❀ Important Rulings Regarding Women’s Congregation in the Mosque ❀
✦ Fatwa by: Al-‘Ālim Khidr Hayat ḥafiẓahullāh
In our mosque, women offer Jumu‘ah prayer on the upper floor. It often happens that the speaker system fails during prayer, and the Imam’s voice no longer reaches them. In such a case:
In this case, one of the women should be appointed as the Imam, who will stand in the middle of the first row, while the others pray behind her.
If the sound from the Imam suddenly cuts off during the prayer, and the women can no longer follow the Imam, then two options are available:
✔ Preliminary Training:
Women should be taught the rules of leading prayer, so they can manage such situations without difficulty.
✔ Technical Maintenance:
The mosque administration should work to resolve the speaker issue permanently, to ensure proper connectivity with the Imam.
✔ In case of recurring technical issues, women may form their own congregation, led by one of them standing in the middle of the first row.
✔ If no one is capable, women may complete their prayer individually.
✔ It is important to provide proper training and technical support to prevent disruption in congregational prayer.
✦ Fatwa by: Al-‘Ālim Khidr Hayat ḥafiẓahullāh
❖ Question:
In our mosque, women offer Jumu‘ah prayer on the upper floor. It often happens that the speaker system fails during prayer, and the Imam’s voice no longer reaches them. In such a case:
- Can a woman be appointed to lead the remaining prayer?
- Is it permissible for women to establish a separate congregation?
❖ Answer:
➊ Issue of Speaker Malfunction
- If it is known that the speaker frequently fails, causing disruption in following the Imam,
- Then it is better for women to establish their own congregation.
In this case, one of the women should be appointed as the Imam, who will stand in the middle of the first row, while the others pray behind her.
➋ If the Speaker Fails During the Prayer
If the sound from the Imam suddenly cuts off during the prayer, and the women can no longer follow the Imam, then two options are available:
✔ Form Their Own Congregation
- One woman may lead the prayer.
- This is the preferred solution, especially when the issue is recurring.
✔ Complete the Prayer Individually
- If none of the women are confident or qualified to lead,
- Then each woman may complete the prayer individually.
❖ Practical Recommendations
✔ Preliminary Training:
Women should be taught the rules of leading prayer, so they can manage such situations without difficulty.
✔ Technical Maintenance:
The mosque administration should work to resolve the speaker issue permanently, to ensure proper connectivity with the Imam.
❖ Conclusion:
✔ In case of recurring technical issues, women may form their own congregation, led by one of them standing in the middle of the first row.
✔ If no one is capable, women may complete their prayer individually.
✔ It is important to provide proper training and technical support to prevent disruption in congregational prayer.
