Iman, Hadith: 113)
Among them is establishing Salah. Another Hadith highlights:
"Between a man and disbelief is the abandonment of Salah."
(Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 247)
Therefore, it is obligatory upon every Muslim man and woman to perform five daily prayers at their respective times. Parents are responsible for teaching their children Salah from a young age.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Command your children to pray at the age of seven, and discipline them for neglecting it at the age of ten..."
(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 494)
❖ The Method of Salah According to the Sunnah
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"Pray as you have seen me praying."
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith: 631)
❖ Is There a Difference Between Men’s and Women’s Salah? A Research-Based Analysis
The command of the Prophet ﷺ is general and applies equally to both men and women. Nowhere in the Qur'an or authentic Hadith is a separate method of Salah prescribed for women.
From Takbir-e-Tahrima (الله أكبر) to Salam (السلام عليكم ورحمة الله), the postures and supplications of prayer are the same for both genders. This includes:
✔ Standing (Qiyam)
✔ Bowing (Ruku)
✔ Standing after Ruku (Qawmah)
✔ Prostration (Sujood)
✔ Sitting between prostrations (Jalsah)
✔ Final sitting (Tashahhud)
✔ Supplications and remembrances
❖ The Sunnah Postures of Salah: Evidence from Hadith
In a detailed narration found in Abu Dawood, Abu Humaid As-Sa’idi رضي الله عنه described the Prophet’s ﷺ method of prayer in the presence of ten Sahabah, and no difference was mentioned for women.
(Sunan Abu Dawood, Hadith: 730)
The method of raising the hands (Raf’ al-Yadayn) The manner of bowing (Ruku) The way of sitting between the prostrations The sitting posture in Tashahhud The placement of hands during QiyamAll were described without gender-based distinctions.
Similarly, Hadiths narrated by Abdullah bin Umar, Wa'il bin Hujr, and Sahl bin Sa’d also detail the postures of prayer without specifying any difference for women.
❖ Raising Hands and Hand Placement
The Prophet ﷺ used to:
✔ Raise his hands to the level of his shoulders or ears during Takbir
✔ Place his right hand over his left hand — on the wrist and forearm
✔ Place hands on the chest during Qiyam
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Sunan an-Nasa’i, Musnad Ahmad)
Women are not excluded from these descriptions.
❖ The Sitting Posture in Tashahhud and Final Sitting (Tawarruk)
The Hadith mentions:
✔ In the first sitting, the Prophet ﷺ sat on the left foot and kept the right foot upright
✔ In the final sitting, he practiced Tawarruk, i.e., sitting on the left buttock while bringing the feet out from the right side
(Sunan Abu Dawood, Hadith: 731)
These postures too were described without any exception for women.
❖ Proper Prostration (Sujood) and Its Forbidden Forms
The Prophet ﷺ instructed:
✔ Do not lower yourselves like a camel
✔ Prostrate on seven body parts: forehead (with nose), hands, knees, and toes
✔ Do not spread arms like a dog
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Abu Dawood, Hadith: 840, 812, 822)
No difference was made between men and women. In fact, Umm Darda رضي الله عنها used to sit like men during prayer.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith: 827)
❖ Summary of Evidence from Ahadith and Scholars
Summary:
All the authentic Hadiths indicate that there is no difference between men's and women's Salah in terms of its method, postures, or etiquette.
The general command of the Prophet ﷺ:
"Pray as you have seen me praying."
…applies equally to both genders.
Some scholars have mentioned differences based on weak narrations or cultural considerations, which hold no weight in the presence of authentic Hadiths.
❖ Views of Classical Scholars
✔ Imam Shawkani رحمه الله:
"This Sunnah of raising hands applies to both men and women equally. There is no evidence to differentiate."
(Nayl al-Awtar, vol. 2, p. 198)
✔ Hafiz Ibn Hajar رحمه الله:
"No authentic Hadith proves a difference between men and women in Raf’ al-Yadayn."
(Fath al-Bari, vol. 2, p. 287)
✔ Imam Nawawi رحمه الله:
"Women should also place their hands on the chest, like men."
(Sharh Muslim)
✔ Umm Darda رضي الله عنها used to sit like men during Salah and she was a Faqihah (jurist).
(Tarikh al-Saghir by al-Bukhari, p. 90)
✔ Ibrahim al-Nakha’i رحمه الله:
"Women will sit in Salah the same way as men."
(Ibn Abi Shaybah, vol. 1, p. 270)
✔ Ibn Hazm رحمه الله:
"There is no difference between the Salah of men and women."
(Al-Muhalla, vol. 3, p. 37)
✔ Shams al-Haq Azimabadi رحمه الله:
"There is no distinction in any part of prayer between men and women."
(Awn al-Ma’bud, vol. 1, p. 263)
✔ Shaykh al-Albani رحمه الله:
"All the postures of men and women in Salah are the same."
(Sifat Salat an-Nabi, p. 189)
❖ A Regional Issue: South Asian Practice vs. Prophetic Sunnah
Observation reveals that gender-specific methods of Salah are predominantly found in South Asian regions (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh) — not in classical or universal Islamic teachings.
This includes:
✘ Men raising hands to the ears, women to the shoulders
✘ Men folding hands below the navel, women on the chest
✘ Different forms of bowing, prostration, and sitting
These practices lack authentic Hadith evidence and stem from cultural traditions rather than the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.
❖ Legislation Belongs Only to Allah and His Messenger ﷺ
Only Allah and His Messenger ﷺ have the authority to legislate in the Deen. Any attempt to impose separate prayer methods for women without valid evidence amounts to innovating in the religion.
Just as the Shahadah does not admit any partner, the Shari'ah too cannot admit others in its legislation.
Conclusion: Follow the Sunnah Without Innovation
Women must:
✔ Learn the correct method of Salah through authentic Hadiths
✔ Reject any innovation or cultural addition
✔ Perform Salah just as the Prophet ﷺ performed it
✔ Understand that difference in method without clear evidence is unjustified
Final Word
❖ Men and women are both equally addressed in commands such as:
"Establish the prayer and give Zakat..."
Hence, they must perform Salah in the same prescribed manner unless proven otherwise through authentic revelation.
Legislating religious practice based on conjecture or culture leads to innovation.
The Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ is complete and sufficient.
