Rulings and مسائل of Prayer in the Light of Qur’an and Hadith
Volume 01 – Page 182
❖ Question
السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاتهWhat is the ruling regarding women performing ablution (wuḍū’) in mosques?
❖ Answer (With the Help of al-Wahhāb, Subject to the Authenticity of the Question)
وعليكم السلام ورحمة الله وبركاته!الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
Islam is a complete and comprehensive religion that encompasses the welfare of both this world and the Hereafter. It is a source of goodness and blessing for both men and women. Allah Almighty says:
﴿مَن عَمِلَ صـٰلِحًا مِن ذَكَرٍ أَو أُنثىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤمِنٌ فَلَنُحيِيَنَّهُ حَيوٰةً طَيِّبَةً وَلَنَجزِيَنَّهُم أَجرَهُم بِأَحسَنِ ما كانوا يَعمَلونَ ﴿٩٧﴾﴾
“Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while being a believer – We will surely grant him a good life, and We will surely give them their reward according to the best of what they used to do.”
Reference: Surah al-Naḥl: 16:97
Islam has given special importance to the affairs of women and has honored them with a lofty status, provided that they firmly adhere to religious guidance and adopt the qualities prescribed by the Sharī‘ah.
◈ A Woman’s Attendance at the Mosque and Its Conditions
Among the aspects of a woman’s religious upbringing is that she has been permitted to attend congregational prayers and gatherings of remembrance. However, precautionary measures have also been emphasized so that she remains protected from trials and her honor is preserved.✔ Prohibition of Preventing Women from Mosques
If a woman seeks permission to go to the mosque, it is not correct to prevent her, as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:"لاَ تَمْنَعُوا إِمَاءَ اللَّهِ مَسَاجِدَ اللَّهِ”
“Do not prevent the female servants of Allah from the mosques of Allah.”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 900
Reference: Musnad Aḥmad: 2/16, 36, 15
In another narration:
"لا تَمْنَعُوا نِسَاءَكُمْ الْمَسَاجِدَ وَبُيُوتُهُنَّ خَيْرٌ لَهُنَّ”
“Do not prevent your women from the mosques, though their houses are better for them.”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 565
Another narration states:
"لِيَخْرُجْنَ وَهُنَّ تَفِلاَتٌ”
“Let them go out without adornment (in simplicity).”
Reference: Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 565
Likewise, it is reported in the Ṣaḥīḥayn:
"إِذَا اسْتَأْذَنَكُمْ نِسَاؤُكُمْ بِاللَّيْلِ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ فَأْذَنُوا لَهُنَّ"
“If your women seek permission at night to go to the mosque, then grant them permission.”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 865
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 442
✔ Seeking Husband’s Permission
A woman must seek her husband’s permission because remaining in the home is his right, while going to the mosque is permissible (mubāḥ). A permissible act cannot override an obligatory right. If the husband grants permission, he has relinquished his right.◈ Virtue of Prayer at Home
The Prophet ﷺ said:"وَبُيُوتُهُنَّ خَيْرٌ لَهُنَّ"
“Their homes are better for them.”
Reference: Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 567
This means that a woman’s prayer at home is more virtuous than her prayer in the mosque, because at home she is more protected from trials.
There is consensus among the scholars of Islam that a woman’s prayer in her home is better than her prayer in the mosque due to the greater safety and protection from fitnah.
◈ Prohibition of Adornment and Perfume
A woman is commanded to adopt simplicity when going to the mosque and to avoid adornment, perfume, flashy clothing, and the display of jewelry.The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"أَيُّمَا امْرَأَةٍ أَصَابَتْ بَخُورًا فَلَا تَشْهَدْ مَعَنَا الْعِشَاءَ الْآخِرَةَ"
“Any woman who applies perfume should not attend the ‘Ishā’ prayer with us.”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 444
◈ In such a situation, it is unlawful (ḥarām) for her to leave the house, and it is obligatory upon the husband to prevent her.
◈ Avoiding Intermingling
When going to the mosque, a woman should remain separate from crowds of men.Imām Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله wrote that it is the responsibility of Islamic authorities to prevent intermingling of men and women in markets and gatherings, as it is a major cause of fitnah.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"مَا تَرَكْتُ بَعْدِي فِتْنَةً أَضَرَّ عَلَى الرِّجَالِ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ"
“I have not left behind me any trial more harmful to men than women.”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 5096
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2740
◈ Statement of ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها
Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها said:“If the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had seen the present conditions, he would have prevented women from going to the mosque, just as the women of Banī Isrā’īl were prevented.”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 869
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 445
◈ Warning Regarding Contemporary Trials
Today, some people raise the slogan that women should stand shoulder to shoulder with men in every field. In reality, this mindset invites fitnah and endangers the honor and modesty of women.A woman renders great services while remaining in her home:
① She is a wife who becomes a source of tranquility for her husband.
② She is a mother who gives birth, breastfeeds, and nurtures her children.
③ She manages the household system in an organized manner.
If she abandons these responsibilities, society will lose an important pillar and its foundations will weaken.
❖ Advice to the Muslim Woman
O Muslim woman! Hold firmly to the teachings of your religion. Do not be influenced by misleading voices that seek to deprive you of the honor that Islam has granted you. No system other than Islam has given such a noble status to women.Whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers.
May Allah grant us the ability to perform deeds that bring success in this world and the Hereafter.
ھذا ما عندي والله اعلم بالصواب
