Women’s Prayer: Best Place, Congregation, and Mosque Etiquettes

Source Information

This excerpt is taken from the book Ṣaḥīḥ Ṣalāh al-Nabawī ﷺ, authored by al-Shaykh ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ʿAzīz, published by Maktabah Dār al-Andalus.

The Most Virtuous Place for Women to Pray​

❀ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

صلاة المرأة فى بيتها أفضل من صلاتها فى حجرتها، وصلاتها فى مخدعها أفضل من صلاتها فى بيتها

“A woman’s prayer in the inner part of her house is better than her prayer in the courtyard, and her prayer in her private room is better than her prayer in the open area of the house.”

Reference: Abu Dāwūd, Kitab al-Ṣalāh, Bab al-Tashdīd fī Dhālik: 570

(Ṣaḥīḥ)

Permission for Women to Pray in Mosques​

❀ Women are permitted to go to the mosques to offer prayer.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

لا تمنعوا إماء الله مساجد الله

“Do not prevent the female servants of Allah from the mosques of Allah.”

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitab al-Nikāḥ, Bab Isti’dhān al-Mar’ah Zawjahā ilā al-Masjid wa Ghayrih: 5238

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 442/136

Designated Prayer Areas for Women​

A specific place may be designated for congregational prayer at home.
Sayyidunā Anas رضي الله عنه narrates that Umm Sulaym رضي الله عنها requested the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to come to her house and pray there so that she could designate that place as a prayer area for herself. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came, and Umm Sulaym sprinkled water on a mat, then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed on it, and she prayed along with him.

Reference: al-Nasā’ī, Kitab al-Masājid, Bab al-Ṣalāh ʿalā al-Ḥaṣīr: 738

(Isnāduhu Ṣaḥīḥ)

❀ Similarly, prayer areas should be established in places specifically for women, such as girls’ schools, madrasahs, etc. However, establishing separate public mosques exclusively for women, as is promoted today by non-Muslims under the slogan of women’s rights, has no basis in the Qur’an, Sunnah, or Islamic history. Therefore, constructing separate public mosques solely for women is not permissible, as it is a clear source of fitnah.

Women and Congregational Prayer​

❀ It is better for women to pray in congregation.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, without distinction:

“Prayer offered in congregation is twenty-seven times better than prayer offered alone.”

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitab al-Adhān, Bab Faḍl Ṣalāh al-Jamāʿah: 645

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 650

❀ Women may establish congregational prayer at home.
Sayyidah Umm Waraqah رضي الله عنها said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ visited her house, appointed a mu’adhdhin for her, and commanded her to lead the people of her household in prayer.

Reference: Abu Dāwūd, Kitab al-Ṣalāh, Bab Imāmat al-Nisā’: 592

(Ḥasan)

❀ Sayyidah Umm Waraqah رضي الله عنها used to lead only the women of her household in prayer. This is supported by the wording in al-Dāraquṭnī:

وتؤم نساءها
“She would lead the women of her household.”

Reference: al-Dāraquṭnī: 1069

(Isnāduhu Ḥasan)

Women’s congregational prayer is permissible for both obligatory and voluntary prayers. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded Umm Waraqah رضي الله عنها to lead her household without distinguishing between obligatory and voluntary prayers.

Method of Women Leading Congregational Prayer​

❀ The female imam stands within the same row and does not step ahead like a male imam.
Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها used to stand in the row while leading women in prayer.

Reference: al-Dāraquṭnī: 1/404, Ḥadīth: 1429

(Isnāduhu Ḥasan li-dhātihī)

❀ Her recitation should be audible only to the extent that the women praying behind her can hear it.

Etiquettes for Women Going to the Mosque​

❀ Women should not apply perfume or wear flashy clothing when coming to the mosque.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“If any one of you intends to go to the mosque, she should not apply perfume.”

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitab al-Ṣalāh, Bab Khurūj al-Nisā’ ilā al-Masājid: 443/142

❀ If there is fear of temptation (fitnah), women should not go to the mosque.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

أيما امرأة أصابت بخورًا فلا تشهد معنا العشاء الآخرة

“Any woman who applies perfume should not attend the night prayer (ʿIshā’) with us.”

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitab al-Ṣalāh, Bab Khurūj al-Nisā’ ilā al-Masājid: 444

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 869